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CBS' Plante: "Dick Cheney Wouldn't Tell Us if Our Shirts were on Fire"
The Early Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 02/14/2006 4:39:05 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

February 14, 2006 - 07:33

Imagine you're a member of the media, and in your heart you believe that a major official wouldn't mind seeing you burn to death. Think that might affect the way you cover him?

A comment this morning by veteran CBS reporter Bill Plante, while perhaps intended to be light-hearted, pulled back the curtain on just how antagonistic the White House press corps believes VP Cheney to be toward them. But more importantly, it suggests how antagonistic they likely feel in return.

The topic was the Veep's accidental shooting of hunting partner Harry Whittington, and more particularly the very contentious press conference yesterday between the White House press corps and presidential spokesman Scott McClellan.

Plante claimed that:

"It's not about us, it's not about the reporters. It's about the fact that the White House is expected to disclose any information about what happens to the President and the Vice-President as soon as they can. In any other White House that I've covered, and that's several as you know, the Vice-President would never have this kind of power [to control the flow of information."

Plante then added his zinger:

"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

Back in New York, Harry Smith broke into nervous laughter, perhaps aware that Plante had let the cat out of the bag on just how much the White House press corps disdains the Vice-President of the United States.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: cbs; cbsnews; cheney; earlyshow; harrysmith; harrywhittington; mediabias; plante; shooting; whittington
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I guess Bill Clinton told the press when he accidentally shot a load on Monica Lewinsky's dress?


181 posted on 02/14/2006 6:56:29 AM PST by RouxStir (Peaceful muslim...The Ultimate Oxymoron!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

" Just moments ago, in the WH Pantry I was fellated by Monica Lewinsky. Additionally, I anointed several of my best cigars in her honey-pot. I just wanted you WH reporters to be the first to know. Now I'm going up to the private residence and tell my lamp-throwing, Jew-cursing b*tch of a wife a series of lies to cover up my infidelity! Thanks for not telling guys,...you too Helen!


182 posted on 02/14/2006 7:01:33 AM PST by Doc Savage (Of all these things you can be sure, only love...will endure.......................)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I guess Bill Clinton told the press when he accidentally shot a load on Monica Lewinsky's dress?


183 posted on 02/14/2006 7:02:22 AM PST by RouxStir (Peaceful muslim...The Ultimate Oxymoron!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
It's about the fact that the White House is expected to disclose any information about what happens to the President and the Vice-President as soon as they can...

Sounds like someone has their feelings hurt because they were too lazy to do their own footwork. It's not like the Vice-President tried to hide the story or lied about it, wagging his finger at the camera and saying, "I did not shoot that man, Mr. Whittington."

184 posted on 02/14/2006 7:02:47 AM PST by new cruelty
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To: Bahbah
"Has anyone determined how much time elapsed between the Toon injuring himself at some late night party and its revelation to the all important press corps?"

I've never heard the press corp tell the same story that was circulating throughout the professional golfers on that one.

185 posted on 02/14/2006 7:05:17 AM PST by A Citizen Reporter
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To: Let's Roll

Anyone wonder if Bill Plante and David Gregory are like, you know, ummm, "cowboys?!"

At the very least, they cRissY babies.


186 posted on 02/14/2006 7:06:22 AM PST by Skywarner (The U.S. Armed Forces... Producers of FREEDOM for over 200 years!!)
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To: trebb
I can see them being upset if the Veep was the one that got shot,

If Cheney had been the one who had gotten shot, the media would have been giddy with glee, and then openly disappointed that he wasn't killed. The NYT wouldn't have even waited for him to get cold before they wrote their hate-filled obituary screed.

187 posted on 02/14/2006 7:06:46 AM PST by CFC__VRWC ("Anytime a liberal squeals in outrage, an angel gets its wings!" - gidget7)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

If the reporter is so stupid that he/she doesn't know their shirts on fire they deserve to fry!


188 posted on 02/14/2006 7:16:04 AM PST by dalereed
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To: All

I'm no Great White Hunter, but even so, liberal talking head Margaret Carlson just made an amusing goof on Fox News.

She said that Cheney managed to get his side of the story out: that Whittington got into the way of the VP's "bullets."

I do think it is revealing of how little the MSM know or understand about hunting, and in general in life beyond the Beltway.


189 posted on 02/14/2006 7:24:39 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
For eight long years the media never complained a bit when Bill Clinton was pissing down their legs by covering up truckloads of criminal activity.

Now, they're mad because Cheney doesn't immediately rush out to hand them a scandal story that contains no scandal. Not only that, but they have spent months and barrels of ink viciously trying to tie him to the Plame Incident and get him thrown in jail and impeached. He should care what these fops think?

These people are beyond pathetic. They're downright laughable - especially when they run with pencils!

190 posted on 02/14/2006 7:36:15 AM PST by Gritty (The mainstream media think of this war on terror as Bush's war, not America's war - Richard Miniter)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

.....Skeeter Gregory ....

My unconcious has come up with "Skeets" Gregory.


191 posted on 02/14/2006 7:55:24 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. Slay Pinch)
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To: dmw
Yes......... people are watching!

;-)

192 posted on 02/14/2006 8:15:22 AM PST by beyond the sea (Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
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To: A Citizen Reporter

Just for rumors' sake, and of course it is only hear-say-say-tell again, how did the pro-golfers describe Clinton's "fall"?


193 posted on 02/14/2006 8:26:06 AM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but Hillary's ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

This has probably already been said here, but Plante should know that most non journalists would know without being told when their clothing was on fire. That's their problem. They expect to be spoon fed. That dumb SOB really put the finger on their lack of importance.


194 posted on 02/14/2006 8:28:31 AM PST by billhilly (The Democrat symbol is no longer the donkey, it's a strait Jacket.)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

The story I heard: the injury occured while he was carrying a woman, and need I say the woman wasn't Hillary!


195 posted on 02/14/2006 8:30:55 AM PST by A Citizen Reporter
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To: xp38

Tagline change for today.


196 posted on 02/14/2006 8:33:33 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than hunting with Dick Cheney.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

OOOOH Please sign a book deal in a couple of years VP Cheney, I can't wait to read it!!
I want to see you unload on our enemies within.


197 posted on 02/14/2006 8:36:23 AM PST by crashthe24
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To: airborne

The WH are a bunch of children. Not once did I see the kind of group hatred during the Herr Klinton years.


198 posted on 02/14/2006 8:37:44 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: RouxStir
I guess Bill Clinton told the press when he accidentally shot a load on Monica Lewinsky's dress?

LOL, we have a winner.

199 posted on 02/14/2006 8:38:44 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (More people died in Ted Kennedy's car than hunting with Dick Cheney.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

A drcy for help from Plante. Apparently reporters are so stupid they actually need someone else to tell them they might be burning.

Of course, if I was Dick Cheney,I'd be standing nearby with a can of gas and a zippo to educate them...


200 posted on 02/14/2006 8:40:12 AM PST by Wombat101 (Islam: Turning everything it touches to Shi'ite since 632 AD...)
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