Posted on 02/09/2005 11:10:04 AM PST by hipaatwo
Washington, DC - Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), long time champion of media reform and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules, sent a letter to President George W. Bush today asking him to explain how discredited "reporter" Jeff Gannon was credentialed as a member of the legitimate media by the White House.
The letter follows: Wednesday, February 9, 2005 The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: In light of the mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies, I feel compelled to ask you to address a matter brought to my attention by the Niagara Falls Reporter (article attached), a local newspaper in my district, regarding James "JD" Guckert (AKA Jeff Gannon) of Talon News. According to several credible reports, "Mr. Gannon" has been repeatedly credentialed as a member of the White House press corps by your office and has been regularly called upon in White House press briefings by your Press Secretary Scott McClellan, despite the fact evidence shows that "Mr. Gannon" is a Republican political operative, uses a false name, has phony or questionable journalistic credentials, is known for plagiarizing much of the "news" he reports, and according to several web reports, may have ties to the promotion of the prostitution of military personnel.
Several weeks ago when it was revealed that radio/TV host Armstrong Williams had received payment from your Administration in exchange for his vocal support of the 'No Child Left Behind' initiative, I was stunned. For years now I have been leading the fight in Congress for fairness and accountability in the media; the Williams revelation only underscored the need for a media that has integrity, is balanced and expresses the local interests and concerns of its consumers. Since that time, two more members of the media have been found to have received money from your Administration in exchange for their vocal, yet undisclosed support of Administration policies. And just this morning we have learned that "Mr. Gannon" has resigned his post at the, so called, Talon News amid growing concerns over his controversial background and falsified qualifications. In fact, it appears that "Mr. Gannon's" presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your Administration. Mr. President, I am sure we both agree the White House Press Corps is an honored institution in America that should be beyond the scope of partisan meddling, and that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of our success as a democracy.
Likewise, I am sure we can both agree the American people have the right to expect that journalists who question their President everyday are experienced, independent, and perhaps most importantly, unbiased in their approach. I was already concerned about what appears to be an organized campaign to mask partisan propaganda as legitimate news by your Administration. That we have now learned this same type of deception is occurring inside the White House briefing room itself is even more disturbing.
That is why I am asking you to please explain to the Congress and to the American people how and why the individual known as "Mr. Gannon" was repeatedly cleared by your staff to join the legitimate White House press corps? Mr. President, your Administration has driven the so-called "values" debate in this country. But the most important value for those of us in public service should always be honesty and integrity, particularly when considering the manner in which we conduct our affairs of state.
I would appreciate your prompt response on this matter. Respectfully, /LMS Louise M. Slaughter Ranking Member, House Committee on Rules
From the Niagara Falls Reporter on Monday, February 7, 2005 AN OPEN LETTER TO LOUISE SLAUGHTERDear Rep. Slaughter, As a small newspaper located in your district, we are asking for your help. It has come to our attention that an individual who calls himself "Jeff Gannon" has been credentialed by the White House to attend press briefings and presidential news conferences.
He is affiliated with an organization called Talon News, and is frequently called on by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and President Bush. This individual has no background in journalism whatsoever, and his "syndicated column" appears solely on his personal Web site, www.jeffgannon.com. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "Jeff Gannon" isn't even his real name. In his biography at the Talon News site, where he holds the title of "Washington Bureau Chief," he claims to be a graduate of the "Pennsylvania State University System" and the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism. While the 23 schools in the Penn State system award diplomas, the system itself does not, and the Daily News investigation has thus far failed to turn up a "Jeff Gannon" who holds a degree in education from Penn State, as this person claims he does. Furthermore, the Leadership Institute Broadcast School of Journalism is a right-wing diploma mill where anyone with $50 and two days to waste can receive a degree. As for Talon News itself, it seems to consist solely of a Web site that links directly to a Republican site called www.gopusa.com.
Both Talon and GOPUSA have the same mailing address, a private residence in Texas. It isn't clear whether anyone at Talon News is paid, as one portion of its site asks, "Want to join the Talon News team? Click here to find out more about being a volunteer reporter for Talon News." Looking at the staff biography section of the site, none of the 10 individuals listed appear to have any training or previous experience in journalism, although all list credentials as Republican activists.
We respectfully ask your office to look into how a partisan political organization and an individual with no credentials as a reporter -- and apparently operating under an assumed name -- landed a coveted spot in the White House press corps. Sincerely, Bruce Battaglia, publisher, Mike Hudson, editor in chief, Rebecca Day, senior editor, David Staba, sports editor, Bill Gallagher, national correspondent, John Hanchette, senior correspondent, Frank Thomas Croisdale, contributing editor, Bill Bradberry, contributing editor, Niagara Falls Reporter.
You must learn to trust me. I have a real sixth-sense about trolls. Sometimes some newbie comes on here and it's obvious he's just stupid, not trolling. I will speak in defense of those people.
But sometimes people will pretend to be one of us, in order to Delphi us.
And I have a trained nose for those pipple.
Usually I spot them also. However, I also want to make sure in these kinds of situations that we're not having another DITHF episode.
Errrrr... RegurgitateTheFreakin'Propaganda still exists, and will still troll.
I'll see if I can take care of that.
I just called the Niagra Falls Reporter, told them I live in Philadelphia and to tell me where they found that in the Daily News. UH UH UH I don't know I didn't write the article.
Well, I live in Philly, I buy the paper every day and I haven't seen it there. I checked the archives online, nothing. Go to Philly.com and check for yourself.
But he says if the reporter wrote it it's there.
Really then, where?
UH UH UH give me your name and number and I'll get back to you.
Nope, you don't want my name and number.
Click, end of convo.
Fair enough. I will serve as the Extremist Islamic, urging immediate decapitation, and you hold me in check with your Moderate Islamic tendencies, urging me to wait an hour before decapitating them.
In Allahs name, of course.
See #116.
to fulfill a diversity quota by hiring outerspace mutants
I saved that Delphi link you sent me; thank you.
We can add Terry Moran to that list and ask him how he rec'd this information that he asked a question about
(snip) President Bush said he was unaware of the case. He was in good company. The Hattar case appears never to have bbeen mentioned by any news outlet in the U.S., including Moran's own network, that is, until Moran asked his question.
A listing of their spouses would make interesting reading, too....
I've just gotten home and without reading every post, please tell me if this is correct:
The Niagra paper reporting on Gannon claims they were quoting the Philadephia paper but there actually was no story in the Philadelphia paper?
Thanks Peach!
Hiya DUmmies.
I'd say that is a good bet .. this is a full assault attack by the left
BTW .. wasn't it the BG who went on the attack of the Swift Boat Vets during the election?
Yeah, right, Dunga Dan. I have it straight from an inside source that no such story exists. The reporter never figured that someone would run down that claim.
The internet is the greatest equalizer since the Colt revolver.
I reported last week that Rush Limbaugh said that Terry Moran never had real experience before he went to ABC either. He worked for Court TV.
That seems to be the case
The Niagra paper reporting on Gannon claims they were quoting the Philadephia paper but there actually was no story in the Philadelphia paper?
BINGO!
That is correct. First of all, the Niagara paper is, from all appearances, a blog, and second, I had a source at the Daily News check the archives and he found no such story.
The left is spinning so fast that I can't leave the house for a few hours without falling behind. This is so coordinated that its transparent.
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