Beyond the gay escort thing - why was 'Gannon' given WH pass?

[SnowGoose]

Apologies to leftyandproud for posting yet another message about this - but it was at another member's suggestion.

The gay prostitute thing has everyone in a tizzy - it's salacious, and furthermore it's so gosh-darned hypocritical that it is drawing the air out of potentially bigger issues.

I'm also going skip questions about how he got his hands on classified CIA information regarding Ms. Plame. That happened after he got in there in the first place.

My question is more akin to Minstrel Boy's thoughts here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3085974

I quote: "The White House does not want for friends in corporate media with far greater reach... So why did the virtual one-man show of TalonNews receive such pride of place?"

He then goes on to share one possibility. I'd like to open the floor for other thoughts on this question - which I would articulate in the following way:

Given that the Bush administration could have arranged for any number of shills/plants/reporters/whatever - why would they bring in someone with this baggage (setting up gay military prostitution sites? Geezopete - that's some heavy baggage!), and who - more importantly - would stick out because he doesn't have training in journalism or a history that would give him some familiarity or credibility. Why wouldn't they *at least* vet the guy?

It doesn't seem right. And I just can't buy that it was wild carelessness/stupidity - this administration spends a great deal of time scheming. The choice of this man was *no accident*.

Something here doesn't add up, and that suggests to me that there's more to this story than we know - and that it's something even more unseemly that what has come out so far.

Thoughts?

[mattclearing]

1. Another thread quotes Howard Kurtz saying:

"He just gets cleared into the White House on a day-to-day basis, which is a privilege that is pretty much open to any journalist."

I say we try it out. I am an amateur journalist. Who's to say that I can't walk right up and request a walk-in day pass?

[CottonBear]

5. Good idea.

Will you need to work for a news service or can you be a freelance blogger? Maybe several of you should go. Hopefully, at least one would get in.

[Mistress Quickly]

2. Unless its all

a set up to go after some others in the press corp, while jdg/g is laughing away on some 100 acre mountain property out west.

:tinfoilhat:

[crispini]

3. See 'honey pot' thread

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

[txaslftist]

4. Because he was a White house plant/stooge/shill?

No need to look beyond the obvious here.

[SnowGoose]

12. Yes, buy why this specific human being?

that was my point - would you want a person who blends in, goes way back, was in a fraternity with so-and-so, or someone who sticks out like a sore thumb?

Having him in there was a risk. Why would they take the risk when they could easily have gotten a squeaky-clean, card-carrying member of the old boys club?

[txaslftist]

13. Perhaps because a "squeaky clean old boy" wouldn't stoop...

so low as to pull the shit this weasel did? Like outing Plame, planting and then blowing the Rathergate whistle, sucking up to Hannity, falsifying news and softballing the president at press conferences?

[WLKjr]

6. Howies Thought Pattern Is

if you have a blog and write stuff online, you can get a press pass from day to day at the white house becuase technically we are all investigative journalists in one way or another, and we are entitled to that.

[stray cat]

7. Why did they constantly call on him as well.

Alot of people with white house passes don't get "special treatment " from the white house during press conferences.

[Richard Steele]

8. That's what I keep asking:

_WHO_ was giving him these passes?

He was obviously getting special treatment, so WHO ordered it?

We need to start assembling the bigger picture.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

9. Regardless

of what Mr. Walking Conflict of Interest Kurtz says, this is a VERY GOOD POINT and should definitely be investigated.

[ewagner]

10. Good questions and

appropriately asked.........

if the prostitution/escort service had nothing to do with the appointment or issuing of credentials, then other possible explanations could be:

1. Talon news was funded/created by Repub activists in Texas. It's possible, I suppose, that people of influence in the White House were contacted by these activists and asked to give Gannon press credentials on a "day pass" basis. Not wanting to insult contributing activists, the WH simply instructed the press office to let Gannon (the contributors choice) into the briefings as if he was legit.....hence, Scotty's people either did no background check or ignored what they found. At the least, it was a political payoff.

2. Gannon...or what ever his name is, has close associations with politically important people OTHER than the folks in Texas so his associations were ignored.........

there are, of course, other possibilities but the investigation HAS TO CONTINUE.............

[BR_Parkway]

11. All sorts of things it could distract us from - Cost of Medicare drug bill

that was discussed a little last year for the lie to congress - $400Bn vs the analyst who was threatened with firing if he disclosed actual cost ($530Bn) NOW is projected to cost $724Bn

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=716&e=22&u=/usatoday/20050210/ts_usatoday/medicaredrugbenefittocost720billionover10years

It may be more that they HAD to find something to do with the guy, if he had the goods on someone from prostitution ring - they may have thought they had him satisfied to keep his mouth shut with some cushy job at GOP News where all he had to do was cut and paste whatever Scotty faxed out (might even have had a secretary to actually do it) -
Then little ego boy decides he should be a bigger player, gets some attention at Freeperville.com for being "the" reporter and keeps upping the anti. The first few times, the skewed questioning works in ShrubCo's favor, so they don't back him off, Gannon ego keeps ratcheting things higher. Pride cometh....

[htuttle]

14. He seems to have more than a 'day pass'

Last night on Olbermann, Dana Milbank said that to his recollection, Gannon's pass seemed to be a permanent pass. It included his photo and personal information like a permanent pass (photos do not appear on day passes).

[Bouncy Ball]

17. Well THAT'S interesting

since the Washington Post didn't list Talon News OR Gannon on their list of WH press corps people on Feb. 7:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3084165

[Bouncy Ball]

15. These are fantastic questions.

Thanks so much for posting this (I asked SnowGoose to because this was originally buried in another thread, but I thought this deserved a bit more attention).

KICK.

[Bouncy Ball]

16. Hmmm

I have a minor in journalism and have taught journalism to high school students.

I think maybe I could make a little trip to DC, flash some "credentials" and get a press pass.

Especially if I talk them up and tell them I'm a Texan, an Aggie, a "big fan of bush's" (could I say that last part without vomiting a little in my mouth, though?).

Bet I'd be in like Flynn.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Maybe so we will all be talking about gay pseudo-reporters

instead of the run up to the war with Iran? Or the castration of Social Security?

[tanyev]

19. I suspect he's somebody's "special friend."

They knew they could count on him to ask cozy questions, regurgitate whatever they wanted him to, etc., etc.

[LibertyorDeath]

20. I think you're right "I suspect he's somebody's "special friend."

I think he's Roves "special friend." & has major dirt on people in the WH & MSM he has protected himself with a release of "Documents" should he come to an untimely end. imo

Since he holds their twisted World view they give him a Pass & a Seat &
make good use of him.