Fleischer on Gannon

[julialnyc]

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was so concerned about Talon News reporter James Guckert's potential ties to the Republican Party that he stopped calling on him at press briefings for about a week in 2003, Fleischer told E&P today.

"I found out that he worked for a GOP site, and I didn't think it was my place to call on him because he worked for something that was related to the party," Fleischer said in a phone interview. "He had the editor call me and made the case that they were not related to the Republican Party. He said they used the GOP name for marketing purposes only."

He said he resumed calling on Guckert, who used the alias Jeff Gannon, after Bobby Eberle, owner of both GOPUSA and Talon News, "assured me that they were not part of the Republican Party." Eberle is a Texas Republican activist and served as a delegate to the 2000 Republican National Convention.
It would be interesting to see if "Talon News" was created as a front to create "distance" between GOPUSA and Gannon. Remember, Gannon was in that room prior to the creation of Talon News.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/17/1874/11865

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Okay, let's sort this out

Ari Fleischer is concerned about Gannon being too closely connected to the GOP and doesn't call on him. How principled!!

But then he gets assurances that Gannon doesn't work for anything really associated with the GOP from Gannon's boss, who just happens to be a Republican activist in Texas.

Ari never was a good liar.

[Must_B_Free]

3. I agree, just more contradictory BS

what is "for marketing purposes only"?

maybe Bill only let Monica work his tool "to win her vote", too...

[Swamp Rat]

2. Shut up Wormtongue!

Ari, you used to lie better than this. What happened? x(

[solinvictus]

4. Fleischer on Gannon!?!?!?

Is that some sort of video being passed around by Rove and Rush???

[Pithy Cherub]

5. But, it was said credentials were handled by low level

staff in the White House press office. Why would Ari, himself, call and question the credentials... :eyes:

More things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm, somebody's got some 'splainin' to do.