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March 05, 2005

Ya just can't make this stuff up ...

In the words of Jeff Goldstein, "The Democrats' march into self-parody continues"

Dear Colleague:

Please join us in introducing the attached resolution, which requires the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to turn over all documentation in their possession about how James Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon) gained access to White House press events.

For nearly three years, the White House has been granting Mr. Guckert, a right-wing activist with no press credentials, access to the White House briefing room and presidential press conferences. This appears to violate long standing practices of carefully screening contacts with the president.

Blah Blah Blah. I'm not surprised to see Charlie Rangel signing onto this "get the gay conservative" tag team effort. I mean the man has got to fill his time with something important seeing as how he has assured everyone that there is no such thing as Islamic terrorism. And getting Gannon is so, so important BECAUSE OF THE HYPOCRISY.

Posted by Darleen at March 5, 2005 08:33 PM

Comments

Um. If these guys think that conservative opinion-makers don't get to meet with a Republican President, they're even more out of touch with reality than we thought.

Yes, folks. The President — whomever occupies that office — is an elected official and a leader of his party. He and his staff may, from time to time, indulge in partisanship.

Is there a doctor in the house? The first three rows appear to have fainted dead away.

Posted by: Jeff Harrell at March 5, 2005 10:56 PM

"This appears to violate long standing practices of carefully screening contacts with the president."

Would those be the same screening practices that allowed "crazed stalker" Monica Lewinsky unmonitored accessed to President Clinton? Or the ones that allowed drug smuggler Jorge Cabrera to the White House to donate money (and have pics taken with the Veep and HRC)? How about that Johnny Chung and his Chinese military connections? Sorry MSM, but your bias is showing (again).

It appears that the "Fourth Estate" is falling apart, and it ain't pretty.

Posted by: Noble Eagle at March 6, 2005 11:37 AM

Can any of you cite an instance during the Clinton Presidency when a fake reporter was given access to a White House PRESS briefing? Because that's the issue here.

Posted by: Brad at March 7, 2005 01:34 PM

Brad

What do you mean "fake" reporter? Because he uses a pen name? Oh heavens to Mark Twain!

Or the online news site he worked for was "fake"?

Um..there was that 90 y/o gal who was a fixture at the WH press place for years that published off her kitchen table..or maybe I need to remind you of this

"Several reporters pointed to Russell Mokhiber, editor of Corporate Crime Reporter, who has been attending press events through a daily press pass for several years. Some say he is as partisan as Gannon in his questions, but often with a left-leaning approach. One reporter called him "the ideological flip-side of Gannon."
The "CCR" is just as valid as Talon News.

And maybe you ought to read the First Amendment again. Last I looked there is a specific wording that forbids the government from THEY THEMSELVES defining who is/is not a "legitimate journalist".

Gannon met all the current requirements for a day pass, just as Mokhiber does and countless others.

This is "get the gay apostate" from the usual Left Cult.

You REALLY don't want to go to the Department of Govermental Licensing of Journalists, do you?

Posted by: Darleen at March 7, 2005 05:17 PM

Darleen,
Gannon's sexuality is NOT the issue (although you would think the Religious Right would be concerned that a gay hustler has access to White House Press briefings; apparently they aren't).

The issue is Gannon's credentials.

Gannon is not a journalist; he was attending WH press conferences as far back as February 2003, when Talon News DIDN'T EVEN EXIST.

Talon News' editor in chief, Bobby Eberle, is a Republican activist who served as a delegate to the 1996, 1998, and 2000 Texas Republican Conventions and to the 2000 national Republican Convention. In 1999, Eberle "was recognized with a unanimously approved resolution of commendation by the Republican Party of Texas for service and dedication to the Republican cause."

Eberle is also the president and CEO of GOPUSA.com, which employed Gannon.

Gannon's journalistic education consists of attending a two day $50 seminar at the RIght Wing Leadership Institute Broadcast School. That's it: two days of seminar and he's an "accredited journalist."

What's more: The Standing Committee of Correspondents, which credentials Capitol Hill reporters, REJECTED Gannon's application for a Capitol Hill press pass in part because of Talon News' lack of independence from a political organization. Here's what the Standing COmmitte said:

The application for accreditation to the press galleries states that "members of the press shall not engage in lobbying or paid advertising, publicity, promotion, work for any individual, political party, corporation, organization, or agency of the Federal Government." Talon News has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the committee that there is a separation from GOPUSA/Millions of Americans.com.


Posted by: Brad at March 8, 2005 06:15 AM

Brad

Nice way to ignore the salient points from E&P.

Gannon got his WH day pass doing nothing more or less than anyone else in the room. Hello, Mokhiber???

And certainly at this point in time it is ALL about Gannon's GAY COCK. He resigned and the the Left is still out to destroy him.

The Left is a Cult that engages in identity politics (to be an "authentic" gay/black/woman one HAS to belong to the Left). And we know how cults (jim jones, islamism) treat apostates.

I don't give too hoots what Congress thinks. They violate the Constitution on a regular basis. Just like the FEC saber rattling against bloggers and the HORRIBLE McCain-Feingold act.

Posted by: Darleen at March 8, 2005 12:37 PM

Darleen, you obviously have not been reading what the Left wing bloggers and the Left wing commenters have been saying about Gannon. They are NOT obsessed with his gay cock. I challenge you to read some opinion columns on this. The issue the Left "cult" (and BTW, there is a Right "cult" too) has with Gannon is about his access to the White House. He got a Day Pass, which did not require the FBI background checks that a hard pass requires. And he only got it because his boss pulled strings for him. Because the White House wnated him there, to throw out softball questions to Bush.

Access is the issue. Gannon's sexuality is a side issue, more of a curiosity and amusing side issue (it's amusing when someone with a sense of humor examines the anti-gay rhetoric coming out of the Republican Party and Gannon's own participation in that anti-gay rhetoric).

Jim Jones? Islamism? What does that have to do with Washington politics? Are there dead bodies here that I am unaware of? Calm down.

Posted by: Brad at March 8, 2005 12:49 PM

Despite being a lefty left, I have to second what Darleen says regarding Russell Mokhiber, but I also say that the right is being silly when they say this is about gay bashing. If Jeff had been a woman and posed in porno mags for straights this would be generating as much print. This isn't about being gay, but about being a "call girl" posing nude and all the other things this country gets all riled up about.

Posted by: Mieke at March 8, 2005 07:45 PM