My first reaction was, ha ha ha ha. My next reaction was, hahahahahahahaha.
What a public relations nightmare. It’s something straight out of a West Wing episode (the earlier seasons, not the later ones which suck. I feel for the show’s demise.).
It’s worse than POTUS crashing into a tree (although Governor Arnold’s driving a bike without a license is a weird reversal of life imitating art).
The news item from the Associated Press states, “McBride did not comment about why the vice president’s office did not tell reporters about the accident until the next day. She referred the question to Armstrong, who could not be reached again Sunday evening.”
If I were in charge of representing Dick, I wouldn’t comment too. What would I say that wouldn’t make me sound like an idiot?
“I’m sorry the Vice President of the United States was shooting ducks (or quails or whatever it was that he was shooting at) but he shot someone else by mistake?”
“We didn’t issue a statement right away because we didn’t know what to tell the press aside from the truth that the Vice President was shooting ducks but he shot someone by accident instead?”
The AP article goes on to say, “Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Ranch where the accident occurred, said Whittington was bleeding and Cheney was very apologetic.”
If I were Cheney, I would be apologetic too. In fact, I would be more than apologetic. I would be using all the political powers available to me and, short of telling whatshisname to shut up, just make a deal and work it out if need be.
I wonder, is accidentally shooting someone during a hunting trip tantamount to jail time or a fine? Does that someone have to press charges?
Bye bye birdie.
