Posted on 02/14/2006 5:31:24 PM PST by jmc1969
Fleischer, who was Bush's first press secretary - from 2001 to 2003 - told E&P that Cheney's accidental shooting of Texas attorney Harry Whittington on Saturday during a hunting trip should not have taken nearly a day to be reported.
"It would have been better if the vice president and/or his staff had come out last Saturday night or first thing Sunday morning and announced it," he said during a phone interview Tuesday. "It could have and should have been handled differently."
But Fleischer also took a jab at the reporting frenzy surrounding the story, saying most Americans are not as focused on it as the White House press corps. "The press is largely right on the issue--but it can be right and go too far," he added.
He also said that if he were still in the White House, he would urge the vice president's office to take some of the heat off Bush's staff: "I think you go to the vice president and say, 'you need to be handling this.'"
Fleischer's comments came just hours after Marlin Fitzwater, who served as press secretary to Bush's father and Ronald Reagan, also criticized Cheney, telling E&P he was "appalled" at the response to the incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at editorandpublisher.com ...
I think Fleischer should keep quiet. He comes off as being another sell-out. There are already enough RINO sell-outs.
E Tu Ari?
I am just sick and tired of all of these people. Can't anybody just shut their big mouths for once in their miserable lives.
Are there any more folks who can pile on?
It's a press promoted story.
folks, we are going to have to start accepting it - this has not been handled well. we seem to forget everytime, that if our side leaves an information vacuum out there - the media fills in with whatever their version of events is, and we all know what that is. Cheney should have had a press conference today, take the jackals head on, give the information where its appropriate, and where the press oversteps its bounds as we saw today in the frenzy - slap them down.
Ari is basing he standard for speed of reply based on the quickness he displayed in discussing Valarie Plame with reporters.
Could the VP's office had the news release Sat night instead of Sun morning? What was the real impact? Is this story more important than Iraq, Iran, Korea, cartoon rioters????
On the other hand, it's such a trivial point that it's laughable.
"What did the President know, and when did he know it?"
As usual, I never agree with you.
or Ari Fleischer, or Fitzwater. do you need to hear from Larry Speakes too?
No, actually Ari sounds like we should have never lost him.
It was just damn stupid to hold out on this story.
I think people are underestimating just how little Dick Cheney thinks of the press. He went through two presidential elections not meeting with them. I say way to go DC.
Um, if I recall correctly I said YOU.
THEY DID!
I suppose it the VP's fault that the media doesn't returned messages also huh???
the initial delay didn't bother me as much as what happened today. send Cheney out there to take on the press - he's got nothing to lose. give some facts, answer some questions, and where the press has clearly overstepped their bounds - practically hoping for this man to die - call them on it point blank.
Keep that post handy.
We'll need to break the rules and spam it...lol.
It'll be fun after 2008 when Cheney can go on the public speaking circuit and speak his mind (about the press).
fine, let Cheney tell them exactly that at the press briefing.
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