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See other Politics Articles Title: Cheney shoots at quail, hits hunting companion Cheney shoots at quail, hits hunting companion By Susan Page, USA TODAY Vice President Cheney accidentally peppered a hunting companion with pellets during a quail hunt on a Texas ranch over the weekend, sending the 78-year-old man to the hospital with injuries to his face and chest. Cheney accidentally shot Austin attorney Harry Whittington, shown in a 2005 file photo, while hunting in Texas. Andrew Price, The Austin American-Statesman via AP Katharine Armstrong, a prominent Texas Republican who witnessed the incident on her family's 50,000-acre spread in South Texas, said Harry Whittington was treated at the scene Saturday by medical aides accompanying the vice president. He was taken by ambulance to Christus Spohn Hospital-Memorial in Corpus Christi, where hospital spokeswoman Yvonne Wheeler said he was in stable condition. "He's sitting up in bed and talking to people," Armstrong said. She said Whittington probably would go home today. On Sunday, Cheney visited Whittington, a lawyer in Austin, then returned to Washington. "The vice president was pleased to see he's doing fine and in good spirits," press secretary Lea Anne McBride said. The incident became known when Armstrong called her local paper, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, on Sunday. Asked why the vice president's office didn't reveal the incident, McBride said, "We deferred to Katharine Armstrong." In a phone interview, Armstrong said the hunting party pulled up to a place where quail had been spotted. Hunting dogs spotted a different covey, and Cheney and another hunter moved there. Whittington was looking for a bird he already had shot, then came up behind the other hunters unannounced. "He was standing in a low spot of ground with the sun behind him," said Armstrong, who was watching. Cheney spotted a quail and swung to shoot. His shotgun blast sprayed Whittington, who was knocked to the ground. Such hunting accidents aren't rare, Armstrong said, but there are few shootings on record by presidents or vice presidents. Vice President Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. In some ways, Cheney's accident is more reminiscent of occasions when President Ford drove golf balls into a crowd, beaning bystanders. "These things happen," Armstrong said, expressing exasperation with reporters who seemed to know nothing about hunting. "It's a shotgun, not a rifle," she said, "and it's a spray of pellets ... not bullets." Armstrong is the daughter of Anne Armstrong, who was U.S. ambassador to Great Britain. Cheney, an avid hunter, has often hunted on the Armstrong Ranch. In October, he spoke at the funeral of Tobin Armstrong, Katharine Armstrong's father.
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In some ways, Cheney's accident is more reminiscent of occasions when President Ford drove golf balls into a crowd, beaning bystanders. Yes, they are very similar, except Ford used a golf club while Cheney used a shotgun. CountFloyd posted on 2006-02-13 00:30:23 ET Reply Trace 2. To: Hello Newman (#0)
"These things happen," Armstrong said, expressing exasperation with reporters who seemed to know nothing about hunting. "It's a shotgun, not a rifle," she said, "and it's a spray of pellets ... not bullets." Yeah, and they just tickle a bit when they hit. Right. FormerLurker posted on 2006-02-13 00:31:36 ET Reply Trace 3. To: CountFloyd (#1)
More akin to Bobby Knight than Jerry Ford.
Hello Newman posted on 2006-02-13 00:54:57 ET Reply Trace 4. To: Hello Newman (#0) Who's to say Dick wasn't soused when he went hunting. Mistook Whittington for a quail. The whole story seems odd.They waited a whole 24 hours to report it. Its not farfetched to think the circumstances were covered up BushbotNot posted on 2006-02-13 09:44:22 ET Reply Trace Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
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