Posted on 02/10/2005 1:36:52 PM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON, DC -- In light of yet another scandal involving the Bush administration's manipulation of the media, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today requested from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan all the documents relating to the press credentials of James. D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon"; the "journalist" now famous for being the White House correspondent for his softball questioning of President Bush and various Administration spokespeople.
"I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon." Specifically, I am seeking documentation related to the question of which name Mr. Guckert/Gannon used when applying for credentials, and which name was on the official White House press credentials he received," wrote Lautenberg.
"As you may know, Mr. Guckert/Gannon was denied a Congressional press pass because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization. Given the fact that he was denied Congressional credentials, I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials," Lautenberg wrote.
Senator Lautenberg has been the Senate leader in exposing the Bush administration's propaganda efforts.
February 10, 2005
Scott McClellan Press Secretary The White House Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. McClellan,
I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon." Specifically, I am seeking documentation related to the question of which name Mr. Guckert/Gannon used when applying for credentials, and which name was on the official White House press credentials he received. Additionally, I am seeking documents indicating whether Mr. Guckert/Gannon received a "hard pass" or daily passes from your office. Despite your assertions to the contrary, at least one White House reporter has revealed that Mr. Guckert/Gannon appeared to have "hard pass" credentials.
As you may know, Mr. Guckert/Gannon was denied a Congressional press pass because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization. Given the fact that he was denied Congressional credentials, I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials.
I have led the effort in the Senate to investigate a number of instances of troubling propaganda efforts by the Administration. The Government Accountability Office has agreed to my requests to investigate various attempts at media manipulation: fake television news stories touting both the new Medicare law and the "No Child Left Behind" education program; a study rating individual journalists on their "favorability" to Republican education policies; and the payment to journalist Armstrong Williams.
Since the Armstrong Williams controversy became public, Administration payments to two other journalists, Maggie Gallagher and Michael McManus, have come to light. Given the backdrop of these scandals, coupled with Mr. Guckert/Gannon's role in recent White House press briefings and press conferences, it is understandable that the circumstances of Mr. Guckert/Gannon's credentialing have raised suspicion.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely, Frank R. Lautenberg
Chicken Noodle Network. CNN
I'll tune in. In fact, I put CNN on just now to be ready and they're talking Charles and Camilla. Ack, back to GH until 3pm my time.
hahahaha Good luck, Senator. I don't think you have any oversight in this matter. Is there such a thing in the Constitution. What a bunch of nonsense!
Don't know if you're following this Gannon story, but in case you are, suppposedly he'll be on CNN at 5pm (or during that program sometime) eastern.
I realize that. =0)
They make that obvious on a daily basis. Same crap blahblahblah. Same cadavers blahblahblah.
This is the best they've got? The president will keep rolling along making a safer world with his historic policies. Let them concentrate on this stuff.
Wait... if that's the criteria, how do folks from CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, and CNN get into the press rooms?
I don't think they ever did.
The Talons of Intimidation- Jeff Gannon's saga http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340085/posts
Tony Blankley is also in David Brocks crosshairs.
That's debatable. Why you say?
It's only a letter. There are a heck of allot of dead democrats that still vote, don't they? :-)
STFU
Love,
George
No .. they are using Gannon in attempt to attack the President
This BS is just unbelievable
This is the second Dem on the Hill to write a letter
This smells on so many levels that it ain't funny
YW!
I don't really know. I know he posted on them because they called him one of the top ten conservative idiots and he said sorry I didn't make #1 or something to that effect. Jeeze the DUers are a pathetic bunch aren't they?
Thank you for this site.
From the bottom of my heart.
Can anybody say "fishing expedition"?
CNN I think... :)
BINGO!
Thomas Jefferson kept a newspaperman on the State Department payroll, who performed no work at the State Dept. He then published editorials favorable to Jefferson and which also attacked Alexander Hamilton.
I am still waiting to hear some sort of condemnation of this conduct on the part of Jefferson.
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.