Concealment and Failed Spin

A Yahoo News article discusses the initial reports and the facts of Cheney's hunting accident as they are now known. The vice president said that he delayed reporting the incident because he wanted to confusing details to come out right. That didn't work.


Blame

Initial reports from Mrs. Armstrong, the ranch owner, and from the Scott McClellan, the White House Press Secretary, were that Mr. Whittington failed to properly call out his location. "The vice president did everything right," Mrs. Armstrong said, adding that Whittington's mistake "exposed him to getting shot." McClellan later said that "the protocal was not followed by Mr. Whittington."

When Cheney spoke, he stated that "you can't place the blame anywhere else. I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend."


Drinking

Mrs. Armstrong indicated that "No one was drinking . . . No, zero, zippo." She later stated that there were beers in the hunters' cooler but she didn't think anyone had any.

Mr. Cheney said, "I had a beer at lunch."


Victim's Condition

It was initially reported that he was "just fine," and cracking jokes with nurses.

Just fine is subjective. After being shot Whittington was conscious but not verbally responsive and he apparently was not cracking jokes with the nurses. Further, it is now clear that some pellets entered his chest cavity resulting in damage to his heart.


Hunting Licenses

The White House initially stated that all licenses were up to date.

Apparently Cheney was missing a stamp allowing hunting of Upland Game Birds.


Disclosure

The article continues by discussing communications with the White House and eventual disclosure to the public. Apparently even the White House didn't know what had happened until late that evening. Scott McClellan, the Press Secretary who was going to have to explain this to the press and public, was not informed until the next morning.