White House rushes in own cardiologists keep close watch over Whittington

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1570677.htm

ELEANOR HALL: In the United States, pressure is mounting on Vice-President Dick Cheney over the weekend hunting accident in which he shot his friend, the 78-year-old lawyer Harry Whittington.

Last night, Mr Whittington suffered a heart attack when one of the gun shot pellets which wounded him travelled to his heart and he is now back in intensive care.

And as John Shovelan reports from Washington, this deterioration in Mr Whittington's condition has prompted the White House to send its own cardiologists to help treat him.

JOHN SHOVELAN: Harry Whittington's sudden and unfortunate change in condition brought about an immediate alteration in the way the office of the Vice-President has handled the issue.

[JI7]

1. i imagine a guy as wealthy as Whittington could afford his own

top doctors.

of course this provides new material about what people have to go through under the Bush administration to get govt supported health care.

[Bluebear]

2. They can not afford to have him die.

This is not about altruism, trust me.

[JI7]

6. yeah, and also as the other poster says about control

and what the story is on what happened.

[Jeanette in FL]

4. Yes, but can they manage the spin

Whitehouse doctors would be able to whitewash what we are told.

[Glimmer of Hope]

3. What? Taxpayers aren't picking up the tab are they?

[leftchick]

5. no shit

:argh:

[RC]

14. WHAT? And have the rich pay for their own health care?

Are you nutz? That would be too expensive for them.

[HereSince1628]

16. Well we hope not.

The way the sentence was written it certainly leaves the question open.

[rpannier]

7. That's mighty big of them

Making sure if he passes away they have cover?

[DorothySmallandMeek]

8. I think it's great he's getting top-notch care!

Let's all keep a good thought for the guy and wish him a speedy recovery!O8)

[thebigidea]

11. if only the VP shot me in the face.

Then maybe I could get some top-notch care for the HUGE PULSATING TUMOR IN MY CHEST the doctor suggested aspirin for.

[DorothySmallandMeek]

20. I don't understand.

I'm new here and just started posting... how would getting shot in the face by Chaney end up with you getting better medical care for a chest tumor you have? ;-)

[thebigidea]

23. Its called "being sarcastic about the health care system in America"

its called "not recieving care unless you're a rich Republican recently shot in the face by Dick Cheney."

its called "being incredibly bitter because he's been up all night crippled with pain."

[DorothySmallandMeek]

26. What?

Dick Chaney was up all night crippled with pain?

I thought it was the OTHER man who'd had the heart attack???

[jarab]

24. Welcome to DU, Dorothy...

...O...

[janx]

33. Prayers for Harry.

Welcome to DU. I hope he survives this too.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi DorothySmallandMeek!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DorothySmallandMeek]

39. Thank-You!

That's awfully nice of you!:beer: :thumbsup: :hi:

[RagingInMiami]

9. Why does this remind me of that scene in the Godfather when

Don Corleone is in the hospital after being shot and the mob is has sent its own guards to protect him from the press and his enemies?

[B Calm]

10. So is this coming out of Cheney's pocket?

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. Not likely. More likely, it's coming out of our pockets

including those of us who can't afford health care insurance. Nice, huh? Dead eye Dick shoots someone and we pick up the tab. :argh:

[symbolman]

12. Hey Deadeye Dick

That's MY MONEY. I want to spend it on POOR PEOPLE, NOT one of YOUR RICH FRIENDS, so fucking open up YOUR WALLET AND PAY FOR THIS YOURSELF - YOU DID IT, YOU clean it up!

Go Cheney Yourself if you think WE SHOULD PICK UP THE TAB!

Jesus, the arrogance of these pricks! Next they'll be sending Frist over, and paying him 250 grand to diagnose the guy with OUR TAX MONEY.

[Hubert Flottz]

21. Frist will get a 300 billion dollar no bid contract if he helps kill the

NSA spy investigation.

[Dunvegan]

13. If Molly Ivins says Whittington is pretty good for a Republican...

...that's good enough for me.

However he gets help, I hope the guy makes it.

History will figure out later if the WH cardiologist was more flack than doc.

Meanwhile, I think this does crack the door to talk about health care in America.

Do we really need an invitaion? Let's just push it open and go right in.

[RC]

15. You are correct.

There is most definitely a strip of light on the latch side of the door. It is ajar.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. They're trying to keep an eye on him

I wonder what's going on.

[havocmom]

27. In ICU and under medication, he is prolly not privy to the latest spin

If he would happen to be able to communicate to any hospital staff, he might not be on the same page of the tale as the rest of the junta is telling.

They dare not take the chance Whittington would utter any version of the 'truth' they have not approved.

[txindy]

30. His daughter deflected the spin ever so slightly. Barely, but she did it.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/15whittington.html

The bold type is mine:

One of Whittington's daughters, Peggy Puckett, said Tuesday morning that Whittington was feeling well. "It was just a terrible, terrible accident. No one was at fault," she said. "He feels bad for the vice president."

Asked if Whittington agreed with accounts by others that the accident was Whittington's fault, Puckett said her father "hasn't said anything like that."

She said her father has about 50 years of hunting experience.

Editing because my fingers refuse to spell properly this morning.

[havocmom]

34. Thanks, I missed that tidbit.

Sounds more and more like the man was not a lock step bush-bot, even for all the 'errands' he ran for them in Funeralgate. Bet he could do some damage on a lot of issues, if he can ever speak again.

[kayice]

38. I feel sorry for that daughter, I hope she has lots of courage.

[janx]

32. A lot of things are going on.

First, sending in a WH cardiologist shows how much they care about him. Second, after what happened at the press conference yesterday, they want to have "their" doc around to provide information that they see fit.

Honestly, this is beginning to remind me of the Schiavo situation, in which the Schindlers always wanted "their" medical experts or "their" coroner around to assess things.

It's political. And sad.

[wtbymark]

18. He has to stay alive or it's negligent homicide

are you guys kidding? the ONLY reason he is getting top notch care from the White House is because if he dies - it's black and white negligent homicide. 2nd degree manslaughter at BEST - it means jail time and the end of dickhead's political career. They will keep this guy alive at all cost - every machine known to medical science will be used, if necessary, to keep him alive. They could keep him alive with no heart until 08' if need be. So listen to the spin and enjoy.

[havocmom]

28. And he has to stay silent or it might be negligent manslaughter

or worse.. If he communicates, he might not back up Cheney's version.

Anybody else expecting the gentleman to be unable to speak/write if he lives?

[BringEmOn]

31. Yes...he's gotta be kept alive, but can't be allowed to talk...

Didn't the Crime Family have a part of William Casey's brain removed (the part that controls speech)after he threatened to talk about the October Surprise? The mob removes your tongue...this mob removes your brain. Now, watch for a pellet to migrate to Whit's brain, requiring emergency surgery.

[KharmaTrain]

19. I Hope This Bastard's Sweating Bullets

How sad it is that this story now revolves onto how this Whittington better not die or he'll make Chenney look bad. Sheesh.

We used to joke around here that this regime's enablers would look the other way if Chenney or booosh killed someone...seems we weren't far from being wrong.

[jimshoes]

25. Who wants to bet they have

at least one, maybe two extra hearts on ice, just in case.

[peekaloo]

29. Cheney has one he doesn't use.

Not the timex implant...}(

[kayice]

36. I wouldn't let Cheney's docs come near me.

[Hobarticus]

37. Any WH medical specialists doing any time at Walter Reed Hospital

watching over our combat-wounded soldiers?

Oh, I crack myself up. Proper health care is only for the privileged, silly!