Probably Deliberately, Hunter Steps In Front Of Cheney's Gun

More Questions About Delay in Reporting Cheney Misfire
More Questions Raised About Delay in Reporting Cheney Misfire
By Greg Mitchell
E & P
Published: February 12, 2006

NEW YORK The more than 18-hour delay in news emerging that the Vice President of the United States had shot a man, sending him to an intensive care unit with his wounds, grew even more curious late Sunday. E&P has learned that the official confirmation of the shooting came about only after a local reporter in Corpus Christi, Texas, received a tip from the owner of the property where the shooting occured and called Vice President Cheney's office for confirmation.

The confirmation was made but it is not known for certain that Cheney's office, the White House, or anyone else intended to announce the shooting if the reporter, Jaime Powell of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, had not received word from the ranch owner.

One of Powell's colleagues at paper, Beth Francesco, told E&P that Powell had built up a strong source relationship with the prominent ranch owner, Katharine Armstrong, which led to the tip. Powell is chief political reporter for the paper and also covers the area where the ranch is located south of Sarita, about 60 miles from Corpus Christi. Armstrong did not notify reporters at larger papers in Dallas, Houston, Austin, or other cities.

Armstrong called the paper Sunday morning looking for Powell, who was not at work. When they did talk, Armstrong revealed the shooting of prominent Austin attorney Harry Whittington, who is now in stable condition in a hospital. Powell then called Cheney's office for the confirmation around midday. The newspaper broke the story at mid-afternoon -- not a word about it had appeared before then.

The Cheney spokesman with whom Powell spoke, Lea Anne McBride, would not comment on whether the Cheney office or the White House would have ever released the information had the Caller-Times not contacted them.

"I'm not going to speculate," McBride said, according to Powell. "When you put the call into me, I was able to confirm that account."

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, peppered with questions about the incident at his Monday morning press "gaggle," explained that the White House had deferred to the Vice President's office in the matter, and the latter deferred to the ranch owner.

Francesco, at the Corpus Christi paper, said she felt it was a bit odd that her newsroom had not received any information about the shooting since "we often call law enforcement in the area, even on weekends. We checked in and didn't hear anything about it." In some states, all serious shooting incidents must be immediately reported to police.

Hopsital officials on Monday continued to offer few details on the victim's condition, but said he was "very stable" and that pellets were possibly still being removed. Sally Whittington told The Dallas Morning News her father was being observed because of swelling from some of the welts on his neck. His face "looks like chicken pox, kind of," she said.

A hospital spokesman said Whittington was in the intensive care unit because his condition warranted it, but he didn't elaborate. Whittington sent word that he would have no comment on the incident out of respect for Cheney.

While E&P was first to raise questions about the delay Sunday afternoon, Frank James, reporter in the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau, put his own spin on it later in the day, asking, "How is it that Vice President Cheney can shoot a man, albeit accidentally, on Saturday during a hunting trip and the American public not be informed of it until today?"

Indeed, others raised questions as well. "There was no immediate reason given as to why the incident wasn't reported until Sunday," the Dallas Morning News observed. "The sheriff's office in Kenedy County did not respond to phone calls Sunday."

The president, who was at the White House over the weekend, was informed about the incident in Texas after it happened Saturday by Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and was updated on Sunday, press secretary Scott McClellan said.

But neither the White House nor the vice president's staff announced the shooting. The Washington Post reported late Sunday that Cheney's office did not make a public announcement.

Asked by The New York Times why it did not make the news known, Cheney spokeswoman McBride said, "We deferred to the Armstrongs regarding what had taken place at their ranch."

Armstrong said later, according to The Associated Press, that everyone at the ranch was so "focused" on Whittington's health Saturday that it wasn't until Sunday she called the Caller-Times to report the accident.

In an odd disparity, Armstrong told the Houston Chronicle that Whittington, 78, was "bruised more than bloodied" in the incident and "his pride was hurt more than anything else." Yet he was airlifted to a hospital and has spent more than a day in an intensive care unit.

The Chronicle also reports Monday that hunting accidents are very rare in Texas. In 2004, it said, the state's one million-plus hunters were involved in only 29 hunting-related accidents (19 involving firearms), four of which were fatal.

Time magazine on its Web site observed that Cheney is scheduled to join President Bush on Monday afternoon when he takes questions from reporters in the Oval Office, following a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. "White House aides can be expected to say that the Vice President did not shoot Whittington, which suggests a bullet, but rather sprayed him with birdshot, a type of ammunition made up of tiny pieces of lead or steel," Time predicted.

On Sunday, the Chicago Tribune's James wrote on the Washington bureau's blog at the newspaper's site, "When a vice president of the U.S. shoots a man under any circumstance, that is extremely relevant information. What might be the excuse to justify not immediately making the incident public?

"The vice president is well known for preferring to operate in secret. ... Some secrecy, especially when it comes to the executing the duties of president or vice president, is understandable and expected by Americans.

"But when the vice president's office, or the White House, delays in reporting a shooting like Saturday's to the public via the media, it needlessly raises suspicions and questions of trust. And it may just further the impression held by many, rightly or wrongly, that the White House doesn't place the highest premium on keeping the public fully and immediately informed."

The New York Times reported late Sunday that Whittington was commissioner of the state's Funeral Service Commission. In 1999, George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, named Whittington to head the Commission, which licenses and regulates funeral directors and embalmers in the state. "When he was named," the Times revealed, "a former executive director of the commission, Eliza May, was suing the state, saying that she had been fired because she investigated a funeral home chain that was owned by a friend of Mr. Bush.

"The suit was settled in 2001, but the details were not disclosed."

Statement From VP Dick Cheney
Statement From VP Dick Cheney
by Jerry and Joe Long
02.13.2006

Since the days of Aaron Burr, under our constitution, the Vice President has the implied authority to shoot whomever the hell he pleases. In point of fact, had Burr foregone the formalities of "choice of pistols," "choice of position" etc. and simply started blasting anything that moved in Weehawken, he would have been legally justified in doing so.

In a time of war, it would be inappropriate to comment further on how and under what circumstances a 78-year-old man underwent a minor pellet infusion. Suffice it to say that I am well, and was able to enjoy dinner following the alleged incident.

As I dedicated my formative years to acquiring draft deferments, copulating fortuitously to produce my firstborn nine months and two days after the Selective Service eliminated special protections for childless married men, I remain dedicated in my adult life to personal gain from the sacrifice of others.

Let all Americans never forget that an open field is a dangerous place, teeming with biological agents. And let us resolve never to surrender in the face of that which we imagine to be real.

Now go fu*k yourselves.

Cheney Shoots Guy
Cheney Shoots Guy
Al Franken
02.12.2006

Over the weekend, Vice President Dick Cheney shot a man in Texas. Asked why he shot the man, the Vice President said, "Just to watch him die."

Seriously, it was an accident. There is nothing funny about the Vice President of the United States shooting a guy.

You know who's doing a "there but for the grace of God go I?" Scalia.


Bush is confused. He thinks Wittington is just fine. He thought he read a headline saying "Wittington Dodges Bullet."

Now, I imagine that Cheney and the President have hunted together. What would have happened if Cheney had shot the President? I think if he shot Bush this way, Bush isn't 78 and he's in pretty good shape, and he's kinda macho. I think he would've gotten up and shot Cheney back. And I think they would've started blasting each other like in a Tarrantino movie.

By the way, Cheney shouldn't be allowed to hunt again, should he? You get one of these, right? I mean he came very close to killing the guy.

Anyway, be sure to listen to the Al Franken Show tomorrow - noon to three EST. And Vice President Cheney will be our special guest. And guess what? He's bringing his shotgun!

It was body art gone horribly wrong. What 78 year old man doesn't dream of ball bearings implanted under their skin?

Ill bet the reason that they delayed the report was to see whethre the guy didnt die. Unlike Chappaquidick, we have here a Happy Quicky Dick

somewhere in here there's a joke about the difference between a democrat and a republican shooting off in someones' face.....I'm thinking about it...

This guy wasn't either on his knees or perhaps smoking a cigar, was he?

The WH today said that national security was harmed when the secret plan to let Cheney shoot rich Texans was revealed in the press. GOP congressional leaders called for an immediate investigation by the FBI into who leaked details about the top secret program.

In a written statement by the White House, President Bush said, "Those that hurt national security are only helping the terrorists. We need to remember 4/11. If we can't shoot those that might be related to terrorism then our freedom will be lost. Would you rather fight them over there or just shoot them over here? "

When it was pointed out that Sept 11th is not 4/11, AG Gonzales stated he was unable to discuss operational details of ongoing top secret programs.

awaiting the mushroom cloud.

When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns.
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
now every time I hear that whistle I hang my head and cry...

You blue-staters just can't get those ancient country traditions. Totally insensitive, you libs. Go to a movie theater and watch Walk the Line.

Damn Jespah, You always come up with the really good ideas! I'll see if I can't work up a good juicy rumor and get it started!!

Annon

This whole sad story shows what happens what Cheney emerges from his secluded, undisclosed locations. He blinks in the bright sun, kind of like Mr. Magoo.

Hide him away and leave him there. He can only cause mischief in the daylight...

That's it guys, I knew we could come up with something workable if we just put our minds to it.

Anon

Ok, here goes, "What is the difference between a republican and a democrat shooting off in a friend's face?

s
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Nobody wants to investigate when it's a phallic replacement on an old republican.

While both involve Dicks, only one is shooting real bullets.

Tee hee!

i think the vice-president really just wanted to order "dinner for four, please !" and had forgotten he was not in a restaurant. that's not a crime, is it ? hbg

I thought we would never again have jokes with the words Vice President and quail (Quayle) in them.

How wrong could I be?

I think you'll find there's an "e" at the end of that, son.

parados has a wicked sense of humour - shame on him ! hbg