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Blame the media? We are making it easier Cheney hunting accident brings out the worst in some
Corpus Christi Caller-Times ^ | February 16, 2006 | John Allen

Posted on 02/17/2006 6:45:21 AM PST by SwinneySwitch

For all of us at this "small newspaper in South Texas" or as the host of MSNBC's "The Situation" Tucker Carlson says "podunk paper," it's enlightening — and sometimes embarrassing — to look at our big brothers and sisters in the national media on a story we each are covering.

The first step we could all see coming. Someone should have given White House press secretary Scott McClellan a blindfold as he stood at the podium Monday afternoon. The White House press corps spent the previous day stewing about how the White House had failed to deliver a press conference to announce the vice president’s hunting accident.

They went into full "kill the messenger" mode, peppering McClellan with 65 questions about Dick Cheney’s shooting of Harry Whittington, while asking only 17 question not related to the shooting. (Good thing we are not at war, have a CIA leak, record-setting trading deficit or anything big going on.)

On Tuesday, the folks at Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial felt a bit of the brunt. As Whittington suffered a morning heart attack, hospital administrator Peter Banko and director of emergency services Dr. David Blanchard stepped to the bank of microphones for a noon press conference and were battered with questions.

It was bad enough that Banko started the Wednesday press conference by declaring that the meeting would end if the same question were repeated and that they were not there to teach medicine.

Still waiting for Cheney to speak, Fox News grabbed an exclusive interview on Wednesday. That was the last straw for some.

Most outspoken in his criticism may have been CNN’s Jack Cafferty. Appearing on "The Situation Room" before the Cheney interview aired, Cafferty had this to say while speaking with host Wolf Blitzer.

CAFFERTY: "Well, I obviously didn't see it because it hasn't been released in its entirety yet. But I would guess it didn't exactly represent a Profile in Courage for the vice president to wander over there to the f-word network for a sit down with Brit Hume. That's a little like Bonnie interviewing Clyde, ain't it? Where was the news conference? Where was the access to all of the members of the media? Whatever ?"

BLITZER: "You still think he needs to do a full-scale news conference and invite all the cameras, all the reporters and ask whatever they want?"

CAFFERTY: "That's never going to happen. But running over there to the Fox network? Talk about seeking a safe haven. He's not going to get any high hard ones from anybody at the f-word network. I think we know that."

I hate it when people blame the media. As a member of this group, I like to think that we are part of the solution. But in this case, we look like the problem.

Contact John Allen at allenj@caller.com


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: blamethemedia; buggywhipmedia; bushhassers; callertimes; cheney; dnctalkingpoints; foxbashing; foxnews; foxnewsbashing; fwordnetwork; getcheney; harrywhittington; huntingaccident; johnallen; mediabias; msmmedia; openyoureyes; propaganda; shooting; undeniabletruth; zogbyism
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I love it when people blame the media.
1 posted on 02/17/2006 6:45:23 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
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To: SwinneySwitch

I question the use of the word "some" in the title; sort of like describing "some" sharks being involved in a feeding frenzy.
Aside to CNN: If yours is "The Most Trusted Name...etc.", howcome you advertise on Fox News, but they don't advertise on you?


2 posted on 02/17/2006 6:57:26 AM PST by syncked
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To: SwinneySwitch

Jack Cafferty is openly hostile to Republicans. I have seen this act on his part before.

If I see his face, the channel goes off. I don't need to be insulted by a "newsman".


3 posted on 02/17/2006 6:58:54 AM PST by I still care ("For it is the doom of men that they forget". - Merlin, from Excalibur)
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To: SwinneySwitch
“He's not going to get any high hard ones from anybody at the f-word network.”

I think Cafferty's been 'takin 'deep, hard ones' for years.

4 posted on 02/17/2006 7:01:57 AM PST by johnny7 (“Iuventus stultorum magister”)
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To: SwinneySwitch
"CAFFERTY: "That's never going to happen. But running over there to the Fox network? Talk about seeking a safe haven. He's not going to get any high hard ones from anybody at the f-word network. I think we know that.""


Talk about brain dead, or feigning it.

They have no idea that Dick Cheney went to Fox to shove it in their collective faces?

Yeah ... right.






5 posted on 02/17/2006 7:02:29 AM PST by G.Mason (Duty, Honor, Country)
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To: I still care

Jack is a working alcoholic with obvious brain damage. His booze problem got him bounced from WHO TV in Des Moines.


6 posted on 02/17/2006 7:03:56 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: syncked

Americans should have been wary of putting their faith in another news broadcaster claiming "the most trusted..."

That is a given that they should be trustworthy. Why is there a different perspective on the reporting between CNN-US and the CNN the rest of the world sees?


7 posted on 02/17/2006 7:04:44 AM PST by weegee (We are all Danes now.)
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To: SwinneySwitch
This is a really great article by some "podunk paper editor."

Too bad the national press doesn't have any sort of soul or they might read this and realize they just insulted about 90 percent of the people in their own field, not to mention most of the Cable News Viewers, the American Public, and Podunks nation wide.

But hey, what do I know. They are smarter and more important than I.
8 posted on 02/17/2006 7:07:56 AM PST by pollyannaish
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To: SwinneySwitch
I hate it when people blame the media. As a member of this group, I like to think that we are part of the solution. But in this case, we look like the problem.

Hello??? You ARE the problem. We can't clean up your industry for you. That's YOUR responsibility.

9 posted on 02/17/2006 7:11:28 AM PST by Niteranger68 ("Only 4 out of 3 Democrats actually vote.")
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To: RacerF150

I think more articles like this would be a good first step, don't you?


10 posted on 02/17/2006 7:14:59 AM PST by clawrence3
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To: RacerF150

"You ARE the problem." Mr. Hammer, meet Mr. Nail.


11 posted on 02/17/2006 7:16:42 AM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
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To: pollyannaish

"Too bad the national press doesn't have any sort of soul or they might read this and realize they just insulted about 90 percent of the people in their own field, not to mention most of the Cable News Viewers, the American Public, and Podunks nation wide."

Bill Sammons was on Brit Hume last night and he came right out and said something along the lines of, hey, the American people don't like the media and they DO like it when the WH screws the media.

I for one would like to see much more of it - stop spoon feeding the media - make them work for the "news". What they end up spinning has little relationship to what they heard at a WH press briefing anyway.


12 posted on 02/17/2006 7:21:38 AM PST by Let's Roll ( "Congressmen who ... undermine the military ... should be arrested, exiled or hanged" - A. Lincoln)
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To: I still care
"Jack Cafferty is openly hostile to Republicans. I have seen this act on his part before."

This Cafferty moron must be a key contributor for the DUmmies. The F word seems to be their favorite.
13 posted on 02/17/2006 7:30:51 AM PST by AlexW (Reporting from Bratislava, Slovakia)
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To: SwinneySwitch

This is obviously another Karl Rove plot. Think about it. Evil Super-Genius Karl Rove, worried about the overflow of bad press from the toilet of the mass-media, comes up with a plan to have the VP create a minor, harmless, but sensational incident.

Cheney shoots his loyal friend and fellow conspirator. Not life-threatening, just enough to make it look good. Bammo! Once again the press and the democrats are off chasing their tails and looking like fools. All kinds of other stories are driven off the headlines and out of the media spotlight.

Stranger things have happened.


14 posted on 02/17/2006 7:33:56 AM PST by Scourge of God (What goes here?)
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To: Let's Roll
You are absolutely right and I really like Bill Sammon too.

The American Media is held in contempt by regular people. I'm not sure that will ever change though.

But even if we didn't like them, we might respect them more if they actually worked to tell a fair story and act all entitled.
15 posted on 02/17/2006 7:35:07 AM PST by pollyannaish
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To: pollyannaish

Forgot to include this part -

So when Sammon was explaining that the American people don't like the press etc., Mara was making "it's not that bad" sounds. Finally settling on "conservatives" don't like the media.

Well as Rush often points out - most Americans ARE conservative as in they don't sit around saying things like, "gee, when little Mary grows up I hope she'll be trans gender".


16 posted on 02/17/2006 7:45:34 AM PST by Let's Roll ( "Congressmen who ... undermine the military ... should be arrested, exiled or hanged" - A. Lincoln)
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To: clawrence3
I think more articles like this would be a good first step, don't you?

I do, but I don't like the "we are on the same team" or "you're making us look bad" slant. The distinction between journalists and activists should have been made.

17 posted on 02/17/2006 7:46:47 AM PST by Niteranger68 ("Only 4 out of 3 Democrats actually vote.")
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To: syncked
YES, I HAVE NOTICED THIS TO. I HAVE DISH NET WORK AND IT PI**ES ME OFF WHEN WATCHING FOX NEWS, HERE COMES AN ADD FOR CNN
AND, AS I HAVE STATED HERE BEFORE, CNN IS NOT EVER TO BE IN OUR HOME AT ANY TIME, NO MATTER WHAT THE EVENT.
CNN IS THE LOWEST WHEN IT COME TO LIEING JOURNALISM AND,
KEITH OLBERMAN ON MSNBC IS SECOND.

I AM 62 YRS. OLD AND, THE TWO GREATEST EVENTS IN MY LIFE THUS FAR, IS FOX NEWS NETWORK AND, PRESIDENT BUSH. THESE TWO THINGS I CONSIDER AT THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

I JUST CAN'T EMAGINE OR COMPHREHEND AL GORE AS PRESIDENT
WITH THE SITUATION THE U.S.A. FACES AT THIS PRESENT TIME IN IT'S HISTORY. I BELEAVE GORE IS MENTALLY HANDY CAPPED AND, I AM NOT SAYING THIS AS A RUSE OR TO BE FUNNY.

ALL AMERICA SHOULD BE GREATFUL WE HAVE PRESIDENT BUSH AT THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY. HE RESPECTS THE OFFICE HE HOLDS AS DID OUR BELOVED RONALD REGAN , NO CIGARS AND SEX WHILE DISCUSSING NATIONAL SECURTY. AMERICA, STOP BASHING THE PRESIDENT AND, START HELPING HIM HOLD THIS NATION TOGETHER AS, THE DANGERS OF LOOSING OUR FREEDOM IS NEVER BEEN SO CLOSE AT HAND.
18 posted on 02/17/2006 7:47:57 AM PST by buck61 (luv6060)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Jack Cafferty is a pathetic old angry loser and Tucker Carlson looks like a twinkle-toes with that bow tie. They both are elitist wind-suckers. And what kind of ratings do they get? 0.1? 0.2? That means nobody is watching them.


19 posted on 02/17/2006 7:48:51 AM PST by D-Chivas
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To: SwinneySwitch

When I originally was hearing brief snippets of TV chatter about this case, they kept saying "local paper", and I thought maybe they were referring to some weekly like the Robstown paper or the Victoria paper.
But the Corpus Christi Caller Times is NOT a "small town, local paper".
I guess this just shows the snooty, nose-in-the-air, big-city elitism of the MSM (which, I always thought the Corpus Christi paper and other papers of cities that size were a part of).


20 posted on 02/17/2006 7:50:31 AM PST by hispanarepublicana (I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than get in a car with Ted Kennedy...[props to Auto Power])
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