After 'Gannon,' Reporters to Meet with White House on Credentialing

[seemslikeadream]

By Joe Strupp

Published: February 14, 2005 12:20 PM ET

NEW YORK Leaders of the White House Correspondents' Association plan to meet with President Bush's press secretary tomorrow to discuss tightening the White House press-credentialing process. The meeting follows the recent uproar over James Guckert, a former White House reporter for the GOP-linked Talon News, who had used the name Jeff Gannon and drawn criticism for asking partisan questions.

Among the potential changes to the credentialing system: tighter restrictions on who can receive daily press passes, such as those Guckert had obtained; and a more active role by the WHCA in approving requests or credentials, which are now handed out solely by the White House Press Office.

"I can see arguments for a more aggressive credentialing process and for the correspondents playing more of a role," said Mark Smith, WHCA vice president and a reporter for Associated Press Radio. "And I can see arguments against it."

Smith requested the meeting with Press Secretary Scott McClellan after McClellan mentioned last week during a press briefing that he would be open to discussing the process with White House reporters after the recent concerns surrounding Gannon, who resigned from Talon News last Wednesday.
more
http://199.249.170.220/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000799767

[Massachusetts]

1. The milque toast press gets some spine. Woopy di dooo

[seemslikeadream]

2. I just emailed this to

http://americablog.blogspot.com/


Joe Strupp

[blm]

3. You should email americablog story to E&P.

.

[Just Me]

9. Not really. Did this male prostitute get paid by the WH,...

,...to indulge in this government-supported propaganda that was being spewed?

That's the real question.

Moreover, what has the WH policy been on issuing press passes? Who's received them and who's been denied?

[Red State Rebel]

4. I bet they use this as an excuse to get rid of Helen Thomas

There excuse for taking away her old seat and right to the first question was because she was no longer a reporter, but a columnist. I would be willing to bet they tighten up the rules to get rid of as many left leaning reporters as they possibly can.

This Gannon story will end up coming back and biting us in the butt.

[ret5hd]

6. no an excuse to get rd of russell mokhibar.

[piece sine]

17. my sentiments exactly

this is an engraved invitation for the White House to clean-out the press pool.

[lostnfound]

68. Rove gets his nickname, I suspect, for moves like that.

I.e., for turning a PR disaster into an opportunity to clean out the press corps

[Rhiannon12866]

52. Your prediction rings true, with me, I'm sorry to say

This sounds like exactly what they'd do. They seem to have a way of turning events that should bring them down to their advantage.:shrug:

[seemslikeadream]

5. From the Office of "Jeff Gannon"

a little bit of fun



http://www.whitehousememos.com/gannon

[True_Blue]

12. LOL!

That was the funniest thing I have read in a long time!!!:D

[AuntiBush]

48. Hysterical!

I needed that one today! Funny!

[Rhiannon12866]

53. Priceless!!! Very Clever!!!

Thanks for the laugh!!!:D

[oasis]

67. That's a dandy.

[VegasWolf]

7. I heard that bush and gannon were an item. anyone else hear this?n/t

[Orsino]

10. And Laura was his pimp.

It's true! Investigative journalists at Westboro Baptist Church have uncovered the story: http://ljworld.com/section/onlylawrence/story/194128 }(

[Damien]

46. I read the article,

and saw the Laura picture, but I totally don't get what that pic had to do with the article it was attached to...

[intheflow]

70. I didn't get it, either.

:shrug:

Not to mention that Fred Phelps, who's holding the sign, isn't the most stable or reliable source for information.

[prabtahoe2005]

11. Gannon links to Bush?

I hope someone digs deep to see if there are any links between Gannon and Bush from the "old days", when George W. was drinking and coked up. Maybe Gannon had something on him, and that is why the White House gave Gannon/Guckert press access... Like Hush Money, but in this case, a press pass...

[seemslikeadream]

14. I don't know but bush sent his "good" friend to Poland

maybe to get him out of the way?


Vice President Dick Cheney , left, talks with Victor Ashe, United States Ambassador to Poland, right, as White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, center, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, far right, look on during President Bush 's meeting with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 in Washington.

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/050209/74/49m2l.html

Rumors


There is a rumor on the net that Victor Ashe and George W. Bush have been gay lovers. The source of this rumor is Sherman Skolnick. He seems to be the sole source of this and many other rumors. Before Kitty Kelley’s book “The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty” was released, Skolnick claimed that her book substantiated his assertions. He also accused her of using him as an unnamed source. Upon being published, the book was absent of nearly all of his claims. Unsubstantiated rumors about Victor Ashe include:

· Ashe was arrested twice in drag for picking up homosexual prostitutes in public restrooms in Washington D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.

· Peter Jennings introduced Ashe on national TV in San Francisco as "The gay mayor from Knoxville."

· Ashe wanted to rename Gay Street to "Gay Way."

· Ashe’s mother was arrested for hit-and-run while hiding out at the mayor’s house.

· The National Enquirer in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was shut down by the F.B.I. for “Anthrax” after 9/11 because they had pictures of Ashe engaged in a Skull & Bones homosexual ritual.

· George W. Bush and Ashe have had a long-term homosexual affair. It is widely reported that they have spent much private time together over the years including their time as roommates at Yale, a seven city tour when Ashe was running for the U.S. Senate, numerous stays by Ashe at the White House, visits by Bush to Ashe in Knoxville, and other trips together without Laura Bush.

· Ashe and Bush would rendezvous at a Tennessee location owned by the purported top financier of Osama Bin Laden.

· Paul O'Neill was sacked as Treasury Chief because he was unable to stop Secret Service agents from leaking the Ashe affair to the press, or from quitting their jobs in disgust.

· The “Red Chinese Secret Police” have used the Bush/Ashe affair to get secrets out of the White House.

· Ashe was nominated Ambassador to Poland because the press had learned about the Bush/Ashe affair and because Ashe has AIDS.

Interesting facts

In 1974, a Judge ruled that Ashe’s run for the Tennessee State Senate was illegal because he would turn 30, the minimum age to serve, after the election. Ashe’s mother ran instead, was elected, and resigned after her first day in office and appointed her son Senator (KnoxNews December 14, 2003).
Speaker John Wilder once offered him $10 to sit down and shut up (KnoxNews December 14, 2003).
His opponent in his 1978 re-election bid, Carl Warner, took a swing at him after Ashe made what Warner termed a snide remark (KnoxNews December 14, 2003).
The only political race he lost was to Al Gore, Jr. in 1984 for the U.S. Senate. (KnoxNews December 14, 2003).
Ashe opposed the referendum on term limits that resulted in his inability to run for a 5th term as mayor.
John Lee sued the City Corporation and its individual agents, including Mayor Victor Ashe, for illegally towing his Honda automobile, without a parking ticket. The City Inc. then denied that they had towed it for over six weeks, and listed the vehicle as "stolen" in the National Criminalistics Information Computer (NCIC), operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). This resulted in a $700 towing and storage bill from the Corporation's contractor, Sutherland Avenue Wrecker Service. (read more).
Ashe was George W. Bush’s roommate at Yale and they were both on the Cheerleading Squad together.

http://x23e23.tripod.com/ashe.htm

[katty]

56. Amazing the Skolnick doesn't get more exposure

on the bush/ashe purported liason. i have heard this from other anonymous sources on boards-mainly the cloakanddagger.ca type/alex jones stuff. most of the mason-illuminati conspiracy crowd (america is run by masons/illuminati)believe and assert that d.c. is an open secret 'boys club'. it is rather curious that gannon is connected to gay sex sites.

[bear425]

58. Here is a website that lists Victor Ashe as a

http://www.shelbyvote.com/election_info/candidate_listing_6.htm

REPUBLICAN AT-LARGE DELEGATES

COMMITTED TO GEORGE W. BUSH

M. S. “SUSIE” ALCORN

VICTOR ASHE

BEN ATCHLEY

JEAN ANN BANKER

BETTY CANNON

BILL CLOAR

JOHN WAYNE CROPP

JOSE R. FERNANDEZ

DARRELL S. FREEMAN

BILL GIBBONS

TRE HARGETT

VAN HILLEARY

TOM JENSEN

FRED WIEHL LAZENBY

RAUL LOPEZ

BARBARA OUTHIER

CHARLES E. PEAVYHOUSE

JOHN “CHIP” SALTSMAN, JR.

SUSAN W. SIMONS

SUSAN RICHARDSON WILLIAMS

edit: add link

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. I know that "Gannon" is light in the hair department.

Bush does have a thing for bald men. I'm not saying they're an item just that I've seen all those photos of Bush rubbing mens bald heads. :eyes:

[Just Me]

8. I'm sure the neoCONs will contract him to do sexual torture on POWs.

They'll prolly pay him $120K or more to help with the sexual torture on Muslim, male POWs!!!!

I sure would be interested in whether he's already received some taxpayer money to perpetuate WH propaganda.

Hey,...do ya' hear that,....the sound of shredders!!! :bounce:

[mhr]

13. Scott McClellan Possible Gay Connection To Gannon

"RAW STORY has been told that the White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan visited a gay bar in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 1995. The date was placed exactly as a local memorial service was held on the same day.

The source, who would only comment on condition of anonymity, reserved comment on whether McClellan was actually gay, but said he was frequently seen at gay clubs. Another source also confirmed this account.

“He was often seen in gay clubs in Austin, Texas and was comfortable being there,” the Texan said. “He’s been seen in places that normal people who are looking for heterosexual relationships are not seen alone.”

“He was the mayor’s son in town, everybody knew who he was,” the source added, referring to McClellan’s mother Carole Keeton Strayhorn."

Snip ......

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

[katty]

54. why am i not surprised - just look ar scottster (pls don't beat me!)

Gannon/Gukert, whatever, HAD to get cleared under his real name--scott knew what was happening-these guys are so obvious it reeks

[seemslikeadream]

15. Honey pot in the White House press corp?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3085974&mesg_id=3085974


Ari's Farewell Cake



http://www.probush.com/farewell_cake.htm

[sabra]

18. McClellan Tells E&P He Didn't Know Guckert Used Fake Name For Nearly...

<<SNIP>>
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000799881

McClellan Tells E&P He Didn't Know Guckert Used Fake Name For Nearly Two Years

Former Talon News reporter James D. Guckert got to ask questions at Whtie House press briefings for nearly two years but White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan did not know the controversial reporter was using an alias until the past few weeks, he told E&P Monday.

Asked if he had discussed the Guckert/Gannon episode with President Bush, McClellan said, "we've only talked about it briefly" but declined to be more specific. "He's got a lot of other priorities," he added.

....

Asked if he ever talked with Guckert outside the briefing room or at social events, he said, “Nothing like that.”

....

When asked if Guckert's link to several sex Web sites should have had an effect on his getting credentials, McClellan said, "I don't think it is my place to express my personal opinion." But, he added, "I wasn't aware of any of that."

<</SNIP>>

For some reason, I don't seem to believe McClellan...

* Check out the latest breaking stories about the 'Gannon' story check out, http://www.americablog.org, and http://www.rawstory.com

[Emboldened Chimp]

19. Lying sack of shit....

Guckert had to get his credentials with his real name. EVERBODY does. If he got in on a fake name, then McClellan is incompetent. If he allowed Guckert in under his fake name knowingly, then McClellan is complicit. Either way, Scotty-boy should step down.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

28. McClellan is the one who said you have to show your SS # and ID

To get a day pass. How did Gannon/Guckert end up being called on by his sex industry name and not his given name?

[Emboldened Chimp]

29. Exactly, that's how we know he's lying...

It's SOP to get a pass using your real name. Think Wolfie used his nom de guerre to get in? No way, he used Leslie.

[Liberty Belle]

65. Could Talon have forged IDs for this guy?

[theorist]

20. If nothing else, this is the end of this phase of the WH media control.

It will probably get much worse as far as limiting access even more. Less transparency is always the Republican answer to scandals like this. It's going to take no time to get all the remaining "assets" on board. This should be very interesting.

[VegasWolf]

21. They should have asked McClellan explicitly if he went

down on Guckert.

[dubyaD40web]

27. Brings new meaning to the word "Gaggle"

[Bouncy Ball]

34. Gannon's CIA name was "Pretzel."

[Hamsta1]

43. Why pretzel?

Because he spent a lot of time lodged in the presidents throat?

[geniph]

44. Maybe he's really flexible?

Right about now, that should be benefiting him, as he bends over and KISSES HIS ASS GOODBYE!

[sunnystarr]

39. Or maybe Mehlman. (nt)

[Roland99]

22. But the other day Scottie boy said he always called him by his real name!

[Beaverhausen]

23. Scotty probably has his own pet name for Jeffy

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[The_Casual_Observer]

24. The stock answer to any question that they don't want to answer

is "I don't know anything about it" chimp uses that answer all the time.

[Oreo]

25. "Nothing like that"

Asked if he ever talked with Guckert outside the briefing room or at social events, he said, “Nothing like that.”

What a non-answer from a typical weasel. By his answer he never talked to him outside of the briefing room. He could easily interpret that question/reponse as physically right outside the briefing room. Now if the reporter had asked him if he had ever bedded Guckert... that would have taken some different spin to wrangle out of.

By the way... wasn't it just proven that Condi lied under Oath? Shouldn't that be above this story on the front page?

[Bouncy Ball]

36. Nothing like WHAT, we ask ourselves?

Hmmm?

[Riding this Donkey]

26. Yeah, and the bastards......

won't even let Helen Thomas ask a ques ion. They do not even have respect for their elders. Shows what kind of parenting and Christian teaching they had. Losers!

[TahitiNut]

30. Scotty McClellan is probably a "bottom"

Very 'compatible' with Guckert. :eyes:

[flobee1kenobi]

32. Lying Hypocrite

"I don't think it is my place to express my personal opinion"
Never stopped you and the rest of the party before!
The fact that he didn't know he had a fake name just shows how utterly incompitent these people are!
Or did he know? -The prez did call him Jeff, so someone knew!
Will we ever get the whole story?

[diamond14]

31. OMG....scottie ADMITS talking to the chimp about 'gannon' !!!!

that is a very important HINT at the situation.....scottie probably had to tell chimp that he wasn't going to have scottie anymore....

[Ian David]

37. "Gannon" visited The Crawford Ranch (Pig Farm) as a "friend"

White House Press Release:
August 25, 2001

President Gives Tour of Crawford Ranch
Remarks by the President During Tour of the President's Ranch
Prarie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas

<snip>

Q Some of your friends are surprised that you like to come out here basically in the middle of nowhere and just kind of be by yourself.

THE PRESIDENT: I guess they don't know what it's like to be the President. (Laughter.) I get plenty of quality time with a lot of really good people. Sometimes, it's important to just get away as well.

Plus, you know, one of the things we miss in Washington is our friends. And they're here. We've got the Weisses here, the Gannons are here, Pam Nelson is here. And we find it really relaxing to sit down on the porch with our buddies and just shoot the breeze. And, you know, it's amazing. You don't have to defend any policy you make. I mean, your friends are your friends. These people were friends of mine before I became President, they'll be friends of mine after I'm the President. And people just take you for what you are.

More:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010825-2.html


Jeff Gannon
From dKosopedia, the free political encyclopedia.
<snip>
* It seems that there is a significant link between the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and a company called Gannon International, as documented by Joe Conason in Salon. Two board members of Gannon International were significant donors to the SBVT, and the SBVT website was registered to Gannon International's corporate address by Gannon International's IT manager.
* (From this dkos post): In an August 2001 "Tour of Crawford Ranch", Bush made a reference to "the Gannons" conversationally as if there are family friends by that surname.
* Then there is a reference apparently to "Ambassador Sullivan's son-in-law Paul Gannon? Possibly the same: Marketing Director Paul F. Gannon of TMA Resources in McLean, Virginia" (also this dkos post). Note this page from TMA Resources indicates Paul Gannon "holds a bachelor's degree in history from St. Louis University." -- note, St. Louis is the home base of Gannon International.

"Jeff Gannon" became a White House correspondent at least several months before the SBVT were formed and the link to Gannon International was revealed.

More:
http://www.dkosopedia.com/index.php/Jeff_Gannon

[MADem]

61. That is debunked--those Gannons were the football player/wife

...who visited the ranch. Jimmy-Jeff Guckert, nee Gannon, was never married.

Why visit the ranch, when you can visit the White House whenever you please?

[Uncle Roy]

38. "You got a pretty face. You're a good-looking guy. Better looking than my

Scotty!"

Remember that? It seemed odd at the time, maybe less odd now...

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/01/con04022.html

[susu369]

50. Ah ha!

Now I remember. Thanks for that flashback.

Welcome to DU, Uncle Roy.

:hi:

[Roland99]

33. Proof of Scotty's Bald-Faced Lie!!

http://199.249.170.220/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000798573
Published: February 10, 2005 6:05 PM ET

NEW YORK In the wake of revelations about ex-reporter “Jeff Gannon,” veteran White House correspondents told E&P today they could not recall another instance of a credentialed reporter using an alias allowed on that beat.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan acknowledged this morning that he knew Talon News reporter “Jeff Gannon” was really James D. Guckert.


And then today:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000799881
Although his office handles credentials, McClellan said he did not find out that "Gannon" was an alias, or that Talon News had political party links, until recently, when blogs and news organizations began to question Guckert's credentialing. "I checked into it more recently," he told E&P, adding that "the president didn't know who he was."

Too bad we can't get Scotty boy to go under oath before every press conference. He'd be up on so many charges of perjury his corpse will have turned to dust and blown away before his sentence was up.

[coreystone]

35. If "Homeland Security" can't protect the "preseedent", then how ..

does "Scotty" wish to convince the American people that this administration is protecting them!

:-)

[zara]

40. on ed schulz show, someone from rawstory.com outed McClellan

comparing this to McGreevey episode. Not the issue that McC is gay, but that he used his position of power to do a favor for a friend, Guckert/Gannon.

[progressivebydesign]

41. La Cage Aux White House... what's going ON in OUR house? n/t

[burythehatchet]

42. scrotty looked very pekid today...like he was going to

:puke:

[MADem]

60. Just IMAGINE how his NEW WIFE has gotta feel?

Not only is she married to a closeted gay man, or a closeted bisexual, his taste in men is rather pathetic! If I were her, I'd be on the phone with Ariana and Mrs. McGreevey, asking for 'decoupling' advice.

First stop, the CLEANERS!

[Walt Starr]

45. Let's give Scottie the benefit of the doubt

Two years ago from today would be February 14, 2003.

Guckert was still operating his prostitution web site on May 8, 2003 under the alias "Jeff".

NOW WE KNOW WHY HE HAD NO IDEA GUCKERT USED AN ALIAS!!!!

[goodhue]

47. kick

[98geoduck]

49. The Daily Show journalists need to get their press passes first!

[Spazito]

51. I hope they pursue more than just tightening up on who gets in

and actually use their journalistic skills to investigate HOW it happened and WHY it happened.

[rocktivity]

55. Too little, too late, and absolutely meaningless

How did this become the OTHER correspondents' fault? The scewup was YOUR end, Scottie! Who was responsible for giving Gannon a daily press pass, especially since his application for a permanent one had been rejected? THAT is the question. You don't even have enough sense to arrange for some expendable underling to take the bullet? Or are you worried about a disgruntled ex-employee going to the bloggers? Beam him up, somebody!

:headbang:
rocknation

[stepnw1f]

57. Nothing But A Smoke Screen

We all know it was just a little "mistake". Wink, wink.

Douchebags!

:puke:

[True_Blue]

59. kick

:kick:

[ausiedownunderground]

62. How long before Gannon's pushing up daisies?

Could the smell of scandal be wafting out of the White House? What type of scandal? - Gay sex? Media manipulation? or out and out Treason?
Whose involved? - Just poor old Scotty? Mehlman? God i hope at least Rove or wait for it............The Smirking Chimp himself!!! Yeeehaaaw!

The Democrats need to work quickly on this before Rove and company can get their "Firewalls" up. I think Rove is definately sweating on this one!
No Swifties or TANG/Rathergate media manipulations this time Rovey boy! I think this is out of his control. This guy Gannon better find some real quite corner somewhere in Montana, because these guys will do anything to keep their "arses" covered, including breaking one of the ten commandments!
If the Rethuglicans could get such huge mileage out of Lewinsky then some gutsy Democrats can surely get a few "Bush Gang" scalps out of this. Could be fun to watch!

[psychopomp]

63. Needs to be on "suicide" watch

Revelations of personal details such as this could drive a man to take his own life.

[KerryReallyWon]

64. The CIA briefed him on Valeria Plame....

they KNEW who he was!!



He did not slip in through a loose process of obtaining credentials!


:puke:

[EFerrari]

66. Pardon me, Joe, but the story is the McClellans.

Scotty is just the Resident's liar.

What about Mark? And how the Bu$h Cabal have been ripping off Medicare for ever? How, just speculatin', Jeb didn't run because he got a little too publickly dirty in that way?

This hustler is good for an appetizer. If I wanted a story, I'd look into McClellan Family Values.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

69. 'Gannon'=Janet's nipple=more censorship of press, internet, and gays.

The public won't hear of this but the infrastructure will tighten its sphincter and we won't be able to question those WH assholes any better for it.

In fact, this will work out for the WH in the long run:

1) Demonize the 'liberal press.'
2) Tighter restrictions at press conferences.
3) Demonize the internet. THIS IS BIG. IT IS OUR FUTURE.
4) Keep homosexuality weaponized against us. See 'Howard Dean.'

They know how to turn every little 'caught ya' into a plus with their control of the media and decades of indoctrination.

It's gonna take alot more to wear away their bogus halo in the public's eye.

[EFerrari]

74. Why do you have to be so right all the time. I just hate that :)

[Callboy]

71. Always after the fact....

[Callboy]

72. Gee

Now I feel safer.

[V Lee]

73. Of course Bushco will still get their shills in ...

... they'll feel free to ignore any credentialing requirements if they want someone there, just like they ignore little things like the US Constitution and international law.

[seemslikeadream]

75. Slaughter Spearheads Investigations Into Phony White House "Journalist"

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5306


Gannon won't give clear answer on whether he's seen classified memo on Wilson-Plame case
http://mediamatters.org/items/200502140009

[Callboy]

76. The problem is....

Dems dont seem to have a way to drag this mess out to the middle of the carpet. GOP would have it front and center on SlyFOX News. That is a shame. Get this story out in the mainstream. It has got staying power, attached to Novak, Gays, Lies, Deceit Etc...

[Rhiannon12866]

79. You make an excellent point

Though both Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart have dragged this story into the mainstream, and pulled no punches. Let's hope that they don't let it drop.:shrug:

And welcome to DU, Callboy!!! It's great to have you with us!:toast:

[chill_wind]

77. They Did NOTHING

White House Press Meeting Yields No Credentialing Changes, Yet

By Joe Strupp

Published: February 15, 2005 5:25 PM ET

NEW YORK Don't expect major changes to the White House press-credentialing process any time soon.

Following a meeting today between the leadership of the White House Correspondents' Association and President Bush's press secretary, Scott McClellan, neither side seemed to be in a hurry to alter the current system, which has drawn criticism amid the recent "Jeff Gannon" scandal.

After a 30-minute sit-down with McClellan, WHCA President Ron Hutcheson said he believed the current system was fine and hesitated to have the correspondents' association play a bigger role in distributing press passes. "I'm not sure we need to do anything," Hutcheson told E&P. "I'm not comfortable in passing judgment on who is a journalist and who isn't. My overriding view is that if I am going to make a mistake, it is going to be on letting people in rather than keeping people out."

(the rest at)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000800651

[chill_wind]

78. Kick

kick

[seemslikeadream]

80. Gannon reportedly knew about "Shock and Awe" four hours before it happened

Friday, February 18, 2005

BREAKING NEWS: Gannon reportedly knew about "Shock and Awe" four hours before it happened
by John in DC - 2/18/2005 09:57:00 AM

A news producer for a major network just told me that Gannon told the producer the "shock and awe" campaign launching the Iraq war was about to happen four hours before President Bush announced it to the nation.

According to the producer, Gannon specifically told them that in four hours the president was going to be making a speech to the nation announcing the "shock and awe" campaign had begun. The producer told me they were surprised that Gannon, working with such a small news outfit, could have access to such information, but "what did you know, he was right," the producer said today. The producer went on to say that Gannon often had correct scoops on major stories, including information about Mary Mapes and the Dan Rather BUSH/AWOL scandal that this news outlet got from Gannon before any had the information publicly.


http://www.americablog.blogspot.com/