Look Who's Talking

[rodeodance]

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http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=1331575&ct=1983633



----- Original Message -----
From: American Progress Action Fund
To: xxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 10:36 AM
Subject: Progress Report: A Festering Symbol

Look Who's Talking


After nearly four days of silence and apparently some prodding from Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney finally spoke out about his role in the accidental shooting of 78-year old Harry Whittington last Saturday at a Texas ranch. Under a firestorm of criticism for his decision not to inform the nation of the hunting accident for 22 hours, Cheney chose to appear on conservative-friendly Fox News to explain how the accident occurred and why he wasn't more candid earlier. To his credit, Cheney accepted full responsibility for the accident, saying, "You can't blame anybody else. I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend." But the Vice President was also "totally unapologetic" about the long lag in reporting the shooting to the public. Cheney defended his decision to allow Katherine Armstrong, the owner of the Texas ranch and Bush pioneer, to handle the public release of the shooting and to give the only official account (until yesterday) of the incident. What Cheney's interview revealed more than anything is that there are important discrepancies between his account and Armstrong's account.

THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL: Yesterday, Cheney admitted that he "had a beer" during lunch prior to the shooting, but claimed that "no one was drinking" during the hunt. Cheney's admission is just the latest twist in the eyewitness accounts of the role of alcohol that day. Katharine Armstrong previously stated "no one was drinking." Her mother, Anne Armstrong, added that only "Dr. Pepper" was being consumed. Later, Katharine told MSNBC that "a beer or two" may have been consumed, though "not everyone in the party was shooting." And finally, Katharine Armstrong told CNN that Cheney did not drink until after the accident occurred, "when the vice president fixed himself a cocktail back at the house." If Armstrong's latest account is true, then Cheney -- who takes a "long list of medications" for his heart condition -- is now known to have consumed alcohol both prior to and after the shooting. "Shooting Safety Rules" of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department warn, "Don't drink alcohol or take drugs before or while handling firearms or bow and arrows," adding, that "alcohol and drugs impair normal physical and mental body functions and must not be used before or while handling firearms or archery equipment."

ARMSTRONG'S STORY CRUMBLES: Prior to Cheney's explanation yesterday, media reporting had readily accepted Armstrong's account as one who had "witnessed the accident." But Armstrong did not actually see the shooting occur. She sat in a "hunt vehicle about 100 yards from Cheney and the other hunters." Armstrong even acknowledged that when she saw Cheney's security detail swarming the scene, she was not sure what happened. "The first thing that crossed my mind was had a heart problem," she said. The fact that Armstrong did not actually see what occurred diminishes the credibility of her story, which has largely absolved Cheney from any blame. Cheney defended his decision to put Armstrong in charge of handling the story. "I wanted to make sure we got it as accurate as possible. And I think Katharine was an excellent choice." An open question remains as to how the decision was made to put the story out. Armstrong previously told CNN that "she did not believe the Vice President's Office was aware that she was going to go to the local press." But Cheney said yesterday, "The decision about how it got out, basically, was my responsibility."

BLAMING THE VICTIM: Katharine Armstrong's story has largely been one of blaming the victim, Harry Whittington. She said that the accident occurred because Whittington "came up behind the vice president and the other hunter and didn't signal them or announce himself." All week, White House officials had "directed reporters to Armstrong's comments and did not fault Cheney." Hunting experts have taken issue with Armstrong's account, saying, "The shooter always has the ultimate responsibility" and that Cheney did not follow ordinary safety rules. Cheney yesterday put Armstrong's false claim to rest. "It was not Harry's fault," said the Vice President.

COVERING UP THE INJURIES: Armstrong's account has also covered up the extent of Whittington's immediate injuries from the shooting. She played down Whittington's injuries by first saying he had been "bruised more than bloodied," and later, that the shooting simply "broke the skin. It knocked him silly. But he was fine. He was talking. His eyes were open. It didn't get in his eyes or anything like that." In fact, Cheney confirmed medical accounts that Whittington was "bleeding profusely," having just been struck by as many as 200 pellets. "We went over to him, obviously, right away," Cheney said. He said Whittington was conscious, with one eye open. "He was laying there on his back, obviously bleeding." Cheney's account suggests Whittington took the full force of the shot, despite the fact that the victim was standing below ground level. Cheney said Whittington was dressed in orange, "down a little ways before land level, although I could see the upper part of his body."

HOW FAR AWAY WAS CHENEY? Cheney was asked yesterday how far away Whittington was when the shot occurred. "I'm guessing about 30 yards, which was a good thing. If he'd been closer, obviously, the damage from the shot would have been greater." Cheney's approximated distance echoes the distance indicated on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunting Accident and Incident Report Form. But many doubt whether Cheney was that far away, given the impact Whittington experienced. Even right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson said on MSNBC's Scarborough Country that the distance "is a real point." Carlson added, "I can tell that you as someone who fires a 28 gauge shotgun a lot, 30 yards, that's not believable. You're not going to wind up with dozens or scores of pelts if you're wearing protective clothing at 30 yards. People are notoriously unable to gauge distance."

[LeftNYC]

1. A story:

In 1997, I was stopped at a checkpoint in NJ and arrested for DWI. The first thing I told the cop was that I had "1 beer hours ago". I wasnt terribly drunk. I barely blew a .10. The breathalyzer was done several times. If I had a lawyer in the car with me(lol!), it probably would have gotten thrown out. Anyway, I lied to the cop about the drinking. It was a kneejerk reaction. And a bad mistake on my part. I lost my license and paid the price. I wish I had Rove working for me at the time...lol I regret it and it haunts me to this day because I had never been in trouble with the law before that.

My point is that anyone accused of drinking and an accident will automatically pull out the "I had one drink hours ago". Cheney has been arrested in the past for DWI, so he knows the excuse well. If he was drinking with his heart problems and medication, that is twice as bad. Cheney's body language to me indicates depression. Another frame of mind that I am familiar with having battled it for most of my life and being hospitalized for it. With depression comes lying and we know Cheney's past lies.