Kerry shoots 78 year-old man
Not really, but some astute observers have recalled the savaging that John Kerry took for going goose hunting last year during the campaign. "He's a fake!" "What a poseur!" "He won't even hold the geese he shot! What a wuss!" John Kerry went on an actual hunt, and bagged some wild geese. And was reportedly a crack shot. But if he'd accidentally shot a man, the race would've been over right then. It would've meant non-stop coverage on cable news and endless jokes by right-wing shills. Now that the shoe's on the other foot, they're doing everything they can to downplay the story and make it go away-- it just doesn't fit the eternal talking point that Democrats are wimps and Republicans are tough guys.
On the other hand, we've got a "canned hunt" where pen-raised birds were released in front of the shooters. There was probably some drinking involved (an MSNBC story with the landowner saying there had been some drinking was removed from the article within an hour of posting). Whittington was said to be 30 yards away from and to the rear of Cheney. Cheney didn't have the proper permits. And oh, yeah, Cheney hit Whittington with upward of 200 pellets of buckshot in the face and chest. They didn't speak to law enforcement until some fourteen hours after the shooting.
Accidents happen, and I understand that some are reluctant to make a fuss over this incident. But the vice president hunting without a permit, almost certainly negligent in his actions, and putting a man in the ICU after shooting him is also news. Not alerting the authorities may well be criminal. Not alerting the president is troubling. And the whole affair is so painfully reminiscent of how this administration conducts business on a daily basis-- the law is ignored, something goes wrong, then the spin machine is set on overdrive-- that is deserves to be big news. Especially when the press corps has so consistently ignored issues of much greater import. The continuing failure to address hurricane damage on the Gulf Coast, the continued passing of billions to corporate interests while slashing spending on health care and education, warrantless spying on American citizens, starting a war with phony intelligence is shameful.
But if this is what it takes for the press to stop being docile stenographers for this corrupt administration, so be it.
On the other hand, we've got a "canned hunt" where pen-raised birds were released in front of the shooters. There was probably some drinking involved (an MSNBC story with the landowner saying there had been some drinking was removed from the article within an hour of posting). Whittington was said to be 30 yards away from and to the rear of Cheney. Cheney didn't have the proper permits. And oh, yeah, Cheney hit Whittington with upward of 200 pellets of buckshot in the face and chest. They didn't speak to law enforcement until some fourteen hours after the shooting.
Accidents happen, and I understand that some are reluctant to make a fuss over this incident. But the vice president hunting without a permit, almost certainly negligent in his actions, and putting a man in the ICU after shooting him is also news. Not alerting the authorities may well be criminal. Not alerting the president is troubling. And the whole affair is so painfully reminiscent of how this administration conducts business on a daily basis-- the law is ignored, something goes wrong, then the spin machine is set on overdrive-- that is deserves to be big news. Especially when the press corps has so consistently ignored issues of much greater import. The continuing failure to address hurricane damage on the Gulf Coast, the continued passing of billions to corporate interests while slashing spending on health care and education, warrantless spying on American citizens, starting a war with phony intelligence is shameful.
But if this is what it takes for the press to stop being docile stenographers for this corrupt administration, so be it.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 3:10 PM
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