CBS doing their own scrubbing - sheriff barred from questioning VP

[mzmolly]

CBS news originally reported on 2/13 the following: (courtesy of think-progress)

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/13/sheriff-barred-from-interviewing/

Texas Sheriff Barred From Interviewing Cheney About Shooting Incident ~ CBS News reports that local law enforcement officials were prevented from interviewing Vice President Cheney after he accidentally shot a 78-year-old man during a hunting trip.

"CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer reports Texas authorities are complaining that the Secret Service barred them from speaking to Cheney after the incident. Kenedy County Texas Sheriffs Lt. Juan Guzman said deputies first learned of the shooting when an ambulance was called."

The original story (found here) is now missing any reference to the comments above: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/national/main1309344.shtml

CBS has offered this in (lame response) to questions about the incident: (condensed version below)http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/publiceye/main500486.shtml

February 14, 2006

Cheney, The Sheriff And The Secret Service, Did CBS Misfire?

... Since yesterday, we’ve received many e-mails with the same theme, voiced below by reader Mike B., regarding a story posted on CBSNews.com:

It appears that CBS has scrubbed an entire section of a story concerning Cheney's accident with a shotgun. This raises serious questions about the journalistic integrity of CBS News. From the deleted portion of the story:

"CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer reports Texas authorities are complaining that the Secret Service barred them from speaking to Cheney after the incident."

- OFFICIAL LAME RESPONSE FROM CBS BELOW -

"Here's what happened"

Yesterday (Monday) morning Kenedy County Texas Sheriffs Lt. Juan Guzman told CBS Station KNX that Secret Service agents prevented a deputy from immediately questioning Cheney. I immediately called the Secret Service seeking a comment on the report. The service's first response was, "We'll look into it." We went on the air (and on the Web) with the story as it developed; airing tape on radio and quotes on-line from the Sheriff's official along with the Secret Service's promise to look into it.

I pursued many many calls to various Secret Service officials throughout the afternoon. It took the Secret Service several hours to come up with an explanation. At approximately 2:45p.m., the Secret Service issued a timeline that started with the time of the shooting and included first word that the Resident Secret Service Agent had worked out an agreement with the Kenedy County Sheriff for a deputy to question Cheney the morning AFTER THE SHOOTING. A Secret Service spokesman confirmed that at least one deputy had been barred from the ranch shortly after the shooting because "people on the ground" were unaware of the agreement for Cheney to be interviewed. Much of that information aired on CBS News Radio. It was also passed on to CBSNews.com (where I hope it appeared.)

So to answer the reader's question, we did not "get the story wrong." We reported it as it developed. I obviously resent any notion that the White House or GOP could "gag" our reporting on this or any other story.

CBS news, were it responsible - would give viewers BOTH sides of the story, and let ADULTS decide. They would not simply give the SS the official last word. Did they ask the SS about Bill Clinton's issues and simply take their word for it? NO.

For those who saw my original post, my apologies for linking to a F-d up website, needless to say since I don't read them, I was unfamiliar with their disgusting agenda. I googled, read the text and linked it in a matter of seconds. Sorry I didn't see the OBVIOUS filth before doing so.:blush:

:hi:

[mzmolly]

1. . I dunno, I thought this was interesting?

:shrug:

[gardenista]

3. Yes, it is interesting. Did you see the clip of Hannity interviewing

Morris?

Hannity swears that the sherrif was "called immediately", and that Cheney has no history of alcohol abuse.

I know this wasn't on CBS, but obviously CBS is trying to conform to the same talking points that Hannity was spouting.

[mzmolly]

4. I think the reporter is obviously biased thus he accepted the explaination

of people who are supposed to "protect" the VP over a more objective party.

I did not see the Morris interview, but I do plan to send him this info if I can find a way to do so, thanks.

:hi:

[gardenista]

5. The interview is on "crooksandliars.com"

Morris is a tool, no doubt, but at least he was calling it like he saw it on this score- Cheney was drunk.

Unfortunately, he didn't respond to Hannity's made-up stuff about Cheney not having a drinking problem with the facts- Cheney has two DWI's that we know about.

[mzmolly]

6. He sure is a tool.

But, I'm glad he threw Hannity for a loop none the less. There is a story here, and I fear the blogs will have to be the ones to tell it - again.

[mzmolly]

2. Hey, perhaps the SS told MSNBC there was no beer involved too?

I'm out, one last :kick:

[Bozita]

7. ABC first mentioned being turned away at the gate on yesterday's Nightline

[mzmolly]

8. Interesting.

Glad someone is talking about it.

[dogday]

9. So many questions, so much time

to get their stories straight, to sober up, to cover up and hide whatever... Just makes me sick....

[Pryderi]

10. Will the news report the censoring/rewrite of the news?

[mzmolly]

11. Excellent question.

Akin to: "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound?"

Perhaps the media will report on it's own incompetence if Turner buys back CNN. ;) Hell, we should form our own network huh? We have AAR, I guess that's a start.