Cheney Follow-up

[FOX Cheney, VP, shooting]

[...]
The shooting is unlikely one of a dispute over politics as Burka said
Whittington has strong Republican credentials. However, he is also
known as an exemplary individual.
[...]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184617,00.html

Are they implying that Republican credentials do not usually go hand
in hand with being an exemplary individual??