CNN's Morton: Bush "likes to hunt quail"; Cheney "loves to hunt" -- but Kerry "spent time posing with guns"
SUMMARY: In a report on hunting and politics, CNN's Bruce Morton commented that President Bush "likes to hunt quail with family and friends" and Vice President Dick Cheney "loves to hunt," but -- using language that echoed that of Cheney during the 2004 campaign -- said Sen. John Kerry "spent time posing with guns" during the 2004 presidential campaign, and that "voters probably saw more of him pursuing exotic sports, windsurfing and so on."
During a report on hunting and politics on the February 13 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, CNN national correspondent Bruce Morton commented that President Bush "likes to hunt quail with family and friends" and Vice President Dick Cheney -- who accidentally shot a member of his quail-hunting party on February 11 -- "loves to hunt," but Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) "spent time posing with guns" during the 2004 presidential campaign, and that "voters probably saw more of him pursuing exotic sports, windsurfing and so on." Morton's jab echoed language Cheney used during the 2004 campaign to attack Kerry as effete and elitist.
Kerry reportedly has been a hunter since the age of 12.
From the February 13 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
MORTON: Do politicians love to hunt? Well, some. Theodore Roosevelt went after big game, went exploring -- a genuine enthusiast. Dick Cheney loves to hunt. There's been story after story about his hunting trips, though none, fair is fair, quite as dramatic as this last one. Harry Truman? He'd rather have played poker. Dwight Eisenhower organized a partridge hunt in North Africa during World War II and hunted as president. But when he had his druthers, you'd find him on a golf course. John Kennedy? A biographer recalls that Lyndon Johnson bullied him into shooting a deer once on the LBJ Ranch. But he didn't like it, and didn't fish much either. Though, of course, he loved to sail.
[...]
MORTON: This president likes to hunt quail with family and friends, especially on New Year's Day. John Kerry, the man he beat, spent time posing with guns. But voters probably saw more of him pursuing exotic sports, windsurfing and so on.
As Morton spoke, CNN aired a photograph of Kerry's October 21, 2004, goose-hunting trip in Ohio, and then switched to video footage of Kerry windsurfing. CNN, however, had reported on October 21, 2004, that Kerry is a longtime hunting enthusiast:
FRANK BUCKLEY (CNN national correspondent): Well, there are sportsmen in many of the battleground states -- in Ohio, in Pennsylvania, in Missouri, in Florida, in West Virginia -- a number of the battleground states, people hunt. It's a common pastime among the people in all these states, and the point here is to say, look, John Kerry is like you in many ways that you may not know that he was the -- that you may not know that he is like this. You may not know that he hunts, that he's been hunting since he was 12 and 13 years old. That was the point of today's exercise. You're right, Wolf. It wasn't just that he happened to decide to go goose-hunting today. He went goose-hunting today for a political purpose, but that purpose was to say you may not know some things about John Kerry, and one of them is that he likes to hunt.
Moreover, Morton's comments were reminiscent of Cheney's attacks on Kerry during the 2004 election, such as this comment the vice president made at an October 28, 2004, "Q&A" in Schofield, Wisconsin:
CHENEY: I think there's no question but what in my mind he is not a firm believer in the Second Amendment, that the Second Amendment is a lot more than just a photo-op and that you'll find the President and I have records that go back for many, many years that are consistent with a strong, principled belief in the Second Amendment and the right of Americans to bear arms, and that we, two, aggressively support those measures that will enhance and encourage the capacity that so many of us enjoy in terms of hunting and fishing and taking advantage of the gifts that we're provided as Americans. We want to protect and preserve that. And frankly, I don't think John Kerry -- I think he's spent too much time windsurfing, instead of hunting and fishing.
Also, Cheney's "hunting" practices seem to differ from traditional hunting ethics and practices. University professor and hunter Scott Denham wrote in a February 14 Charlotte Observer column that Cheney's February 11 quail hunt "broke several basic rules" of hunting -- too many hunters, no dog, and hunting from a vehicle. Denham noted that Cheney himself "broke some of the most basic rules: shooting at a low bird and not being aware of the placement of his hunting party members." Also, as was widely reported in 2003, Cheney and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) took part in a controlled bird hunt on a Pennsylvania game reserve, in which farm-raised birds were released from nets right in front of the hunters. According to a December 28, 2003, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch article, Cheney alone shot at least 70 birds, and the entire 10-person hunting party shot 417 birds.
While I think the real sin of this whole issue is the White House not being forthcoming with the facts of the accident (notice a trend?), I see no need for the cheap shot at Kerry. Was Kerry taking a photo-op when he was hunting during the campaign? Probably. Kinda like Bush posing in a uniform during the whole "mission accomplished" fiasco. Was Kerry posing with a gun when he killed an enemy soldier during the war? A bunch of 70 year olds driving around blasting fattened birds planted just for them is hardly great sport. Especially when the geezers shoot themselves.
At least Kerry never wounded anyone while "posing" with his gun. And what's with the criticism of Truman and JFK for not enjoying hunting? Since when is sailing an "elitist" sport? I'm sure generations of fishermen thought they were being real elitists when they put to sea. These media bloviators would be well advised to take a walk once in awhile in the REAL world, instead of going on and on in the most inane manner, trying to put the best spin on our most holy dear leaders.
If you want an elitist sport, look no further than Bush/41's passion, cigarette boat racing.
Harry Whittington knew Dick Cheney was an idiot pretending to be a hunter. Harry should have stood at least ten miles away.
I'm glad the VP has such a "strong, principled belief in the Second Amendment..." Too bad he chose to hide from similar principles when his country needed him during the Vietnam War.
You can bet if birds could shoot back, Cheney and Bush would find a lot of reasons to stay indoors.
Out of the three, Kerry was the only one to track down and kill an enemy soldier with his gun. That doesn't stop anyone from taking a cheap shot at him.
Compare and contrast Kerry's actions with the real man, Cheney, who takes a break from his weekday job of killing and generating mayhem to go out and...kill some more.
"Cheney, who takes a break from his weekday job of killing and generating mayhem to go out and...kill some more."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is priceless, permission to pass that on
Of course.
Along with 2,594,000 of his brothers as they served in Vietnam. Both of these so called manly bird hunters did not. Is that what makes a man a man these days. Shooting at little animals that were released from cages for these “heroes” to kill. While a generation was being destroyed, and families torn apart, Dick had other priorities and George's father pulled strings to get him into the Reserves. Once in the reserves, he dropped out for a bit, which for anyone else would have meant that they would have been activated into the service full time. You can say what you want about Kerry, but he's no hypocrite.
In case Bruce Morton and the rest of the Fox news wannabees at CNN haven't heard, John Kerry lost the election, no need to continue the pot shots at him. How about directing your gaze at the men behind the curtain?
John Kerry, for all his faults, is 10 times the man Bush or Cheney are.
Kerry also "liked" to pose with brave soldiers serving their country in a real war. Go figure.
I've watched this kind of "hunt" first-hand, among politicos of my home state. It isn't hunting; it's just rich guys killing birds on fenced-off private land, usually under the influence of plenty of alcohol. Hardly a sport.
I've read this is Texas' version of the golf-business social system. I feel sorry for the Texas businesman who doesn't like to hunt, they're at a real disadvantage.
Your right CANTSEEFADE........whenever a story gets out of whack (i.e: the WH can't control it)......
Here comes CNN (Fox is not far behind - But no doubt Roger Ailes is fuming that CNN did it first!!!) bringing up a distraction in the form of Kerry..... why? Next will be that its Clintons fault.... or perhaps its Liberals and Democrats fault.....
What ever it takes to skew the truth......A man (who happens to be the VP of the USA.....) SHOT ANOTHER MAN!! So lets bring up a comparison to Kerry.....makes sense??
Like I said.......the news is Cheney shot a man and they waited more than 14 hours to tell....only after the ranch owner said she was going public!! THAT IS THE NEWS!!!
Not what Kerry likes to do when he hunts or how long he's been hunting or if he can hunt at all? It only adds a distration to the news: CHENEY SHOT A MAN.....ON ACCIDENT AND THEY DIDNT REPORT IT UNTIL THEY WERE FORCED TOO!!
Oh my.....latest from the Scott "Punchbag" McClellan: It was the other guys fault!! Yeah....thats it.....blame the guy that wasn't armed! (Now I'm no hunter and don't own a gun...but I have friends that are and do....and they have told me time and again.....
"THE ONE WITH THE GUN IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE.....PERIOD!!"
Its becoming a circus because these people can't even simply take responsibility for an accident!!! But is this any suprise from a regime that can't take responsibility for everything else they do that isn't by accident??
Also will somebody please explain to me how CNN or Fox are still allowed to call themselves "news agencies"??
Shoulda retired about 15 years ago.
Do we need his one report a week?
The moment Cheney shot another hunter at a "staged" hunt is when you are posing with your substitute manhood in your hand.
I have been a hunter since the age of 11, it's a hillybilly thing. My family has hunted our land since before my geat grandfather and by hunting I mean spending a week in the woods and seeing your "hunting" relatives at the end of the day. Other than that we could be any where at any time. We have never shot each other.
My Dad a Republican, so it is not genetic, worked for Haliburton and Kelloggs, Brown, and Root. He has stock. Even he is embrassed -- I keep telling him there is a lot more to be red faced about but there you go. Cheney is a hunter in the same way when you go to the grocery store you are a farmer.
He should be kept from hunting again. And Morton is an idiot and has proven so with this comment.
Cheney is a hunter in the same way when you go to the grocery store you are a farmer.
Awesome!
Of the three (bush, Cheney and Kerry)
Only one has hunted man
Kerry 2008
2 out of 3 have now.
Good one, LH!
Since the shooting, I have followed the articles and comments here on MMFA. Yesterday Ted Kennedy dominated the dialogue. Today it is John Kerry. Is a pattern developing here?
Where does Cheney get this free time in which to go quail hunting? Would someone please give him something to do that pertains to his job? There's a certain guy named bin Laden who's still on the loose, for one thing.
Dave man don’t you understand. The entire state of Texas is the second white house. Just like when the president is working out of the Crawford ranch. They are not on vacation they are working. I’m sure everyone there was talking about how to get Bin Laden. Or maybe they were discussing the second amendment because we all know they have no clue about the fourth. Of course when I first heard this I was confused. I actually got a little excited because I thought maybe they were hunting Dan Quayle. Of course imagine my disappointment. Oh yeah if you did not see the Daily Show last night you may have missed the funniest parody every. “Dick Cheney shot a 78 year old man in the face”. ROTFL
[link to www.crooksandliars.com]
"Harry Whittington, seasoned to an inch of his life."
unlike those downhome republicans. isn't that the message?
VP Elmer Fudd should stick to POSING with HIS gun. Fewer people would get hurt.
Bruce Morton reporting: In preparation for the 2004 election, voters saw Kerry and Edwards really talking to unscripted crowds and taking questions from citizens. Voters saw Bush and Cheney posing and shaking hands with Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay.
Bruce Morton also mentioned that Jimmy Carter (Annapolis grad and former career Navy guy) used to go hunting with his Dad -- using a BB gun (said in a snide manner). I believe former President Carter has also been a quite serious fly fisherman for most of his adult life, but I don't recall if Morton mentioned that.
(Garry Wills' excellent Feb. 9 review of Carter's latest book on values and fundamentalism is available here: [link to www.nybooks.com]
But if you thought this overview of politics and hunting might be just the place for a national news commentator to mention George W. Bush' s own hunting misfire in Texas, you would be mistaken. As seen in the documentary film Bush's Brain, gubernatorial candidate Bush did some photo-op hunting and shot a protected bird instead of the game bird he was after, and had to pay a fine for his embarrassing mistake.
The ranch where Cheney, et al., raises birds in cages, clips their wings, then shoos them into the bushes where big strong "hunters" can flush them. Hunting, I have no problem with. That's not hunting; it's killing.
They killed 417 of these birds between the 10 of them. This was not hunting. This was a psychotic killing spree. Postal workers everywhere are saying to themselves, "Man, that was excessive!".
What I want to know is why Cheney didn't just pull a few strings with the Air Force and just drop a daisy-cutter or two on the whole hunting ground and save everybody the pretense of a hunt.
Wow, I had no idea. FYI, I grew up in the south and am comfortable around guns. My husband hunted from the time he was a boy--to put food on the family table. Although I'm now a vegetarian, I don't have a problem with responsible hunters. Guys like Dickless Cheney sicken and disgust me. Not only is the blood lust disturbing, but the sheer waste is sickening.
If Cheney is such an experienced hunter...
HOW THE HECK DID HE END UP SHOOTING A GUY IN THE FACE?!?!
My father-in-law is an avid and experienced hunter and gun-owner and has never even come close to shooting a hunting companion. He says anyone that would do so is an idiot.
Sportsmen all over the US should be lining up to give Cheney a swift kick in the grapes.
........he had been drinking. Maybe not completely drunk, but for political purpsoses if he had taken even one alcoholic drink during the "hunt" it would be a disaster. A post by James Moore at Huffington Post says that Rove was in contact with the Armstrong ranch Saturday evening. On Tuesday, lo and behold, the NYT publishes an article stating that a sherriff's deputy interviewed Cheney the night of the shooting which contradicts every other published report and is almost certainly untrue. A misleading story planted in the NYT by Rove. Where have we seen that before I wonder?
Something is clearly being covered up here. Alcohol, a mistress or both.
As an aside, my brother still hunts. He uses a bow and arrow and stalks Elk in the foothills of Alberta, an area where grizzly bears are fairly common. That is hunting. Anyone participating in a slaughter of half-domesticated birds has absolutely no right to call him or herself a hunter.
Okay, so let me get this straight. I should only vote for candidates who: (1) are Bible spouting, Bible thumping members of a fundamentalist church, and (2) prefer killing birds to surfing or skiing
It would be interesting if someone could find out what type of 28 gauge shotgun this was that our Vice President was using. I would have to venture that 'regular citizen Dick' didn't go to the Walmart to buy his gun. Those handmade, small gauge guns can cost upwards of 10 thousand dollars. Where could I find out more about the gun itself? (for 10 thousand bux a guy could buy a fleet of windsurfers)
It was a 28-gauge Perazzi brand shotgun (barrel length 26 - 30 inches) loaded with 7 1/2 birdshot. The pellets were .095 mm in diameter. Each shell contained powder and approximately 260 pellets.
A Perazzi shotgun can run you from $5K to well into six figures. Sounds kind of, I don't know...ELITIST, doesn't it?
Some say that they get quite fierce in those cages. And when they open the gate and let a hundred or more loose at the same time....my God what a sight.
Thank God they've had their wings clipped or they would go right for your eyes.
To quote Tim the Enchanter (although he was talking about a rabbit)
"Follow. But. Follow only if ye be men of valour, for the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no man yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of full fifty men lie strewn about its lair. So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth."
Just substitute beak for teeth.