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Loose "Gannon": White House Reporter Admits He Used Fake Name
Editor and Publisher ^ | 02/10/05 | Joe Strupp and Greg Mitchell

Posted on 02/10/2005 5:55:51 AM PST by Pikamax

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By Joe Strupp and Greg Mitchell

Published: February 10, 2005 updated 10:00 PM ET

NEW YORK Jeff Gannon, the controversial White House correspondent for the obscure Web site Talon News who resigned from his job Tuesday, confirmed late Wednesday, in a phone interview with National Public Radio, that he has been using a false name. A few hours later, Howard Kurtz, writing in The Washington Post, confirmed earlier tips, arising from liberal blogs, that the reporter's real name is indeed James D. Guckert.

Despite the ruse, "Gannon" still managed to gain access to many White House briefings and was one of the few reporters allowed to ask President Bush a (very friendly) question at a press conference two weeks ago.

NPR reported Wednesday that when Gannon was turned down for Capitol Hill credentials--a move first reported by E&P last week--he had used the name James Guckert. He admitted to NPR that Gannon was not his real name, and left it at that.

This "begs further investigation," James Pinkerton, a media critic for Fox News, told the online magazine Salon. He recalled that in the six years he worked for Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the White House was "strict about who got in. It's inconceivable to me that the White House, especially after 9/11, gives credentials to people without doing a background check....If [Gannon] was walking around the White House with a pass that had a different name on it than his real name, that's pretty remarkable."

Dan Milbank, the former White House correspondent for The Washington Post, said the "scandal" of the whole episode was that it was blogs, and not the White House, that ultimately exposed Gannon's ruse. Milbank, on Keith Olbermann's MSNBC program, said he'd seen Gannon at the White House as recently as Monday.

Gannon, amazingly, also has ties to the Valerie Plame/CIA scandal.

Adding another twist, NPR's David Folkenflik, in his report Wednesday night, referred to revelations arising from liberal blogs earlier in the day, connecting Gannon to sexual Web sites such as HotMilitaryStud.com, among others.

"These sites are registered to an address in Delaware that's the same as one held by a James Guckert," Folkenflik said. "And that's the name that Gannon used to apply for press credentials on Capitol Hill....As for those Web sites, Gannon said he created them for clients of a software company he used to work for. And Gannon said his Christian faith has enabled him to receive forgiveness for the sins of his past."

The New York Daily News' story on Thursday carried the headline, "Bush press pal quits over gay prostie link." Washington reporter Helen Kennedy wrote: "A conservative ringer who was given a press pass to the White House and lobbed softball questions at President Bush quit yesterday after left-leaning Internet bloggers discovered possible ties to gay prostitution."

On Tuesday, in a message on his Web site (www.jeffgannon.com), Gannon announced: "Because of the attention being paid to me I find it is no longer possible to effectively be a reporter for Talon News. In consideration of the welfare of me and my family I have decided to return to private life. Thank you to all those who supported me."

E&P has not been able to reach Gannon since.

Gannon's alleged real name, Guckert, had been proposed earlier Wedneday by investigators at DailyKos, Eschaton and other blogs. They also showed that Talon News is run by a Texas GOP activist.

Also Wednesday, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to President Bush asking him to "address the matter" in light of "mounting evidence that your Administration has, on several occasions, paid members of the media to advocate in favor of Administration policies."

Gannon first gained attention several weeks ago when he asked a question at a presidential press conference that some in the press corps considered so friendly it might have been planted. Later E&P revealed that Gannon had been turned down last year for a congressional press pass because he could not prove his employer was a valid news organization. That denial barred him from receiving a White House "hard pass," allowing regular access to White House press events.

But Gannon had been obtaining daily White House press passes, a situation that had irked some veteran White House reporters who also questioned his credentials or considered him to be too partisan in his questioning.

On Olbermann's program Wednesday night, however, Milbank said he had seen Gannon with a pass and photo I.D. that certainly looked like it was of the permanent variety.

On Thursday, the Boston Globe reports that Gannon told them he had gotten no special consideration at the White House. He had applied for a background check and daily passes under the name on his driver's license, not his "professional name," he said.

Earlier in the day, on CNN, the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz said that White House spokesman Scott McClellan had told him that "President Bush didn't know who Jeff Gannon was when he called on him at that news conference."

Gannon's original refusal to deny he used a fake name sparked investigations by a number of blogs, that probed his true identity. In addition, those sites posted allegations that Web sites such as hotmilitarystud.com, militaryescorts.com, and militaryescortsm4m.com, were registered to the same owner as Gannon's personal Web site.

"The bloggers," Kurtz writes today, "also have linked to a since-withdrawn America Online photo of a man who appears to be Gannon, posing in his underwear, with a screen name bearing the initials 'JDG.'"

In her letter to President Bush, Rep. Slaughter charged that "it appears that 'Mr. Gannon's' presence in the White House press corps was merely as a tool of propaganda for your Administration."

Dan Froomkin, the Washington Post columnist, said Wednesday in an online chat, "the heat should be on" Scott McClellan: "Why did he call on Gannon? Did they ever pre-arrange anything? Did they have contact with his parent organization?"

Another intriguing issue is his involvement, along with better known Robert Novak, Judith Miller and others, in the Valerie Plame/CIA episode. His name turned up on a list of reporters targeted for questioning by the federal prosecutor in the case. Froomkin of the The Washington Post wrote last spring that "the reason Gannon is on the list is most likely an attempt to find out who gave him a secret memo that he mentioned in an interview he had with Plame's husband, former ambassador and administration critic Joseph Wilson."

The Talon News site today scrubbed its archives of many "Gannon" articles and removed his biography. It said it was already looking for a replacement for its star reporter.

In an e-mail to E&P last Friday, not published until now, Gannon wrote: "Much has been made about whether I use a professional name or not, but I am reluctant to provide information one way or another because of the threats that have been made against my person, property and family in both internet postings ... as well as in e-mails that I have forwarded to law enforcement. I'm sure you understand."

Olbermann on his TV show Wednesday referred to Gannon as "HBO's Ali G, without the satire."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gannon; jeffgannon; media; plame; wilson
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To: Moose4

It is a potentially dangerous compromise of the press corps' generally balanced and efficient questioning of the president and his press secretary to have the administration plant a ringer among the real journalists. The role of the press corps is to challenge, critique, and cut through the political advocacy of the administration. It is totally inappropriate to have a fake journalist tossing softball questions at what is asserted to be a legitimate, honest Q and A session of our most important elected public official. It surely must be a Karl Rove innovation.


161 posted on 02/10/2005 8:25:15 PM PST by middie
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To: AmishDude
the skivvies picture was on a hometown.aol.com page. Maybe that's who was hosting the pic after it got pulled.

I saw it posted on DU in a Gannon thread last night. It's the only place I saw it posted until today.

162 posted on 02/10/2005 8:33:34 PM PST by DJ MacWoW ("Are you cops? FBI" bad guy, "I'm currently unemployed" Tony Almeida of 24)
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To: middie
It is a potentially dangerous compromise of the press corps' generally balanced and efficient questioning of the president and his press secretary to have the administration plant a ringer among the real journalists.

Yup that's a problem. But that's not what happened here.

The role of the press corps is to challenge, critique, and cut through the political advocacy of the administration.

Where were you from 1992 - 2000? The David Gregory's of the world cut their teeth on being fed the daily talking points from Joe Lockhart and his predecessor and now they view their job as being the leading edge of the DNC's attacks on the President. But, that's probably OK with you Captain.

It is totally inappropriate to have a fake journalist tossing softball questions at what is asserted to be a legitimate, honest Q and A session of our most important elected public official.

Perhaps you should just wonder on over to the Whitehouse and set policy on how journalists are credentialed. I know you're an old guy but you do realize that these computer thingies have changed the world of information and it's probably not in the MSM's interest to allow us lowly netizens access to their exclusive turf. That is what this story is about -not the academic and professional credentials of an individual reporter. If Gannon/Guckert had an MA from Columbia in Journalism and asked the question he asked he would still have been attacked like this.

It surely must be a Karl Rove innovation.

Surely, someone of your stature can provide links that validate that assertion, counselor. I'll be waiting.

Thanks for your service.

TS

163 posted on 02/10/2005 8:40:18 PM PST by The Shrew (www.swiftvets.com & www.wintersoldier.com - The Truth Shall Set YOU Free!)
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To: Pikamax; Pride in the USA
I'm trying to figure that out as well, they admit he used his legal name to get clearance from Secret Service, so that's a red herring.

Gee, they didn't think it was a problem when former CNN White House correspondent, Irving Myron Federman, Jr. had WH press credentials. (AKA Wolf Blitzer)

164 posted on 02/10/2005 8:42:28 PM PST by lonevoice (Vast Right Wing Pajama Party)
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To: Pikamax

This is sad.


165 posted on 02/10/2005 8:45:02 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: kjam22; sinkspur

Figures. Have either of you met him?

I have. He's a decent guy.


166 posted on 02/10/2005 8:47:58 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: NutCrackerBoy

What did Gannon do wrong, precisely?


167 posted on 02/10/2005 8:51:33 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: dead

Pinkerton's a wuss. Always has been.


168 posted on 02/10/2005 8:54:47 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: Howlin

ok, suppose the post you made earlier is correct, that Gannon was linked w/ gay porn websites in the past. From what I've been reading, he is a Christian and has repented of his past.

How long do we hold this against him? I'd like a definitive answer from you.

Does someone have to be absolutely pristine - pure as the driven snow - from time immemorial, to ask a question in the WH press corpse room?


169 posted on 02/10/2005 9:01:06 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: lonevoice
former CNN White House correspondent, Irving Myron Federman, Jr. had WH press credentials. (AKA Wolf Blitzer)

Actually, his real name IS Wolf Blitzer. It was discovered here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340582/posts

170 posted on 02/10/2005 9:02:22 PM PST by DJ MacWoW ("Are you cops? FBI" bad guy, "I'm currently unemployed" Tony Almeida of 24)
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To: sauropod
ok, suppose the post you made earlier is correct, that Gannon was linked w/ gay porn websites in the past. From what I've been reading, he is a Christian and has repented of his past.

Don't worry about it. It was explained in a CNN interview tonight,

BLITZER: Because one of the things, as you know, that were said is that you had some sexually explicit Web sites that you were working on. I don't understand what that is, but maybe you could explain that.

GANNON: Well, several years ago, before I came to Washington, I had registered various domain names for a private client. I was doing Web site development. Those sites were never hosted. There's -- nothing ever went up on them. And the client went on to do something else.

There's been so much about me on the Internet that people have, you know, made assumptions about. And I just can't -- I don't even know them all and I can't address them all here.

171 posted on 02/10/2005 9:06:00 PM PST by DJ MacWoW ("Are you cops? FBI" bad guy, "I'm currently unemployed" Tony Almeida of 24)
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To: sauropod
I'd like a definitive answer from you.

How about this:

I posted that ONLY as an addition to the information out there.

I'm not vouching for anything.

Does that suit you?

But just so you'll know:

To: Dane

Brit Hune and his panel talked about the issue this evening.

It seems that the folks at dailykos, the others, and Howard Kurtz may have jumped the gun...and misrepresented a huge portion of this story. And in a sense, slandered a man.

It seems that Gannon, or whatever his name may be, did not run any porn sited.

One of the panel members stated that they are finding out, now, that Gannon once worked for a software company and registered the domain names for somebody else.

THEY also pointed out that this seems to be, in large part, liberals going after a conservative reporter.

FURTHERMORE- the pointed out how people like Helen Thomas who is a columnist, not a reporter....and people like The New Republic can get press passes.

It will be interesting to see if Howard Kurtz will correct some of his misreporting of this stuff. Same with Olberman.

STILL WAITING FOR KURTZ TO DISCLOSE THAT A MAJOR SOURCE FOR HIS STORY WAS ON THE HOWARD DEAN PAYROLL.

18 posted on 02/10/2005 7:24:59 PM EST by ArmyBratproud

172 posted on 02/10/2005 9:09:39 PM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: Howlin

Fair enough.

I've met Jeff and hate to see this happening. Some here are prepared to throw him to the wolves. From posts earlier on this thread, I thought you were one of them.

My apologies to you.

Brock is a slimeball and there is a special room in hell reserved for him.


173 posted on 02/10/2005 9:22:17 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: sauropod

I think you should check my posts; I've been defending him non-stop since this came out.


174 posted on 02/10/2005 9:27:57 PM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: sauropod
What did Gannon do wrong, precisely?

I think it is his breathing of air

175 posted on 02/10/2005 9:28:41 PM PST by woofie
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To: sauropod

This is not just Brock; this is Sidney and Joe and Gene.


176 posted on 02/10/2005 9:29:53 PM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: sauropod
What did Gannon do wrong, precisely?

And what did Armstrong Williams do wrong, precisely? Accepted largesse.

I'm well aware that RATS are furiously spinning a few smelly stories, some almost entirely innocent. And they are partly succeeding. But IF Gannon accepted largesse, it is not the time to circle the wagons.

177 posted on 02/10/2005 9:35:58 PM PST by NutCrackerBoy
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To: Howlin

I've been out of town all week and am just now catching up.


178 posted on 02/10/2005 9:36:07 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: NutCrackerBoy
And what did Armstrong Williams do wrong, precisely? Accepted largesse.

NOT THE SAME THING!

But IF Gannon accepted largesse, it is not the time to circle the wagons.

And where, precisely is this alleged?

179 posted on 02/10/2005 9:37:57 PM PST by sauropod (Hitlary: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: Pikamax
He could have taken the nom de guerre Jim Gannon.
180 posted on 02/10/2005 9:41:41 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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