White House embeds operative in White House press pool

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/wa...nder_scrutiny/

http://tinyurl.com/56xbv

When Bush called on Gannon near the end of his nationally televised Jan. 26 news conference, he had just been questioned about Williams and the Education Department funds, an embarrassment to the administration. Gannon's question was different..

"Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the US economy," Gannon said. "[Minority Leader] Harry Reid was talking about soup lines, and Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet, in the same breath, they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you said you're going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"

As it turned out, Reid had never talked about soup lines. That was a phrase attributed to him in satire by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show.

They could have tried one that wasn't so obvious.

[RACooper]

Hmmm... getting caught "planting" a reporter to ask favourably leading questions was the reason for resignations up here less than a month ago...

[Kevlar281]

Now, the question of how Gannon gets into White House press conferences is coming under intense scrutiny from critics who contend that Gannon is not a journalist but rather a White House tool to soften media coverage of Bush. The issue was raised by a media watchdog group and picked up by Internet bloggers.

Critics? Media Watchdog Group? Internet bloggers? It must be true...

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Kevlar281
Critics? Media Watchdog Group? Internet bloggers? It must be true...

Probably as true as any criticism of coverage from the "other" side.

But hey, a little news management to deflect and bad coverage -- what the hell, I'm sure that's what the framers of the Constitution had in mind when they created the mechanisms for a free press and adversary media.

I have to admit that the political parties are pretty good at manipulation.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Probably as true as any criticism of coverage from the "other" side.

But hey, a little news management to deflect and bad coverage -- what the hell, I'm sure that's what the framers of the Constitution had in mind when they created the mechanisms for a free press and adversary media.

I have to admit that the political parties are pretty good at manipulation.

Agreed.

Anyone who thinks that any one political party has the moral high ground concerning its mechanics is sadly mistaken. (and isn't that a bad commentary on our humanity?)

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

http://mediacitizen.blogspot.com/200...r-inquiry.html

Gannon Quits After Blogger Inquiry

The Talon News correspondent at the center of a scandal over his White House press credentials quit Tuesday night amid a growing online investigation into his history, including allegations of involvement with several websites appearing to support gay pornography and promote male prostitution. Now he's biting back, calling those who dug up personal details about his past, haters of free speech.

I'm sure the fact he got a White House press pass 1 month after Talon News started up and never had any journalism experience prior to Talon News may have helped his downfall as well...

[DeltAlum]

Even Fox, who is loath to criticize the White House much, had a pretty good time dumping on this guy over the weekend.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Even Fox, who is loath to criticize the White House much,

Proof?

-Rudey

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Rudey
Proof?

Watch them.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Watch them.

I did. I guess compared to Dan Rather, anyone else "is loath to criticize the White House much."

-Rudey

[DeltAlum]

Not much of a Rather fan either. I do miss Brokaw.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Not much of a Rather fan either. I do miss Brokaw.

This guy is the best journalist...ever...http://www.mclaughlin.com/

-Rudey
--His yelling gets me all excited

[DeltAlum]

I've Only seen this guy once...

More comment/opinion than journalism -- at least that day.

[lifesaver]

Oh but the story takes a wierd, and gay prostituteish twist......

lol.

2/14/2005
Reporter with prostitution links and false name got access to Bush; Questions surface on relationship with White House staff

Questions fly on Guckert’s relationship with White House

RAW STORY

The former White House reporter for the conservative website Talon News, who resigned after his links to military escort domains appeared on the Web, is said to have paid two individuals to set up a site on which he intended to prostitute himself, RAW STORY has learned.

These individuals claim to have invoices which show the name of the reporter Jim Guckert’s personal business as paying for the website’s development.

AmericaBLOG’s John Aravosis has discovered previous images of the site through an Internet service which keeps records of sites that have been taken down. The images of the site seem to definitively show Guckert in various indiscrete poses. The images also match with images of Guckert that have appeared in the press, down to personal accoutrements, such as his watch.


http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=73

(Ok, I know its not the most relaiable of news sources (dont really consider blogs too relaible) BUT the linked site americablog.org (bout halfway down the page) makes a pretty damned good argument with lots of more than graphic photos)

Crazy

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

If Raw Story is right then it sounds like Kitty Kelly may have been telling the truth in her book when she talks about the White House being used for male hookers and Bush's "special male friend".

Sounds like the WhiteHouse is inhabited by the Republican Village People.