A Shotgun of Secrecy
Well, by now we all know about Vice-President Cheney's hunting accident. Now, there is nothing funny, or even perhaps uncommon about hunting accidents; I come from a family and social circle of hunters, so its always possible that these things happen. And I see no problems with the story of the event of the accident. Cheney is no amateur hunter, and it looks like the victim made a big mistake by not announcing where he was at the time, which was just stupid on his part. Nevertheless, I have a feeling that if I had ever gone hunting with my Dad, and I had been in Cheney's shoes, I probably would never have gone hunting with my Dad again.
But what bothers me about this episode is the fact that the White House sat on the story for some 18 hours. In fact, they didn't even announce it: they let the owner of the ranch where the accident happened contact the local press. From all signs, the White House would have been perfectly happy that this story had never seen the light of day. How can they explain that? Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, and a friend and hunting partner of Cheney's stated on Hardball tonight that usually in hunting accidents like this, it isn't announced to the press so that the owner of the ranch can protect their reputation as a good place to hunt.
That doesn't wash with me. For one thing, this wasn't an ordinary ranch; this was the Armstrong ranch in southern Texas, one of the most wealthy and private ranches in the whole country. You and your brother couldn't walk onto that property and ask for the privilege to hunt. But beyond that, this wasn't someone's Uncle Joe who was in the accident; this was the Vice-President of the United States. The victim has been in ICU for a couple of days with a face full of birdshot. What would have happened if, heaven forbid, Cheney had actually killed this man? Would the White House have sat on the story then as well?
To me, this is yet another glaring example of how this administration absolutely depises the notion of the press, a transparent government, and the public's right to know. If it is only speculation that they think they are about the Law, they surely think they are above public review. And that is dangerous for democracy.
It is also hypocritical. Can you imagine what would have happened if the hypothetical opposite had occurred? John Kerry, who is also an avid hunter, was repeatedly ridiculed during his campain for his famous quail hunting trip. What if, during that trip, Kerry had blasted his companion in the face with birdshot? Do you think they could have gotten away with the kind of reporting the Bushies did here? Jesus, Ken Mehlman's head would have probably exploded right in front of Tim Russert.
But what bothers me about this episode is the fact that the White House sat on the story for some 18 hours. In fact, they didn't even announce it: they let the owner of the ranch where the accident happened contact the local press. From all signs, the White House would have been perfectly happy that this story had never seen the light of day. How can they explain that? Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, and a friend and hunting partner of Cheney's stated on Hardball tonight that usually in hunting accidents like this, it isn't announced to the press so that the owner of the ranch can protect their reputation as a good place to hunt.
That doesn't wash with me. For one thing, this wasn't an ordinary ranch; this was the Armstrong ranch in southern Texas, one of the most wealthy and private ranches in the whole country. You and your brother couldn't walk onto that property and ask for the privilege to hunt. But beyond that, this wasn't someone's Uncle Joe who was in the accident; this was the Vice-President of the United States. The victim has been in ICU for a couple of days with a face full of birdshot. What would have happened if, heaven forbid, Cheney had actually killed this man? Would the White House have sat on the story then as well?
To me, this is yet another glaring example of how this administration absolutely depises the notion of the press, a transparent government, and the public's right to know. If it is only speculation that they think they are about the Law, they surely think they are above public review. And that is dangerous for democracy.
It is also hypocritical. Can you imagine what would have happened if the hypothetical opposite had occurred? John Kerry, who is also an avid hunter, was repeatedly ridiculed during his campain for his famous quail hunting trip. What if, during that trip, Kerry had blasted his companion in the face with birdshot? Do you think they could have gotten away with the kind of reporting the Bushies did here? Jesus, Ken Mehlman's head would have probably exploded right in front of Tim Russert.
posted by cc at
7:11 PM
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