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.
he wouldn't walk across the street to piss on you if you were on fire. Nor would I...
AMEN!
You make FR just that much more superlative!
Not true .. The VP would tell them
But they are so bleeping arrogant, they would ignore what he said .... because they know everything
Actually we're being a bit unfair. If their shirts were on fire, Cheney would tell them, he'd have Scott tell them, he'd send all the papers a press release, but they wouldn't believe him.
White house press corps: What do you mean our shirts are on fire? What do you consider fire, you said smolder, do you mean fire, or fire potential, what do you mean by burn, what is hot, how do we know that burner is on? Ouch, you lied.
Or something like that
Let me be the first to volunteer to light David Gregory up in front of the VP's office, just to test this hypothesis.
There are many in the old media whom I would not inform when a bus was going to run them over. That's how I feel about the damage the media does to this nation.
****
The old established/liberal/socialist media is America's most ruthless, relentless, and destructive enemy.
Huxley: “ The greatest triumphs of propaganda have been accomplished, not by doing something, but by refraining from doing. Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." — Old Media lives these words.
****
Cheney should demand a new press corp just to really screw up their day.
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.
Forget the major official. The average guy feels pretty much the same way.
lol
Many thanks, bts - it means a lot to know that fellow FReepers enjoy my threads.
I second that emotion!
Note, Clinton went a year after Monica story broke before having a press conference. Press corps didn't asked on round of questions when it broke, got no answeres, and then stopped saying, "We've asked the question, what else do you want us to do?"
Good one!
And some said the VP wouldn't tell him.
What they should do is simply discontinue press briefings and put them all out of a job. They aren't accomplishing anything anyway. The press conferences are nothing more than an opportunity for the press to let loose a string of catcalls on the press secretary.
Like we didn't already notice?
rofling!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.