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.
The sheer silliness of this whole thing is blowing me away (probably a poor choice of words!) I know quite well how to handle a shotgun, how accidents happen, and how terribly excited non-shooting liberals are about this accident.
I have started a Best Of comments about the MSM's desperate attempt to capitalize on this non-event. So far, we have:
1. Best comment I've read...from another FR thread:
"Miss Kopechne could not be reached for comment"
12 posted on 02/13/2006 6:02:31 AM CST by saveliberty ( :-) I am a Snowflake and Bushbot.)
2. LOL. How bout these lines for Cheney's next press corps dinner speech;
"Ted Kennedy and I are going hunting this weekend. He's driving and I'm riding shotgun."
"I took my wife hunting with me. She was scared out of her wits but decided to stay after Teddy offered to drive her home."
32 posted on 02/13/2006 6:33:09 AM CST by Callahan
3. "But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."
Do they need someone to tell them their shirts are on fire?
9 posted on 02/14/2006 6:44:50 AM CST by Overtaxed (One of them deals....)
And...lest we forget...John Kerry, #1 hero from Viet Nam, pictured with a dead Canada goose in one hand and his shotgun in the other.
Was it Super Hero Kerry, #1 hero from Viet Nam, who shot the Vietnamese guy IN THE BACK?
No offense to anyone...just the irrationality of the current MSM and the glee they seem to be finding in this whole thing. I'm amazed that most of them can even read their scripts...much less find toilet paper to wipe...AH! never mind!
Sorry that was aimed towards Bill.
There you have it. It's all about POWER.
They are elitists and how dare you not cede power to them.
Why else do they try to find scandal after scandal among our goverment officials and industry?
Everyone is afraid of the press and they love it.
Cheney must be moving up in reporter's esteem. On any other day, they'd insinuate that he'd like to tie them down and set them on fire. Today, it's just more of an accusaction of laissez fair.
We ought to poll this as a question for the American people.
Imagine you're a member of the media, imagine you're an idiot. But then I repeat myself.
.....Bill Plante can now be referred to as either Skeet or Clay......
Ok, you get the credit for the post of the mornin. Please sort it out. Is Plante Clay or Skeet? You must assign the other to Gregory.
I prefer Skeet Gregory and Clay Plante but you should actually make the call for posterity and emailing to Gregory.
While no one should take this thread literally and a person being burned should not be found humorous . . .
I really do think some people need to be informed that their efforts to hide the fact that their pants are on fire are in vain.
But he would urinate on you if you were on fire.
Heck, given the way that the press has covered the whole event, you'd have thought that VP Cheney had shot one of their own...
In response to the statement, if I was VP Cheney, I'd try to put out the fire with gasoline!
I'm so sick of the media in general. I'm almost ashamed to say it, but I have gotten to the point that when I hear of a reporter who gets injured or killed in the war, I have no real feelings about it. I'm always far more concerned and upset when one of "our boys" (including the female ones) get injured or killed.
Then it hits me... The reason for the difference is that I don't feel that the vast majority of the press happen to be "our boys." There are times where it seems that they're openly rooting for the enemy, and it's times like that when I hear of a reporter buying it, I think "good riddance," but then I feel bad about it.
Mark
I wouldn't tell you either. In fact, I'd distract you even more until it was too late. Cheney knows how much you hate his guts. I don't blame him a bit.
Nor would I p*** on your shirt to put out the fire.
I see it this way; While their shirts are on fire, Cheney would be p***ing down their backs, but he'd be telling them it's raining.
Why should he? You media people dont listen to Cheney when he speaks about pressing issues - instead you criticize and tear him up!
These little bitches. On Saturday the VP accidentally shoots a fellow hunter who stepped out of line without notifying the others. The hunt takes place on a remote Texas ranch, probably in the hill country. The victim is taken to the hospital and his wounds are tended too. By Sunday night the whole media knows about it.
These pusses are just mad that the President or VP doesn't call them up immediately to inform them of everything. Of course if it was Bill Clinton the media would do the cover up for him and Rush Limbaugh would be making smart ass jokes about it.
One problem is that these pansies have never hunted or been around hunting. I heard one guy say "Oh, if you want to hunt go out and take these animals on with your bare hands tough guys."
I wish someone would say, "Why don't you go kill a 2000 lb bull with your bare hands dumb ass, if you eat beef that is."
Apparently the sheriff was immediately informed and was on the scene within the hour. I wasn't aware one was obligated to call the press when an accident happens. Typically one calls the police. Gee, maybe we should call the press next time we have a fender bender in order to keep them happy.
This situation, like Katrina and everything else that happens, is exacerbated by the dead stream media. Very tiresome.
The proper turn of phrase is, "If our hair was on fire, Dick Cheney wouldn't bother to pee on our legs". These reporters can't get anything right!
Plante is Dan Rather reincarnated!!!
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