Crush Liberalism

"Journalists Whine About Not Being Alerted to First Lady’s Skin Cancer"

From Newsbusters:

Reminiscent of the high dudgeon Washington press corps reaction after a few hours passed before they were notified of Vice President Cheney’s hunting accident, on Tuesday some reporters denounced the White House for failing to publicly announce how last month First Lady Laura Bush had a skin cancer growth removed from one of her legs. On FNC, Brit Hume played a montage from the daily briefing showing how journalists “demanded to know why they hadn’t been told earlier.” NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, for instance, asked “how was the decision reached not to disclose this publicly until questions were asked?” And she challenged White House Press Secretary Tony Snow: “Do you feel any obligation as a person of public status to talk about this?”

On the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric framed the story not around the cancer but around how the White House didn’t reveal it: “Laura Bush has been treated for skin cancer, and today she and others in the administration were defending her decision to try to keep that story out of the press.” CBS reporter Jim Axelrod at least noted the lack of threat to the First Lady’s health: “In October, Mrs. Bush noticed a sore that wouldn’t heal. A biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, among the most common and treatable skin cancers.”
…
On the December 19 Special Report with Brit Hume on FNC, Hume played a montage of clips from the White House press briefing:

Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News: “Tony, can you tell us about Mrs. Bush’s skin cancer, how is she doing and how was the decision reached not to disclose this publicly until questions were asked?”

Victoria Jones, Talk Radio News Service: “Which was it, was it that it was medical privacy that was the reason for not informing us, or was it that it was no big deal?”

O’Donnell: “Do you feel any obligation as a person of public status to talk about this?”

Jessica Yellin, ABC News: “Did the White House doctor treat her?”

Kathleen Koch, CNN: “Does the First Lady say she actually does not plan to come out in any way? She could potentially have a great influence on a lot of people’s lives, especially young women.”

Tony Snow: “You guys are really stretching it. I mean, it is now officially a really slow news day.”

White House press spokesjerk Jonathan would have responded thusly:

“Why didn’t I tell you guys? Oh, I dunno…maybe because it’s none of your Allah-damned business?!? Maybe?? Perhaps I have bigger things to worry about than whether or not Kelly O’Dumb#ss or Katie F*#kin’ Couric and her seven viewers need to know my wife’s medical business, hmmm? I didn’t feel it was a priority to run out and tell the ‘always accommodating’ press corps…I’m funny that way!”

December 20, 2006 - Posted by crushliberalism | Uncategorized