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Rep. Slaughter Calls on President Bush to Explain Emerging White House Briefing Room Scandal
http://www.louise.house.gov/HoR/Louise/News/Press+Releases+By+Date/2005+Press+Releases/WH+Briefing+Room+Scandal.htm ^

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.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blahblahblahblah; clueless; crybabies; gannon; howaboutterrymoran; jeffgannon; newmedia; rats; slaughter; sorelosers; uglybeeeyeitch; voiceofnewmedia; wench; whenlibsattack
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To: Spiff
And the discredited "reporters" like Dan Rather of the MSM is more legitimate in some way than internet reporters?!

Maybe Gannon could go over to the White House like CBS did and just tell them "I promise not to do it again."

41 posted on 02/09/2005 11:38:47 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: AnnaZ

"people have the right to expect that journalists who question their President everyday are experienced, independent, and perhaps most importantly, unbiased in their approach."
We have the right and we're still waiting.....
Has this guy been under a rock? The MSM is.........


42 posted on 02/09/2005 11:39:19 AM PST by griswold3
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To: Miss Marple

Ping for your return.


43 posted on 02/09/2005 11:39:26 AM PST by A Citizen Reporter
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To: 7.62 x 51mm

First I've heard of this *emerging scandal*. I must have been in a cave, last week.

My thoughts exactly, another "quagmire"


44 posted on 02/09/2005 11:39:32 AM PST by wrathof59 ("to the Everlasting Glory of the Infantry".........Robert A Heinlein)
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To: hipaatwo
LOUSY FREEPER TROLL! ;-) Ok Louise, Jeff Gannon IS biased. Then again legacy media reporters have an agenda but they won't admit they have one. Every one knows they're liberals!

Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."

45 posted on 02/09/2005 11:39:39 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: mystery-ak; JesseJane; Howlin; Miss Marple; cyncooper
I already saw it .. the Dkos had it posted right away

This is all too well coordinated and imo we are in a full assault attack by the left on anyone that is conservative or looks favorably on conservatives

They are after Joe Lieberman also
46 posted on 02/09/2005 11:39:49 AM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: hipaatwo

Pass the tinfoil.


48 posted on 02/09/2005 11:41:25 AM PST by My2Cents ("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
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To: prairiebreeze

MurryMom

(c8


49 posted on 02/09/2005 11:42:04 AM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: hipaatwo
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "Jeff Gannon" isn't even his real name.

There is no recent mention of a Jeff Gannon on Philly.com, the website for the Inquirer and the Daily News. I will see if I can get independent verification that this claim is either true or false.

50 posted on 02/09/2005 11:43:09 AM PST by dirtboy (Bush has named Karl Rove the new drug czar to regulate Kook-Aid consumption by liberals. Film at 11)
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To: hipaatwo

Yes as soon has they can explain how Helen Thomas has been allowed in the press room all these years


51 posted on 02/09/2005 11:43:10 AM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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To: Mo1

Well well well.... they are very very mad about having to share their turf.. Yes, let's have an investigation. But this time, let us pick the panel.


52 posted on 02/09/2005 11:44:01 AM PST by JesseJane (KERRY: I have had conversations with leaders, yes, recently.That's not your business, it's mine.)
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To: ModelBreaker

Is Gannon being set up by the lefty bloggers?


53 posted on 02/09/2005 11:44:45 AM PST by pissant
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To: hipaatwo

She lives in my town. Around here we call her "Jeez Louise." The NY State Republican Party is so pathetic they can only put sacrificial lambs up against her every two years.


54 posted on 02/09/2005 11:44:59 AM PST by Fair Paul
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To: Mo1

Liebermann?


55 posted on 02/09/2005 11:45:11 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: BibChr

I just opined on another thread that MurryMom is actually Mary Mapes. Or maybe Dan Blather, :^P


56 posted on 02/09/2005 11:45:43 AM PST by prairiebreeze (George W Bush: Spending well-earned political capital.)
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To: Howlin

Yep .. they hate Lieberman and plan on taking him down come election time


57 posted on 02/09/2005 11:47:21 AM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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To: mystery-ak

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1339334/posts

The best our resident..now infrequent lib poster,Murrymom..can gloat about. Pathetic.


58 posted on 02/09/2005 11:48:32 AM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: prairiebreeze

Did they ever actually find the remains of Madalyn Murray O'Hair?

Jus' sayin'......

D


59 posted on 02/09/2005 11:49:05 AM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: hipaatwo
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28) is an ignoramus.
".. a free and independent media is the cornerstone of our success as a democracy".

For the last time, the USA in not, I repeat, NOT a DEMOCRACY!
&*^%& it, we're a Constitutional Republic.

(Sheesh, and this mope is in Congress?!?)

60 posted on 02/09/2005 11:49:55 AM PST by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Gen G Patton)
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