More fundamental dishonesty from the WH. I'm starting to think these guys are pathological liars. http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/14/mcclellan-conceals-heart-attack/ White House Cover-Up: McClellan Conceals Heart Attack From Press For 22 hours, the White House concealed the fact that Vice President Cheney had inadvertantly shot a 78-year old man, Harry Whittington. The White House continues to withhold critical information from the press. In a press conference today, hospital administrator Peter Banko said that the White House had been informed that Mr. Whittington suffered a heart attack between 9:30-10AM this morning. But at today’s White House Press Briefing, which started after 12PM, Scott McClellan didn’t tell the press. CNN confirmed that McClellan “was notified [about the heart attack] just before the briefing.” But McClellan suggested to reporters that he had no new information: I don’t want to make this about anything other than what it is. It is what it is. I was very respectful and responsive to your questions yesterday. I provided you the information I knew based on the facts that were available… I’m just not going to go back through it again. McClellan concluded “You’re welcome to continue to focus on these issues. I’m moving on.” Too bad Mr. Whittington can’t do the same. He’ll be in the hospital for at least another week. Banko press conference transcript: QUESTION: What time did you notify the White House this morning and did you tell them, when you notified them, that he had a minor heart attack? ADMINISTRATOR: Our cardiologists probably talked to him shortly after the cardiac cath was done, between 9:30 and 10:00 am this morning. QUESTION: And you did tell them he had a minor heart attack? ADMINISTRATOR: I did not hear the conversation that the cardiologists had amongst themselves, so I can’t tell you what – And heart attack is a layman’s term, so they went into a little more clinical detail.
There not pathological liars, they are patriotic liars. Right? Isn't that what the right wingers would have us to believe?
Well yeah, I probably am. The thing is, for the longest time I thought they only lied when they had something to gain by lying or something to lose by telling the truth. Now I think they just can't help themselves. I mean, why lie about this story? Why withhold it from the press and the country for 22 hours? Why indicate there's nothing new to report when it's going to come out in mere hours that the guy had a heart attack? Apparently this White House's first response to virtually any story whatsoever is to lie about it. That's not just shady or criminal or dishonest or stupid. I am actually starting to believe they can't help themselves.
I think they have devolved into the same defensive posture of the Nixon White House, which was ultimately grounded in a paranoia that affected everything that came out of it in the way of "information." In a way, I feel sorry for McClellan. He has to be wondering, and wondering it for a long time, just what in the hell he's gotten himself into, and how long he can stand the stress of what he's doing. If he lasts as long as the '06 elections before resigning, I'll be amazed. Keep D&D Civil.
unbelievable, let's see how they spin it if Whittington's condition worsens from his heart attack. Will there be a swift boating of Whittington also?
deckard, i'll say it again, that's mighty big of you. i am shocked out of my mind that the majority of those employed by this administration, that also have consciences, haven't quit out of utter disgust. batman, i'm with no worries here, these guys are at the bottom of a barrel of really rotten apples. nothing, no matter how vile and unthinkable, that they do surprises me. have a nice day everyone.
Inside info from a very well connected friend: It was not a heart attack. It was a stroke. MSNBC will be running a story on it at 4:30 PM Houston time.
I'm really not a very big guy. I don't admire McClellan, but I understand that people get caught up in political situations that become far different than what they bargained for. I agree that a host of people in the Administration should have resigned already. I think that many of those who have not done so are political hacks and opportunists, who think they will come out of this smelling like a rose, regardless of how foul the stench is around them, in the West Wing, in the Congress, and the Oval Office. There is a tendancy of political people to see themselves as something removed from the bad day to day stuff happening around them. It's called self delusion. We are seeing that, now, in Washington amongst the Republicans in power, and here in Austin, amongst the Republicans in power. There are those Republicans, in both capitols, who have quietly resigned, because they have seen what has happened to those who resigned and weren't so quiet about it. We are seeing more and more Republicans coming out publically, saying what they say behind closed doors. Once the current clique in power is out of power, and the fear of retribution has faded, my prediction is that you will see a host of Republicans speaking out against what has been happening the last several years, in Washington and in Texas. I wish that things were a simple "black and white," but they rarely are. Keep D&D Civil.
Either that or there will be leaks to the press that Whittington never really hunted before and thought that running in front of a gun was part of some sort of initiation.
Have been looking for some stats on hunting-related accidents & found this pdf report from TPWD. In 2004, there were 29 hunting accidents, four of them fatal, in Texas in 2004. Ten of the 29 were self-inflicted. There were 1,091,178 hunting licenses sold in Texas in 2004. The accident rate has declined from 12.6/100,000 licenses sold in 1966 to 2.7/100,000 licenses sold in 2004. I would imagine you undertake several activities every day that are significantly more dangerous.
What is it that NRA whores like to say? "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." I guess Cheney must be auditioning to be their new spokesman
Or Whittington shot first first and The Dick shot back in self defense. Or Whittington was sleeping with The Mrs and thus needed killing.
Yes, this is a serious issue, however I found this funny... Horns visit White House Joining the crowd were Texans U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and much of the Texas delegation to Congress, White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett and spokesman Scott McClellan, a Texas grad who also wore his burnt orange necktie. "The orange that they're wearing is not because they're concerned that the vice president may be there," McClellan said of the team and fans, "although that's why I'm wearing it."
