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 ...
How about this: should I blame the person who started the generator that killed my son?
It was his best friend, just so you'll know; but, according to you -- and in spite of the fact that I know my son would have started it if he had gotten home first -- I should blame him, right?
By all means, let's blame SOMEBODY for everything.
YOu don't think Bush can reel him in?
I do.
Cheney can hold his own with David Gregory. Why not with Gregory?
Bush handles the press well. This is Cheney's first big test, and he's flopped.
And how do we know this article is being reported accurately
Heck .. Drudge has a headline that the VP could be charged with murder
Why should he??
I won't give Gregory the time of day .. especially after he called McClelland a jerk
This is pathetic, sink. And it only makes sense if you buy into the media reality.
Hiding? Ridiculous demagoguery.
From an article on an earlier thread:
Mary Matalin, a Cheney adviser who has helped him deal with the shooting fallout, rejected suggestions that the White House's handling of the incident might result in political damage. "We have a history replete with evidence to the contrary," she said. "Every time we've had predictions of monumental liability, it never occurred."
I agree with you.
Here's the thread with Matalin's quote.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578754/posts
Like I said, Howlin, the Corpus Christi Caller has the .pdf for the investigations on its website. www.caller.com. Their analysis was "victim was covered by shooter who was swinging on game."
It's not a crime, but it indicates carelessness on the part of Cheney.
The tsunami of Greek chorus breast-beating by the press over a tragic accident will redound negatively on that press, further depressing its credibility, circulation and ratings.
I personally favor a more aggressive public relations stance than the new tone evinced by our president.
Gee, it DID happen in Texas.
Care to plumb the depths of absurdity any further?
You are ducking.
You are the one who said words have meaning.
And you said
"Texas investigators had found that Cheney violated firearms safety rules."
And you can't link or post the safety rules he violated.
You are so busy attacking that you didn't notice the link I posted: www.caller.com
I've had enough of your nonsense, Howlin. Good night.
Finally, a real man shows up, the girlymen so-called freepers, lecturing the VP are nauseating!
ROFLMAO. I needed that!
I don't know frankly whether he has or not; my opinion of him would certainly not be so high if he has not defended him during those times.
Do you? You told Howlin in a freep mail that "Texas investigators" had nailed the VP, and then when called on it, it's really just some reporters?
That is the depths of absurdity, if you ask me.
Like I said, ducking.
You gave me a WEB SITE, not a safety rule; you were so positive that they found him in violation, one would think, if you have read your own cite, you'd be able to quote all those violations off the top of your head.
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