No apologies from Cheney over release of shooting story
Cheney: ‘I’m the Guy Who Pulled the Trigger’
Moms, dads, do not let your kids go on hunting trips with the vice president. I don’t care what kind of lucrative contracts they’re trying to land, or energy regulations they’re trying to get lifted - it’s just not worth it.
- Jon Stewart
How nice of Dick Cheney to finally give his side of the story, eh? Of course, that he gave the interview to the Republican Propaganda Network Fox News Channel should expose it for the shameless, naked attempt to spin the thruth that it was. Surely you didn’t expect Cheney to actually agree to an interview on a network that would ask him some honest-to-God tough questions, did you? It should surprise no one that Cheney goes to the one network he can count on to play along and lob him a few softball questions.
If not for the ham-handed way that Cheney and his staff handled the release of information regarding the accidental shooting of Harry Whittington, it’s doubtful that this would be anything but fodder for late-night comedians. Instead, Cheney has succeeded in creating the impression that he has something to hide. It’s silly, and it’s pointless, and it certainly didn’t need to play out this way, but when your arrogance exceeds your common sense, I suppose this nonsense is the sort of thing you can expect.
Personally, I’m not all that concerned about an unfortunate hunting accident that may or may not have been caused by negligence or stupidity. When you hunt, and when you handle loaded weapons, there are certain risks you have to assume. Getting peppered with birdshot is certainly chief among those assumed risks.
“Ultimately I’m the guy who pulled the trigger that fired the round that hit Harry,” Cheney said in his first interview since the incident. “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Cheney’s first public response following the shooting comes more than 72 hours after the accident. His silence has been met with bewilderment and anger by some in Washington, D.C. But on Wednesday, the vice president seemed to express deep remorse….
One thing for which Cheney was not apologetic was the way the news of the shooting was delivered to the media. [Katharine] Armstrong, a private citizen, went to a local newspaper about the incident on Sunday. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times published the story near 3 p.m. EST Sunday. The scoop upset many in the White House press corps, who were not with Cheney on the private retreat.
Before Wednesday’s interview, the vice president’s office issued two brief written statements acknowledging the shooting on Monday and Tuesday. Cheney said he and Armstrong agreed to let her take the lead.
“I thought that made good sense because you can get as accurate a story as possible from somebody who knows and understands hunting,” Cheney said. “Then it would immediately go up to the wires and be posted on the Web site, which is the way it went out. I thought that was the right call. I still do.”
Right…and we’re to believe that an Administration that tight controls and spins virtually every piece of information it grudgingly reeases just decided to allow simply decided to allow a private citizen to disclose this incident to her local newspaper? Most Americans probably aren’t going to be overly upset about the Vice President accidentally shooting a hunting companion. When you make it look as if you have something to hide…well, let’s just say you’re not going to win many friends that way.
That Dick Cheney was acting in character is hardly surprising. That he shows so little regard and respect for those who put him in office simply confirms Cheney’s arrogance and presumed unaccountability. Most Americans can understand an unfortunate accident. What we should not have to tolerate is being spun and propagandized.
WE DESERVE BETTER.
