Posted on 01/31/2005 5:57:56 PM PST by Bob J
Letter from David Brock to Scott McClellan 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
I like the part about "no journalism experience." That's like saying, "she couldn't being having sex for money because she has no hooker experience."
intelligence=intelligent
I've laughed so hard reading this I nearly hurt myself. David Brock has less credibility than, say, Bill Clinton.
AND Mr. Brock...are you a partisan operative? It would seem that you and 90% oftoday's reporters are very partisan and most of us know it.
I thought you might enjoy reading this.
Thanks. I am sure that the White House will really be concerned about Mr. Brock's opinion. (Snicker.)
A friend of mine held a job as a reporter for years with nothing but a BA in psych. He's now a lawyer and tells me that no particular background or training is required to be a reporter. According to him, Brock does not know what he's talking about.
Revoke Helen's Press Pass!
sniff, sniff - Waaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Something the MSM has only been doing to Democrat presidents and politicians for the past thirty to forty years. They sure don't like it when the shoe is on the other foot. How disingenuous to cry foul when Republicans use similar tactics.
When you go after the MSM and the Democrats for such things, then MAYBE you'll have some credibility. Until then, buzz off!
I would have guessed that it was closer to the presidency of McKinley.
I got two words for David Brock. Helen Thomas. Now sit down and shut up you no talent assclown.
Well, give this e-mail a work. I won't guarantee it will work.
Scott_McClellan@who.eop.gov
Journalism is not a field with a license or something.
If you can get hired, you get hired. Usually you must have past experience, but you have to start somewhere without experience obviously.
Dan, we're going to miss you at CAPC...heheh.
Regards,
TS
Somebody PING Rush.
You had the correct concept but wrong administration. The correct administration when she ceased being a real journalist was Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt, not Franklin. :)
I presume, then, that Brock would likewise want to bar news organizations which are dominated by Democrat activists. The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and the TV networks for example.
ROTFLMCO! As if the rest of the MSM aren't activists. This is absolutely priceless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.