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CBS' Plante: "Dick Cheney Wouldn't Tell Us if Our Shirts were on Fire"
The Early Show/NewsBusters ^
| Mark Finkelstein
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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: cbs; cbsnews; cheney; earlyshow; harrysmith; harrywhittington; mediabias; plante; shooting; whittington
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To: Semper Paratus
"Why should he?"
Because most Washington correspondents are so clueless that they would not know their shirt was on fire unless they were told it was by a senior White House official, and had the report confirmed by AP, UPI or the NY Times.
141
posted on
02/14/2006 5:49:23 AM PST
by
No Truce With Kings
(The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
To: Rapscallion; governsleastgovernsbest
Bill Plante is a CBS dingleberry. He just hangs on...and on.......... and he might want to get some new teeth.
Just another old lingering, light-witted See-bs-asaurus.
142
posted on
02/14/2006 5:49:39 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
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."
He probably needs someone to tell him if his shirts on fire. Some people are just to dumb for the real world.
143
posted on
02/14/2006 5:49:52 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
To: RedEyeJack
Where was all this indignation when Hillery, Nussbaum, and Maggie Williams were keeping the police out of Vince Foster's officer while they "sanitized" it? And let's not forget Newsweek. . .
. . . HAVING the story of 'Monica' but choosing to 'sit' on Issikof's story. . .until forced out of hiding by Drudge headlines. . .
144
posted on
02/14/2006 5:50:14 AM PST
by
cricket
(Truth - the first enemy of a Leftist. . .)
To: snugs; roses of sharon; governsleastgovernsbest
GREAT PICS!Thanks, I love that guy.
145
posted on
02/14/2006 5:51:13 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
Well maybe Dick wouldn't tell 'you' if your shirt were on fire....but even as an enemy he would still happily p*#s down your back...and while saving your sorry hide...probably tell you 'it's raining' just too also amuse himself and his friends at your expense...
Whadda ya want?...egg in your beer?
146
posted on
02/14/2006 5:51:23 AM PST
by
joesnuffy
(A camel once bit our sister..but we knew just what to do...we gathered rocks and squashed her!)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake." If that were to happen, it would be part of a National Security operation, and by law the Vice President is forbidden to reveal Top Secret information.
;-)
147
posted on
02/14/2006 5:52:12 AM PST
by
savedbygrace
(SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
To: beyond the sea
By the way, does anyone know the name of the woman reporter at the White House who asked Scott McClellan "Would this be a bigger story if he had been killed?"
Can there ever have been a more ignorant question from a reporter?
***
The proper response to such a question (as well as the question about whether Cheney would resign over this) is: Do you actually get paid to ask such stupid questions?
To: snugs; beyond the sea
The DNC/MSM smear machine is precisely why we have so little choices of real men running for office for the last 30 years.
The caliber of candidates has declined to the point of danger to our republic.
A monopoly of liberal/elite clustered in NY have been running this country for too long.
149
posted on
02/14/2006 5:53:23 AM PST
by
roses of sharon
("I would rather men ask why I have no statue, than why I have one". ) (Cato the Elder)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
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. Did they tell us when BJ was playing hide the cigar with an intern?
Did they tell us when BJ was sexually assaulting women in the Oval Office?
Did they tell us when BJ was renting out the Lincoln Bedroom?
Did they tell us when BJ was lying under oath?
150
posted on
02/14/2006 5:55:04 AM PST
by
wagglebee
("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
To: Maria S
Kewl! I made number 3!
You forgot AlGore staring down the barrel of a rifle.
151
posted on
02/14/2006 5:56:04 AM PST
by
Overtaxed
(One of them deals....)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
And I wouldn't piss on you to put it out!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
152
posted on
02/14/2006 5:56:42 AM PST
by
bray
(GW protects Americans while DinocRats protect Al Queda)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
"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. Billy Plante:
It is not the WHs job to be reporters.
Remember Billy "what goes around come around" !
153
posted on
02/14/2006 5:57:39 AM PST
by
sausageseller
(Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
To: Maria S
"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." Those are great.
****
Attorney and old buddy, Whittington, sitting up and joking in his hospital bed said to the nurse, "No big deal, this was just Dick's first attempt at tort reform."
154
posted on
02/14/2006 5:59:00 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
To: airborne
There was no controlling legal authority requiring VP Cheney to inform the pressLOL! Good one!
155
posted on
02/14/2006 6:00:10 AM PST
by
DCPatriot
("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
To: beyond the sea
My favorite lines so far were comments on:
http://exposetheleft.com/2006/02/13/huntwithcheney/
If Cheney had accidentally shot John Kerry, but only winged him, would Kerry apply for yet another Purple Heart?
If Cheney had accidentally shot Al Gore, and the hospital reported they had removed 100 pellets from Als ass, would Gore demand a re-count?
156
posted on
02/14/2006 6:03:43 AM PST
by
Republican Red
(We will stay steadfast, we will not falter, we will never murtha)
To: Pete'sWife
Nor would I p*** on your shirt to put out the fire.Oh, I would..but you must know, I'm 60...with an enlarged prostate.
May take a few minutes. ;^)
157
posted on
02/14/2006 6:04:34 AM PST
by
DCPatriot
("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
To: roses of sharon
"The DNC/MSM smear machine is precisely why we have so little choices of real men running for office for the last 30 years. The caliber of candidates has declined to the point of danger to our republic. A monopoly of liberal/elite clustered in NY have been running this country for too long." ---
****
So true. Dangerous times.
I could never explain the depth of my disdain (hatred) for most of the media. They hold a great responsibility, and they take that responsibility and CONSCIOUSLY destroy the nation. They are not all stupid, many add small and evil to their list of "qualifications".
158
posted on
02/14/2006 6:05:37 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
To: governsleastgovernsbest
Dick Cheney reports to us (the press)
To: Republican Red
160
posted on
02/14/2006 6:06:30 AM PST
by
beyond the sea
(Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
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