White House-friendly reporter under scrutiny (i.e. PropaGannon)

[dqueue]

Boston Globe today reports on the brewing scandal of "Jeff Gannon", White House correspondant for TalonNews, repeater of the White House talking points.

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has provided White House media credentials to a man who has virtually no journalistic background, asks softball questions to the president and his spokesman in the midst of contentious news conferences, and routinely reprints long passages verbatim from official press releases as original news articles on his website.

Jeff Gannon calls himself the White House correspondent for TalonNews.com, a website that says it is "committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news coverage to our readers." It is operated by a Texas-based Republican Party delegate and political activist who also runs GOPUSA.com, a website that touts itself as "bringing the conservative message to America."

Called on last week by President Bush at a press conference, Gannon attacked Democratic Senate leaders and called them "divorced from reality." During the presidential campaign, when called on by Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Gannon linked Senator John F. Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, to Jane Fonda and questioned why anyone would dispute Bush's National Guard service.

[cthrumatrix]

2. this is propaganda in action..... true journalists should fight back

but they won't...they are paid whores as well

[Pithy Cherub]

17. REAL journalists would fight back:

the current crop is from the KFC school of extra crispy journalism...

[DS1]

54. Real journalists would've never lost so much spine they'd

end up this place at all :eyes:

[The Zanti Regent]

101. Yeah, but this PRESSTITUTE acts like 99% of the Press Whores

All they do is kiss Bush's ass!

[tranche]

69. that's like asking the cuckoo bird to fight back n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

3. and how many our tax dollars are they paying this troll?

[Stephanie]

4. It's fantastic that the Boston Globe is covering this story!

Woo hooo!

[dqueue]

7. Heck ya it is!

I've watched this unfold since the start, and it's yielding some interesting questions, answers, and non-answers (not to mention countermeasures against the research being done). I heard that NPR may run something on it in the Boston-area, too (which I presume should syndicate across NPR).

This is collaborative journalism in action, something we MUST rely upon in order to deter the propaganda of this administration.

[Quetzal]

5. Media Matters is turning out to be one of the most

important liberal websites on the internet. They are the ones that initially jumped on the connection.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Quetzal]

14. Well Congratulations to both Media Matters and DU

*celebrate good times c'mon"

[SpiralHawk]

6. Please move along

And re-focus your attention on the "epic" Michael Jackson trial. This whole "propagana" thing is a diversion. The Real News (TM) is "What's Going Down in the Jacko Trial."

And always remember, Big BushCo loves you.

[dqueue]

8. bushco loves you, and

there really IS a crisis with social security, so just go ahead and give that money to poppa bush, and he'll protect you from terra.

[librechik]

9. Good start--let's get the rest of them!

maybe start over fresh with brand new j-school graduates. They'd do a hell of a better job than most of the hacks in that gaggle.

[Supersedeas]

75. my sentiments exactly

[David__77]

10. If this guy can get credentials, so should...

...the Workers World, Socialist Worker, Revolutionary Worker, People's Weekly World and Socialist Action. Wouldn't THAT be a fun news conference. These papers give as much "news" as Talon, and probably more.

[calimary]

20. Okay, then, by that logic, we should have somebody from DU getting

credentials. I mean "fair and balanced" IS fair and balanced, is it not?

I smelled a rat for a while in this guy, myself. You don't grandstand that way, asking such incredibly combative and leading questions unless you have a VERY clear agenda. When he spoke up last February at that news conference where he VERY clearly tried to deflect attention away from the AWOL questions Snotty was getting from the more conventional White House reporters, and started in on John Kerry and Jane Fonda, I can't tell you how many little red flags went up in the back of my head. Plus, the way he was dressed, sort of like some would-be commando (or guy who wanted desperately to be mistaken for right-wing Doobie Brothers guitarist and NRA fan Jeff "Skunk" Baxter) - it just stunk to high heaven. I'm glad there's some heat being turned on him. He's just an Armstrong Williams of another stripe. This is EXCELLENT that his credibility is now being called into question. Except, that's kind of a mis-statement - this jackass doesn't HAVE any credibility. This kind of stuff just utterly pisses me off.

Also - when he identified himself as being with "Talon News" my first reaction was - "TALON News"? "TALON"? Oh, PLEASE. What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? That you're some tough guy?

Unfortunately, this piece of human excrement will probably be hired at Pox "news" for some high-profile correspondent job - so he'll be able to claim he does indeed have "credibility" because he now works for some "credible" news outfit. roger ailes will help tidy him up nicely and move him out of range.

[intheflow]

26. Pick me! Pick me! I have more credentials than Gannon!

I worked at a PBS station for a year and a half, AND I've taken Intro to Media, AND I took a class on Media and Democracy. Can I be the DU rep? Pleeeeeeease???

[calimary]

49. I know whatcha mean...

You already are FAR better qualified than this self-important, flatulent putz.

[BR_Parkway]

64. TALON = Telling All Lies On Networks n/t

[Azathoth]

11. Perhaps the tide is turning

The MSM seems to be getting more and more agressive investigating the white house's media manipulation tactics. Hopefully they have the scent of blood and there will be more scandals on the horizon.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

108. Nope. Tokenism. They now realize we know they are all propagandists.

So they are doing a little dance of purging. It's called 'The Few Bad Apples' technique of damage control.

The US government relies on the undeserved credibility of the mainstream media to control us and get away with murder. Now they realize that because of the internet we know they are lying to us all time. So they are sacrificing a few blatant spinners to save the whole scam to get them through the war with Iran next.

50 years ago the CIA got ahold of ALL the mainstream media as part of the Cold War and staffed it with their own people to make sure things like electronic voting machine stolen elections wouldn't interfere with how they run their oil wars.

It was called Operation Mockingbird and it is still going on now that there are so few outlets left to control.

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/MOCK/mockingbird.html
(Mockingbird: The Subversion of the Free Press by the CIA)

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-overclass.html
(The Origins of the Overclass)

[tabasco]

13. One by one true journalists will be replaced ...

until we have a fully implemented state-controlled media. Democracy is dying a slow death thanks to frauds like this, and the ignorant people who support the corporate cabal.

[Stephanie]

15. You said it!

Bush stages Potemkin Press Conferences

[calimary]

21. Yes, with Pravda, American-style.

[Catbird]

25. The Stepford journalists n/t

[frictionlessO]

16. Please get in contact with elected officials & ask them to support

Media Matters in its request that he have his credentials yanked!
If we can pull this off, the whole sham of the WH propaganda corp, will come tumbling down!!!

WE NEED ACTION ON THIS NOW!!!

here are two other threads dealing with this developing situation.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x312766

and here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3041062

We've gotten our officials to pay attention before, we need to do it again!

[dqueue]

18. Hold please...

There is an enormous effort already underway on this. More important than having his credentials yanked is determining who is "Jeff Gannon", and who's backing TalonNews.

Please, if you want to contribute to the effort, check here at DKos. There is a TON of background information, and an HUGE necessity for further volunteers.

I encourage a coordination of efforts with the DKos community (not Kos himself; this has occurred in "diary form" there).

[frictionlessO]

22. Well thats cool, and I agree we need a concerted effort but

action needs to happen now if we are to take full advantage of the payola momentum.

There is nothing wrong with individuals supporting Media Matters request by asking their elected officials to take action.

Im going to go check out the diary now, thank you very much for the link!!

[frictionlessO]

23. Sorry I think you may have been very very right, a lot of work already

been and being done over at Kos. Im still reading (Im sorry but I do find the post/diary/comment set up over at Kos the most confusing of the progressive webboards, lol), and will join into the team and try to relay for DU is thats needed.

Thanks again Dqueue!!

[BlueEyedSon]

19. Gannon's Journalism "degree" is from a $50 diploma-mill seminar!

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/Jeff_Gannon

[MadisonProgressive]

24. An excerpt from the site:

"You have the opportunity to get the same training as many of today's most recognized and respected conservative leaders:

United States Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
Former Governor Jim Gilmore, Virginia
Congressman David McIntosh, Indiana
Congressman Mark Souder, Indiana
Congresswoman JoAnn Davis, Virginia
Congressman Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
Ralph Reed, Former Executive Director, Christian Coalition
Rob Anders, Member of Parliament, Canada"

[starroute]

70. The Leadership Institute is a school for Republican dirty tricks

It was founded by Morton Blackwell in 1979. (Remember him? Purple heart band-aid guy at the Republican convention?)

Blackwell had been head of the College Republican National Committee in the late 60's, when it became notorious as a school for Nixonian dirty tricks. Karl Rove, Lee Atwater, Terry Dolan, and Roger Stone all came out of the group in that period. Blackwell later founded the Leadership Institute to continue training right-wing operatives in the same principles.

A decade later, the College Republican National Committee was the spawning ground for Jack Abramoff (the well-connected Republican lobbyist who's currently up to his neck in a particularly ripe scandal involving Indian casino gambling), as well Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed, both of whom I see in post #24 are listed as Leadership Institute graduates as well.

Another figure of interest is Mike Krempasky, who registered the "rathergate.com" domain and rolled out a website so quickly after the National Guard memos program aired on CBS that it was suspected he must have had an advance tipoff from whoever set up the scam. Krempasky worked for the Leadership Institute from 1999 to 2002. He's also connected with Roger Stone, who's had a history of one dirty trick after another since 1972 -- among other things, he organized the Florida "riot" which shut down the 2000 recount, at which Krempasky was also present.

(Stone, like Abramoff, is involved in Indian casino gambling, although the only recent scandals he's been caught up in are those arising from his particularly lurid sex life.)

Krempasky definitely has some sort of connection with Gannon, because Talon News and GOPUSA featured the rathergate.com site extensively last fall, and Krempasky even wrote a guest opinion column for them. I don't know whether Krempasky himself plays a significant role in the saga, but I'm convinced that the Leadership Institute itself has to be at the heart of the story.

[demgrrrll]

131. Stone's swingers ad for singles and couples mentioned that she liked

"military men" Hmmmmmmm. I would bet that there will be a million bugs crawling out from under this rock. These folks remind me of the John Forsythe character in And Justice for All. I think that was the name of the movie. Upright on the outside and kinked up on the inside.

[Moderator]

27. kick

[HamiltonHabs32]

28. Chip Rightwinginstein tosses Bush a softball during White house press conf

I do apologize if this has alredy been posted... Its from the boston Globe. (first time breaking news post)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny?mode=PF


By Charlie Savage and Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent | February 2, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has provided White House media credentials to a man who has virtually no journalistic background, asks softball questions to the president and his spokesman in the midst of contentious news conferences, and routinely reprints long passages verbatim from official press releases as original news articles on his website.

Jeff Gannon calls himself the White House correspondent for TalonNews.com, a website that says it is "committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news coverage to our readers." It is operated by a Texas-based Republican Party delegate and political activist who also runs GOPUSA.com, a website that touts itself as "bringing the conservative message to America."
<snip>

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. " 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?"
<snip>



if you want to see a video of the clip check it out here...
http://metronewsnet.homelinux.com:81/boards/showthread.php?threadid=662 ~ Provided by Jon Stewart :D

[bling bling]

29. I think I saw that clip on TDS too.

It's sad that I don't even become shocked by that kind of stuff anymore. I no longer even expect the media to try and pretend to be unbiased.

This is a corrupt administration in bed with a corrupt media.

[calimary]

30. Well, I don't care if it's a dupe. The more this gets out, the better.

Everybody needs to be wised-up about this guy. And as with dear darling Armstrong, THIS is just the one we know about. This guy is a SHILL. A plant. Completely bogus and agenda-driven. Impartial my ass. "Talon 'News'". Oh, I'm impressed. Sounds like it's supposed to make you think it's some big, ferocious, hot-shot, tough-guy outfit. Ooooooooo, I'm so intimidated.

Sorry to say this, but it just screams at me to suspect this guy has very little to boast about south of his belly button... Bet he drives some big-ass souped-up, loud, gas-guzzling Hummer-type, look-at-me-I'm-a-Schwarzenegger-too, arrogance machine, also.

[shraby]

32. Probably gets paid by the WH too.

[aden_nak]

31. Can you imagine the reaction to the reverse?

I mean, if I were to go to the press conference as a reporter for Aden Nak News Associates, and ask a question like, "Mr. President, in the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, both you and your senior administration officials spoke of huge stockpiles of weapons that you knew, beyond any doubt, were being developed by Saddam Hussein. Is it that you are all incredibly stupid, or are you just complete and utter liars?"

Something tells me the media might get on my case a bit.

[jayctravis]

33. So Bush is allowing web press now?

Demand equal time for DemocraticUnderground!

[Tracer]

34. White House-friendly reporter under scrutiny (busted!)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny/

By Charlie Savage and Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent Ê|Ê February 2, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has provided White House media credentials to a man who has virtually no journalistic background, asks softball questions to the president and his spokesman in the midst of contentious news conferences, and routinely reprints long passages verbatim from official press releases as original news articles on his website.


Ñ at least it's in some papers.

[MidwestTransplant]

35. Count on the Media elites to jump on this one.

They can be very dillegent when it threatens them.

[mattclearing]

37. Was that a joke?

This is a non-story.

:eyes:

Edit to note: That describes half the fucking press corps.

[katinmn]

39. It's a story in that it exposes cheating by the White House

that doesn't make the news very often.

[mattclearing]

40. Nor will it this time. n/t

[cthrumatrix]

41. so what will the WH do about this ...what will MSM do? NOTHING

[intheflow]

47. Yes, the backlash will occur

when those complicit in Shrub's rise have no one to blame but themselves. They will have to start infighting. Republicans and media, although I'm happy the Globe disclosed this dude's scam. Even if it was just in their own best interests, it give me some hope for a free and independent press.

[jhain]

36. ok, let's see some copycatting n/t

[Beetwasher]

38. Oy Vey, Anyone Surprised?

:eyes:

[DemoTex]

42. Just another part of the big bright red propaganda machine.

AKA lies.

[TOOLZ]

43. You'd think he'd be subtler in his set up questions

Instead of 'Aren't Democrats divorced from reality?' and 'Why would anyone question Bush's National Guard Service?' all wide eyed, maybe more like 'How does faith serve you in making decisions,' or 'Tell us again how great it's going in Iraq, pleeeease?'

[cthrumatrix]

44. Talon is run by a GOP Activist Group in Texas (an operative is the word)

It quickly discovered two things, he said. First, both Talon and the political organization GOP USA were run by a Texas Republican activist and party delegate named Bobby Eberle. Second, many of the reports Gannon filed for Talon News "appeared to be lifted verbatim from various White House and Republican political committee documents."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2... /

[kimpossible]

45. Woo! PropaGannon from Dkos hits the MSM!

This story was uncovered thanks to the work done at that last bastion of investigative journalism - dKos.

The Plame Diaries and PropaGannon

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/1/233534/4806

[Kolesar]

1. DU has broken a few stories...eom

[grasswire]

57. no

This work was started a year ago. Dan Froomkin of the WaPo and a blogger named webdems started this process. dKos picked up on it recently and added a lot more info. But dKos didn't break the story.

[frictionlessO]

62. thanks for nipping that sorta thing in the bud Grasswire...

credit should go where and when its due.

[Stephanie]

46. dupe >

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1205794&mesg_id=1205794

[Stephanie]

66. Wow - the mods joined the two threads?

I didn't know they could do that! Cool.

[kiraboo]

48. Yawn. I've completely lost the ability to be optimistic

about this sort of thing. Bush is rubber, dems are glue. You know...

[wabeewoman]

51. Me too

but there is something about getting in there and helping in some small way-makes you feel like an investigative reporter! BTW Yahoo has the story too
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050202/pl_usnw/media_matters_for_america_asks_scott_mcclellan_to_consider_revoking_white_house_press_credentials_of_talon_news163_xml

[NewYorkerfromMass]

50. "why anyone would dispute Bush's National Guard service?"

big red light there. Book him Dan-O!

[Scurrilous]

52. Okay...

...which one of you jokers is responsible for this:

http://jeffgannon.blogspot.com/

Jeff Gannon Blog

Jeff Gannon is not my name and I am in no way pretending to be anyone else whose name isn't really Jeff Gannon.

<snip>

"It appears that many of you are quick to make accusations about me, a guy who's not really Jeff Gannon. So I am going to very quickly refute this ridiculous speculation.

1) I am not a fake journalist. I took a course and have a certificate to prove it.

2) Like that other guy who's also not named Jeff Gannon, all I'm doing is presenting the unvarnished and often times unfiltered positions of the Bush Administration.

3) I'm certainly not involved in any sort of payola. For that to be possible, I'd at least have to be the other guy who's name also isn't really Jeff Gannon because that guy hasn't really been Jeff Gannon for a little longer than me and has better connections.

4) Yes, I occasionally copied straight out of the book when writing book reports in junior high. It seemed like the best way to convey what the author was trying to say. Unvarnished."

<snip>

Poll Question
Do you prefer your news:

A) Unvarnished

B) Unfiltered

C) Unvarnished and Unfiltered

<snip>

You Lefties are Going Bonkers

Just for the record, all material in these articles come from White House PRESS RELEASES, (you know, those things that a PRESS OFFICE puts out for use by the PRESS) and speech transcripts that are attributed to and accurately reflect the position of the President. In many cases I have liberally used the verbiage provided on key aspects of the issue because it is the precise expression of where the White House stands -- free or any "spin." Its the ultimate in journalistic honesty -- unvarnished and unfiltered. If only others would be as forthcoming.

[frictionlessO]

63. I think they were saying it was Kossackian over at dKos.. funny stuff! n/t

[BadGimp]

53. too late folks

the cat is already out of the bag..


WASS

[Massachusetts]

55. Remember what Commander Mudd said,

IBBY! and so Bu$hco does once again.

[grasswire]

56. and Dan Froomkin.......

...reminds us this morning that he has covered the Gannon story since February 19 of LAST YEAR. Here's the list of his coverage.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2003-44,GGLD:en&q=+site:www.washingtonpost.com+gannon+froomkin

And here's his EXCELLENT column of today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/

[NewYorkerfromMass]

60. Thanks, that is useful

and much appreciated. This guy Gannon is a Bush operative- no doubt.

[teakee]

58. When reporters turned up the heat for once....this bozo bailed

Bush out. You don't want to think that the WH would have someone planted for that purpose but that is first thing I thought watching that press conference. It seemed rather strange. And attack the Dems, he did. And Bush just glowed and started in again on his agenda. :puke:

[Stephanie]

67. That's why the WH placed him there

[teakee]

68. Aww, this would make me dig in and ask even more questions.

There are too many Americans and people around the world who want some answers from Bush. And not a curt, "NO" --like he said when asked if certain press people were paid to promote his agenda.

When you have one cockroach, you have many.

[SoCalDem]

111. And you can always count on Scotty to go to the Pakistani guy

or the spanish speaking lady or even good ole Les when the questioning gets tough..

What I wish the reporters would do is THIS:

Decide in advance what the most important question is, and then EACH one ask the same question..I love to watch him squirm and say the same thing 50 times:)

[grasswire]

59. IMPORTANT

Prior to the end of WW2, the authority for the credentialing of WH reporters was held by the White House Correspondents Association.

THAT is where the power should reside. Not in the hands of the White House press office, which can use the power to both intimidate/punish journalists and to plant shills, such as Gannon.

WH credentialing MUST BE removed from the press office's hands.

Please contact the WHCA and ask that they demand return of that authority. Right now it's a toothless organization. It needs to reassert power, if our republic is to survive. http://www.whca.net/

[Supersedeas]

103. absolutely....that is where the disgrace lies.

[kclown]

61. kick

[frictionlessO]

65. AARs Al Franken interviewed Brock from Media Matters, about this

about a half hour ago.

Did about a 5 minute segment, with nothing new to add... have a feeling thats gonna change soon. There are many many many people investigating every niche of this story right now... and there are many niches!

[Charles19]

74. This was on NPR today too, PROPAGANNONGATE (nt)

[Dr Fate]

71. DEMS need to go on TV and talk about this...

...DEMS need to start making the case for media bias- we need to start a "list" in the public consciousness about the "liberal media"...

[nashville_brook]

72. Eberle is a long time scammer and dirty trickster

sorry if this has already been posted:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1154535

[icehenge]

73. Send it to the media

The majority of the media will ignore this story
but lets at least make the story known to the media.


Use this link to gather some email addresses of
local papers, etc.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=blaster

Story URL to send to them.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny/

[HamiltonHabs32]

76. Letter from Media Matters

January 31, 2005

Scott McClellan
Press Secretary
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. McClellan:

I am writing to ask you to consider revoking the White House press credentials apparently granted to Jeff Gannon of Talon News. Mr. Gannon and Talon News appear to be political activists rather than actual journalists, and as such should not be presented to the public as an independent news agency.

Consider:

* Talon News is virtually indistinguishable from an organization called GOPUSA, which describes itself as "dedicated to promoting conservative ideals." Both are run by Bobby Eberle, and websites for both entities are registered to Mr. Eberle at his home address. The contact information listed for Talon News includes Mr. Eberle's GOPUSA.com email address.
* The staff of Talon News and GOPUSA is comprised almost entirely of Republican activists with no journalism experience whatsoever. For example, Mr. Eberle is president of GOPUSA and also serves as editor in chief of Talon News, but his biography lists no journalism experience. He did, however, serve as a delegate to the 2000 Republican National Convention, and has held numerous other Republican Party posts in the past. Other Talon News and GOPUSA staff include county Republican Party chairs, delegates to state Republican conventions, and other Republican officials.
* Posts by Messrs. Eberle and Gannon on the online forum Free Republic make clear that the two men are partisan activists, not journalists. Mr. Gannon, for example, used Free Republic to try to organize partisan political activities designed to embarrass and discredit Senator John Kerry during last year's presidential campaign.

Mr. Gannon's conduct during your briefings, as well as presidential press conferences, further suggests that his true role is that of a partisan operative rather than an independent journalist. His questions reliably criticize Democrats and praise President Bush, often containing false assertions, such as his question last week -- based on Rush Limbaugh's radio program -- that incorrectly asserted that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid "was talking about soup lines."

Washington Post columnist Dan Froomkin noted in a March 10, 2004, column that Mr. Gannon frequently asks "softballs" during White House press briefings, adding:

And press secretary McClellan seems to appreciate it.

Yesterday, for instance, McClellan was getting hammered with questions about the 9/11 commission and the possible inappropriate juxtaposition of a visit to a 9/11 memorial with a fundraiser on Thursday.

It was getting ugly. "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response," McClellan said in response to a jibe.

Then he saw daylight:

"Go ahead, Jeff."

Mr. Gannon wrote in a post on FreeRepublic.com that you are apparently aware of what he will ask you at briefings; in response to a comment about your reaction to a question he asked, Mr. Gannon wrote: "It's hard to say with Scott but he usually knows what he's going to get from me."

Given all of this, it seems that Mr. Gannon serves not as a reporter during press briefings but as a useful lifeline for you to rely on when you get in trouble.

In light of recent revelations about the Bush administration's relationship with conservative writers Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus, as well as about the administration's repeated use of fake video "news" reports to promote policies, the public is understandably concerned that the White House seems to be trying to manipulate public opinion using fake "news." Given that Talon News seems to be little more than a partisan political organization and given that, based on what Mr. Gannon has written, you apparently know what he will ask during your briefings, Mr. Gannon's continued participation in White House press briefings would seem to exacerbate those concerns.

The public has a right to expect that when you hold press briefings, the reporters are real and the questions are not staged beforehand. They have a right not to be deceived into thinking they are seeing and hearing reporters ask honest questions when they are really seeing a staged performance by partisan operatives.

Unfortunately, Mr. Gannon's propaganda doesn't end at the conclusion of White House briefings. His "articles" are frequently little more than reprints of White House press releases and fact sheets, as Media Matters for America has demonstrated. I understand that your office issues press releases with the hope that reporters quote them. But surely you understand that when Mr. Gannon's "articles" lift heavily from President Bush's statements without directly disclosing that the words are the president's, not Mr. Gannon's, he is working not as a journalist but as an agent of the White House.

Mr. McClellan, the public needs to be confident that your briefings and the president's press conferences are honest, open dialogues with real reporters. Now more than ever, the public needs to be certain that the White House isn't using fake "journalists" to manipulate public opinion. Revoking Mr. Gannon's credentials would be a good first step in that direction.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance or if you would like further information. I have attached some materials about Mr. Gannon we have produced that may be helpful.

Sincerely,

David Brock
President and CEO
Media Matters for America

[AndrewNC]

77. The worst part is...

If you bring this up with a conservative, they'll say...

"No law was broken here."
"What's wrong with a journalist being in favor of the president?"
"What's wrong with some balanced questions?"

Last year, we had RatherGate, but torture at Abu Ghraib was totally ignored. How is the right able to blow such things out of proportion, but we can barely get a notice?

[Riding this Donkey]

78. GANNON / PLAME CONNECTION??

http://webdems.blogspot.com/2004_03_01_webdems_archive.html

Now that the list of those subpoenaed to comment on the leaking of Valerie Plame's name has been released, let's return to the topic of Jeff Gannon, White House reporter for Talon News and active member of the extremist right-wing web site freerepublic.com.

Gannon is on the subpoena list.

Why? Probably because he (according to a report in The Washington Post) mentioned to Joe Wilson in an interview in October 2003 the existence of a secret internal document regarding Ms. Plame's position in the CIA as it might or might not have related to Wilson's assignment to Niger.

[DoYouEverWonder]

79. Supposedly Gannon is a freeper

I don't know if people knew about this or not? I found a post over on Free Republic that claims he post there.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1212408/posts

(Scroll down)


To: marktuoni

Jeff Gannon is a fellow FReeper.

24 posted on 09/10/2004 12:52:11 PM PDT by woodyinscc
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies >

[BrightKnight]

80. Government conspiring to obstruct the press can not be constitutional.

If Bush knew to call on him he must be involved on some level. This kind of thing would need approval from the top.

When the government conspires to obstruct the press there are serious free speech concerns. Would it not be possible to get a court order telling them to stop this kind of behavior? If he does not stop we could move to have him impeached. Even a Repug would find it difficult to vote against free speech.

He has swarn to uphold and defend the constitution.

[OKNancy]

81. kick

[BrightKnight]

82. White House-friendly reporter under scrutiny

White House-friendly reporter under scrutiny
By Charlie Savage and Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent | February 2, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has provided White House media credentials to a man who has virtually no journalistic background, asks softball questions to the president and his spokesman in the midst of contentious news conferences, and routinely reprints long passages verbatim from official press releases as original news articles on his website.

Jeff Gannon calls himself the White House correspondent for TalonNews.com, a website that says it is "committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news coverage to our readers." It is operated by a Texas-based Republican Party delegate and political activist who also runs GOPUSA.com, a website that touts itself as "bringing the conservative message to America."

Called on last week by President Bush at a press conference, Gannon attacked Democratic Senate leaders and called them "divorced from reality." During the presidential campaign, when called on by Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Gannon linked Senator John F. Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, to Jane Fonda and questioned why anyone would dispute Bush's National Guard service.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny/

[merwin]

83. More fair and balanced crap?

[NYC]

84. Keep spreading this.

(It goes well with payola pundits.)

Jeff Gannon calls himself the White House correspondent for TalonNews.com, a website that says it is "committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news coverage to our readers." It is operated by a Texas-based Republican Party delegate and political activist who also runs GOPUSA.com, a website that touts itself as "bringing the conservative message to America."

[truthisfreedom]

85. you should change your topic line to the actual title of the article

or the mods will lock this thread.

[Whoa_Nelly]

86. Post needs to have actual article title

or it will get locked....thought you'd want to know :)

Glad to see you on DU, BrightKnight! :hi:

[BrightKnight]

88. Thanks for letting me know -n/t

[Up2Late]

87. I think ALL of the White House Steno Pool, oh I mean...

..."PRESS CORP", should be investigated.

After 4 years, if they haven't said, written, or asked a tough enough question to get banned by now, they ARE, most likely, on the take.

[Ken065]

89. Also on Yahoo News

Article by Joe Strupp from Editorand Publisher.com found here:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=90&u=/ep/20050203/en_bpiep/whitehousecorrespondentscriticizeallegedsoftballthrowerandjeffgannonfiresback&printer=1

Curiously the rating system at Yahoo is not working for this story. It continues to show "not rated" and dropped off the front page quickly. Can you say "censorship"?

Also see this thread at Kos:
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/2/3/195115/7786

[yorkiemommie1]

133. i just rated it

seems ok now

[Rose Siding]

90. more discussion...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1205794

[Skink]

91. Patsy....

[fooj]

92. More bully tactics! Deflect attention...go on the offense...

What little men they are!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

93. Gannon and Talon are a plant by shrubco. Watching ANY of the

press conferences, this has been obvious. The questions to him, and his answers, are planted. They are sometimes obviously strategically used as a "safety net" when the questions are getting a bit hot for the shill du jour.

[paineinthearse]

94. Not LBN

see/append to http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x2936

[grasswire]

95. dupe from Wednesday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1205794

Not that I mind having it posted again; just letting you know because mods will lock dupes.

[Kool Kitty]

96. This Jeff Gannon, if that is his real name,

is the bald guy, isn't he? Always asks the real kiss-ass questions, right?

[scottxyz]

110. Is this a pic of him?

Check out this AOL home page.

WARNING - MAN IN UNDERWEAR - SEMI-WORK-SAFE (RATED "R")
http://members.aol.com/jdg17/

It seems like Atrios is saying that this is "Jeff Gannon" a/k/a JD Guckert a/k/a HotMilitaryStud a/k/a neocon pseudo-journalist.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_02_06_atrios_archive.html#110788961726693282

For a list of web domains JD Guckert has registered, click here. There are interesting names such military gay escort websites.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_02_06_atrios_archive.html#110789969712845212

[Kool Kitty]

136. Yup. That's him.

Thanks for the links.

[LiberallyInclined]

97. the last sentence is the best...

...David Brock, the former investigative journalist who made his name revealing aspects of former President Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs, said he was watching last week's press conference on television and the "soup lines" question sparked his interest because it "struck me as so extremely biased." Brock asked his media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, to look into Talon News.

It quickly discovered two things, he said. First, both Talon and the political organization GOP USA were run by a Texas Republican activist and party delegate named Bobby Eberle. Second, many of the reports Gannon filed for Talon News "appeared to be lifted verbatim from various White House and Republican political committee documents."

Eberle did not return phone calls yesterday, and Gannon declined to comment. He did reply to Brock's group on his personal blog: "In many cases I have liberally used the verbiage provided on key aspects of the issue because it is the precise expression of where the White House stands -- free of any 'spin.' It's the ultimate in journalistic honesty -- unvarnished and unfiltered. If only others would be as forthcoming."

ok- the last two sentences.

oh. my. god.

[despairing optimist]

129. A hack "journalist" praising what he freely calls verbiage

Whaddya think? Will he win the Judith Miller Award for Outstanding Reporting? Maybe he'll write a column for the NY Times when David Brooks goes on vacation.

[Pam-Moby]

98. What is scary is the way the our MSM has been

B*sh does not need a journalist implant.

[LynnTheDem]

99. LOL!!! Rightwingnuts are so HILARIOUS!

"committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news coverage to our readers." It is operated by a Texas-based Republican Party delegate and political activist who also runs GOPUSA.com, a website that touts itself as "bringing the conservative message to America."

rotflmao!!!

[DannyRed]

100. Just so you know,

There have been about 12 massive DailyKos diaries on this, with several offshoots, and it is now being updated on the Dkosopedia wikipedia site...

And we have found that "Jeff Gannon" is a regular contributor to Free Republic...and he, for example, gave them access to the PDB from Aug 6, 2001, and he may have been involved in the Plame Affair, and he may well have connections with the Swift-Boat cabal (Corsi, and etc)...

So keep your eyes out.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

102. Here are some kos links

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/3/195115/7786

this is the big linked thread by SusanG http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/3/13953/05557

[grasswire]

104. thanks

I sure wish I could figure out the KOS site and diaries. Holy moly.

[grasswire]

105. see this blog

The story of Gannon the illegitimate and his freeper associations was broken on a blog a year ago. http://webdems.blogspot.com

[AuntiBush]

106. TalonNews Online Missing bio

http://www.talonnews.com/missing/ when searching for JG's bio. Amazing. Unreal... I'm running out of words to describe the "Dirty Hill Gang!"

:mad:

[youspeakmylanguage]

107. hotmilitarystud.com

This is too, too funny. From http://atrios.blogspot.com:

Bedrock Corporation Domains

Here are some domain names registered to the Bedrock Corporation. As World O'Crap informed us:

But this would make perfect sense, because when the folks at Kos did some digging into the background of Jeff's various sites, they found that they were all registered to "Bedrock Corp" of Wilmington, DE, and the address provided was a Mailbox, Inc location. However, poster dqueue did some further Googling and found another address for Bedrock Corp. of Wilmington -- this address was a single-family home, and it was associated with a "Jim Guckert" who was listed on a business directory page for court reporting and secretarial services in Wilmington.


The domain list:


Conservativeguy.com
Conservative-guy.com
Conservativelegal.com
Exposejessejackson.com
Jeffgannon.com
Theconservativeguy.com
Theconservativelegal.com
The-conservative-guy.com
conservative-guy.com
Hotmilitarystud.com
Militaryescorts.com
Militaryescortsm4m.com

[ClayZ]

109. That is despicable!

Jeff Cannon is should have "PW" tattooed on his forehead.

Propaganda WHORE!

[frictionlessO]

112. No WAY!!!!!! militaryescortsm4m.com !!!

If hes running gay military escort services, he is in for a world of hurt I think. I mean freeperville will go to town on his ass!! lol!!

Maybe the sites are entrapment sites so he can blackmail or divulge to government services...

no f'in way man!! wow!:wow: :wow: :wow: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[moobu2]

119. So is Jeff Gannon Shrubs real MAN-DATE ? n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

132. Well we do know that W

has a weakness for crew cuts and baldies.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

115. "Jeff Gannon" exposed (literally)...

... a more recent link from http://atrios.blogspot.com now reveals (literally) "Jeff Gannon"/"Jim D. Guckert" in his underwear, via JDG's AOL home page. I'd link directly, but Atrios deserves the click.

[The_Casual_Observer]

116. Planting bogus "journalists" seems unnecessary

However, these roaches leave nothing to chance.

[Dr Fate]

113. Are Democrats going to demand an investigation of the media??

Or are they going to let this scandal die like they always do?

They need to go on TV and make some noise about this.

[frictionlessO]

114. We are waiting for certain field investigations to conclude

I think we are anyways...

Theres no way this wont show up all over the freeps radar.

In the meantime call or write your favorite officials, I have!

[Dr Fate]

121. "Giving them enough rope to hang themsleves with"...

"Playing Rope-a-dope"-

"Setting a quiet trap"-

"moving chess pieces"

Did I leave out any excuses?

I've heard it all b/f- I'm assuming that DEMS have already let the issue die.

You dont WAIT for the media to investigate or talk about it- you strike while the iron is hot- DEMS need to on TV "raising questions" NOW- its not just this- we also have the bribed pundits as well.

[frictionlessO]

125. LOL... Im with ya on that!! believe me I am...

but I honestly think people are waiting for one or two more pieces to fall in place before the official "blast your officials campaigns" kick off.

I see it like this currently the whole charade of Jeff Gannon is a planted "story" waiting to happen when the neocons need it (wag the red herring) or its true and its only going to get juicier.

There is considerable interest in the fact that he may have those sites for entrapment purposes, which makes the story a lot more newsworthy and thus easier to bust chops about in DC.

Seriously if you want action now post a thread, write people, call people make some noise. I have and plan on doing more!

[dqueue]

128. More to come...

More to come on this story at DailyKos. The "sexy" side of the story broke and just exploded. The instigator at DailyKos has another installment prepared; she intends to post it tomorrow morning after some of the hubbub has died down.

This aspect of the story only establishes "Jeff Gannon's" true identity. The important questions remain. Who is the man behind the curtain? We still have not determined how "Jeff Gannon" was cleared into the White House, in the same room as the President during a time of war, under an assumed name. We still have not determined why a pseudonymynous shill may have had access to classified documents (regarding Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame).

So, the "sexy" part of the story is veritably intriguing, and the attention is great. But there's more to come.

Meanwhile, WOOHOO!

[girl gone mad]

117. This is to good to be ignored.

Which means it will probably be ignored.

[frictionlessO]

118. uh yep! but its worth it to keep making noise.

Im not sure if it is all real yet though and I think thats what people are waiting on.

If its not then it sure looks like a pretty well organized set up (which will probably pan out to be even more evidence against the freepy lizard rove), if it is all real well then it'll be sorta fun to watch him get eatin' by his own.

[Mr_Spock]

120. He should be executed for treason - there is NO lower form of life

What a waste of good air that ass-wipe is....

[applegrove]

122. What a bunch of creeps

Isn't it illegal for the White House to use propaganda agaisnt Americans? Isn't there a case somewhere in the system? They need this guy to commit the dirty deed and ask scripted questions so that the clips can then be put on Fox News.

What a bunch of creeps

[Hissyspit]

123. Can someone encapsulate this story all in one post?

With all the pertinent links/photos. This thread is getting really big and and kind of unwieldy and the story is a bit convoluted.

[LiviaOlivia]

126. Try these

http://blogs.salon.com/0002874/2005/02/08.html

[Hissyspit]

130. Thanks!

[Politicub]

124. Here's the contact info for Jeff Gannon and Talon News

In case anyone needs it...

2620 Sunday House Dr
Pearland, TX 77584-2874

This addresses is in Brazoria county, wherever that is.

phone: [phone]

Mods - if posting this info is a no-no, then please delete. I think this will help some of the more investigative among us unearth more about Mr. Gannon. I got this info from a public record.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

127. LOL "PropaGannon"

[yorkiemommie1]

134. he is only doing his job

..."It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion." - Goebbels

ain't that right, mr. bush?

[haele]

135. Hey - if TalonNews can have a "White House Correspondant" -

Can we have one for DU LBN? From what I can see, LBN is a far more legitimate news source than what I can see of TalonNews...not to mention Faux news.
I think PlaidAdder would be a good choice, if she's willing to relocate to DC. She's a terrific writer.
(Laz also volunteers - but only for "Western WhiteHouse" press duty because he's got kin in San Antonio and it wouldn't be too far a drive).

Haele

[Hissyspit]

137. Kicking Because of 'Gannon Goes Silent' Development

GEN DISC: POLITICS Thread - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1579003&mesg_id=1579003

GEN DISC Thread - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3077466&mesg_id=3077466


http://www.jeffgannon.com

Jeff Gannon

A Voice of the New Media

The voice goes silent.

Because of the attention being paid to me I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News. In consideration of the welfare of me and my family I have decided to return to private life.

Thank you to all those who supported me.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/05353/85271

DTH

[applegrove]

138. I can see Rove ordering the eggs to be thrown at his kids right now

I can see Rove ordering the eggs to be thrown at his kids right now. Because the man mentioned his family. When it was his fully informed decision to become a paid freeper. What did he think it meant. This man hurt his own family by agreeing to be a phony if the most public and sacrosanct of places.

But republicans needs a republican family that has been trashed.

So Karl Rove will go out and 'buy some eggs' or do something to make this family fine victims.

[Hissyspit]

139. Kicking for Background