Here's the problem with Gannon

[TomClash]

It's not that he's gay.

It's not that he's a prostitute.

It's not the kinky websites.

It's not even the hypocrisy.

It's the breach of national security. What if Gannon was an agent for China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Israel, North Korea or some other country? He received classified information about Valerie Plame. He received classified information about the timing of "Shock and Awe." He was close to someone in the White House (and yes it could be Bush or Rove) who probably had access to sensitive intelligence.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. It's about the blackmail.

If there is a prostitution ring operating in Washington D.C. that caters to bisexuals, how many secret lives are involved? Who does it involve? Who knows what on who? Who is restricting their votes to protect their families the pain of disclosure?

And finally, have we reached a point when it's in the national interest for this shit to stop?

[GoCubsGo05]

3. As long is there is media...

...the shit will never stop. If you don't believe that media shills have been in the briefing room for decades, then you're not being realistic. The only reason it's news now is because there are other sources, like DU, to point it out! MSM outlets are very protective of one another for the most part. God forbid they criticize a competitor's reporting, only to caught with their pants down a few weeks/monts/years later.

It has always been in the national interest for this to stop. Now, with blogs and media watchdog reports readily available on-line, the process can finally begin, but it will never be complete. But don't be fooled. Those in power want there to be shills.

It's like in the West Wing episode when Bartlett held a press conference after disclosing his MS. CJ instructed him whom to call on first so he would not be asked immediately if he was going to run for reelection. The reporter was not a plant, but had obviously agreed in advance to ask a specific question.

Ya think the shows writers and consultants knew something about how press conferences work? I do.

Anyway, as long as the DU and other blogs continue to raise hell, people won't be kept in the dark anymore about stuff like this.

[ender]

8. what the hell are you talking about?

findone case that is close to this blatant.

this is stalinist-style propaganda. everybody does not do this, and it isnt "normal". its fascist.

[GoCubsGo05]

14. OK- let's take a step back....

....first of all, Talon is hardly a media giant. The only reportage of Gannon's questions was because he was exposed. I don't know how many people use Talon as a news source, but I am quite certain it is not a big number....further, I would bet they are not independents looking for good information. SO let's be realistic about this, OK. This was not a fully credentialed White House reporter working for a media outlet that reached millions and millions of people. This was a guy who got day passes and asked bogus questions that never got reported outside his goofy website.

I have an opinion on the matter and it is just, to me, common sense. Don't be fooled just because there is a Republican administration in the White House. The government, no matter who is in power, has an interest in sending messages to the people by way of the media. That's the way it works. Like it or not, reporters ask softball questions from time to time. The biggest offense by reporters in all forms of media lies in the questions they DON'T ASK!

It's all a big game, and again, we are the ones who lose. That's why this website and others like it are vitally important in this day and age. Anyone who whole-heartedly buys into what they see on TV is probably beyond help. To me, the news is a starting point for a story, not the determining factor. It's the nature of the beast. Do you really think America is getting the full story on Social Security in three-minute news stories? The budget? The war? Name an issue. News programming is not subject-static. Cable news, at times, is better than network news because of the time they can commit to stories. But the net is the next step. People who care will find out.

I personally don't care that much about the Gannon story outside of the fact he used a fake name. Perhaps it is possible that the people checking him out knew he was using a fake name. Perhaps they even knew he had once been a part of a bi-sexual or gay dating service. But would that eliminate him from doing his current job? No. Being gay or bi, last time I checked, was not a crime. What do you think we would find if every White House reporter had every aspect of their past thoroughly examined? What would be fascist is to do exactly that. So one guy slipped through the cracks. He was not a guy with any influence except on a few people who were likely already in lock-step thought with him. Big whoop.

Just my opinion. I realize others have different views. I just think there's a lot more on which we should be focusing our energy. The amount of worthy news organizations covering the White House FAR exceeds the number of worthless news organizations.

[pretzel4gore]

6. butt didn't bush blackmail america?

when he sent 100thousand plus troops to iraq theatre before the UN gave its mandate for an invasion (which also forced the UN to defy bushinc)???
maybe blackmail is ok....now, even by the nation's top official, much less by his minions(?)

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Blackmail is never good public policy. But it is particularly dangerous

to this country when American intelligence agencies or political parties entrap people for the sole purpose of controlling their votes in Washington. That is undermining the credibility of our government.

Just a few days ago, Bush said in a speech that bigotry must end in America because it was undermining his efforts to pursue his foreign policy, which is exporting "freedom." Well, Bush has more than bigotry to tame in this country before he can show himself as a credible global leader. He also has to stop with the dirty tricks which include blackmailing and the propaganda, the mudslinging, the changing of laws when his people break them. His people are setting a terrible example. He might be able to fool some of the American people, but he can't fool the world.

[TomClash]

11. No, it is about the potential for blackmail

Imagine that Gannon is approached by a foreign intelligence service case officer who threatens to expose him, but offers to keep his true identity secret if he passes on information. Like the identity of his WH paramour or the timing and positioning of US satellites or the identity or whereabouts of US intel agents in Iran. How useful is that information to Russia, for example, if the US is pressuing Russia on its commitment to democracy, or asking Russia to help with Iran, or . . . ?

That's my point and I think it's incontestibly serious.

[Blue_Roses]

18. I agree and this is what should be given

serious attention. If this was approached from a security breech angle we might be seeing more on this in the MSM

[Democrats_win]

2. Its also the BA's willingness to sacrifice security for propaganda

If they would just tell the truth, they wouldn't need yet another media prostitute.

[Al-CIAda]

4. I disagree. Its about all those and more you failed to mention -imo, eom

[bush_is_wacko]

5. No, it IS the hypocrisy, the breach of security and on top of that

I would venture a guess that this man is a mercenary. He fits that bill rather nicely. I'm not capable of doing the research on this one. I have no idea where to start looking, but I do think he is bribing someone and EVERY day the connections seem to get closer and closer to the oval office.

As a paid mercenary, he is loyal to ONLY his pocketbook and that is a TRULY scary thought. he could be selling information to EVERY single one of the countries you mentioned and more. I think if this story is pursued it will ultimately lead to that VERY conclusion.

[Hello_Kitty]

9. Yes, very scary

I have a hard time believing that Gannon/Guckert is a true ideological conservative fighting for the 'cause'. I agree with the mercenary angle. Who knows what he's been selling, and to whom.

[wishlist]

7. Someone high up must have known him well & trusted his political loyalty

There is no way this guy would have been vaulted into the WH press corps position and moved into the high levels of the RW propaganda machine so quickly unless someone of influence had high confidence in his loyalty strictly through a personal relationship prior to February 2002.

He had no resume or credentials in either journalism or politics or government and no background check. Since it took 2 years for his online X-rated identity to be uncovered, it is probable that the high level contact who vouched for him and pulled the strings was not aware of the internet escort sites and thought he was trustworthy and discrete.

Whether his powerful mentor was in the WH or in the Texas Republican Mafia, this affair indicates a vulnerability in the WH for a potential breach of national security. (Not to mention the much higher blackmail potential against a RWinger from a male hooker than there would be for a female hooker or another Monica)

[TomClash]

12. Or he provided services for someone in the WH nt

[BeFree]

13. Here is the story:

Male Prostitute has high level contacts in White House.

Using an alias, the prostitute quickly rose in influence as evidenced by personal invites to private parties at the White House.

When b*** said he was bringing new policies to DC, no one realized that he meant it was gonna be male prostitution.

[Skittles]

15. you are correct, Tom

although it's easy to go on about the sheer hypocrisy of it all, the problem runs much deeper. I would add that it really showcases what a dismal state our media is in - surely the MSM reporters in those press conferences knew something was up with that moron Gannon - where the HELL is the investigative reporting? Bloggers are now doing their jobs and I am very thankful that SOMEONE is doing it.

[TomClash]

16. I know

Thank God (or Al Gore) for the internet.

[Benbow]

17. Is this getting warm?

From the Guardian of 9 March 2004,

it was in Washington that Rove met the younger Bush. He fell, politically speaking, in love. "Huge amounts of charisma, swagger, cowboy boots, flight jacket, wonderful smile, just charisma - you know, wow,"


Then perhaps one should take a leaf out of Rove's book (from Telegraph, 24 October 2004):

Rove believes there's no point attacking a candidate on his weak points; you attack him on his strong points. Do that right and there's nothing left.

Or,

the Rove formula for getting Democrats to cross the Republican threshold is to press social issues, rather than economic ones. "Take a blue-collar Democrat in Pennsylvania," says Lunde. "You combine social values, such as gun control, with the war on terrorism." ... Like him or loathe him, people are extremely cautious of Karl. One person recalls Ted Turner, the CNN founder and big Democrat donor, making a trip to Washington for the screening of a movie he had helped produce about the Civil War. Someone in the administration suggested bringing Turner into the White House mess for lunch. It was nixed by Rove. "There is no noblesse oblige about Karl."

[tsuki]

19. It's about the cover-up memo.

[IronLionZion]

20. you could say the same thing about Bush

Giving him access is a breach of national security. j/k

Kidding aside, I think the gay whore stuff is seriously detracting from the real problem, national security, as you said. They have no right giving confidential information to anyone, gay whore or not, american or not, without a very good reason. This white house is extremely secretive about the wrong stuff, but they slip national security info all the time.

Even if he's not a foreign operative, he could slip and someone else could overhear. those fuckers have eyes and ears all over DC.

[TomClash]

21. Exactly

For example, they allowed Bandar to see the war plans for the invasion of Iraq.

[Dr Fate]

22. I agree- for DEMS, this story is about propaganda, pay-offs & blackmail.

Let the media, bloggers, pundits & comedians focus on all the weird sexy-stuff- we dont want to look anything like those creepy impeachment managers.