Google search, “Cheney shooting – all 3,761 related”
Google search, “Gore Saudi Arabia – all 121 related”
It’s not that the Cheney shooting isn’t big news. It is. Made bigger by his stubborn refusal to disclose this earlier. Made even worse by this,
White House Finds Humor in Hunting Mishap
The White House has decided that the best way to deal with Vice President Dick Cheney’s shooting accident is to joke about it.
President Bush’s spokesman quipped Tuesday that the burnt orange school colors of the University of Texas championship football team that was visiting the White House shouldn’t be confused for hunter’s safety wear. “The orange that they’re wearing is not because they’re concerned that the vice president may be there,” joked White House press secretary Scott McClellan, following the lead of late-night television comedians. “That’s why I’m wearing it.”
Ugh. Stupid strategy from any perspective. It’s one thing to ‘move on’, another to make light of the situation. Especially when we are talking about a 78 year old victim.
That is not the point here. The Google search shows the discrepency in priorities, on way the media views what is important. Al Gore gives a truly repulsive performance in Saudi Arabia, and it barely gets a mention. He gets a pass. This guy was almost president and from all indications he wants to run again, this is news. Big news.
Cheney, and now the White House, are getting what they deserve based on how they have handled the situation. Al Gore is not getting what he deserves, not even close.
UPDATE: For my thougts on how the episode has been handled from a pure media relations perspective, click here.