Democratic Leadership (Reid) calls for Gannon Inquiry in Letter (Kerry signs Letter)

Raw Story ^ | 2/24/05

[areafiftyone]

The Senate Democratic leadership is privately circulating a letter calling for other senators to join a call for an investigation into discredited White House reporter Jeff Gannon, RAW STORY has learned.

The letter, issued from Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on President Bush to order a full inquiry into how a fake journalist working for a sham news organization got access to the president.

The letter was leaked to RAW STORY this evening. A decision on taking action on Gannon has been brewing for about a week, since Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on the White House to turn over all documentation relating to Gannon's credentialing.

The Senate Democratic leadership is encouraging members to sign onto the letter behind the scenes. As Congress is in recess, Democrats will be calling on members in their home districts before the Senate reconvenes next week.

Senator Durbin's letter follows.

Dear Mr. President,

At a press conference in the White House on January 26, you stated that “there needs to be a nice, independent relationship between the White House and the press.” In that same press conference, you called on a reporter then known as Jeff Gannon, who worked for an organization called Talon News.

Since that time, the public has learned that the real name of that reporter is James Dale Guckert, not Jeff Gannon, and that he had regular access to the White House press facilities for more than a year. We have also learned that the questions he posed at White House press briefings and the stories he filed for Talon News frequently mirrored Republican Party talking points, that Talon News is a news organization in name only and that it has apparently close connections to the Republican party.

Given the unprecedented level of security in Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a non-journalist using a false name and working for a sham news organization could have gained regular access to the White House for such an extended period of time.

Another reason the Gannon/Guckert affair is disturbing is because of what we have recently learned about apparent efforts by some in your Administration to try to “buy” favorable news coverage. These other efforts include paying news personalities Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher large sums of money to promote your Administration’s education and marriage initiatives, and using tax payer dollars to produce video news releases promoting the new prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and other policies the Administration regards as accomplishments. A recent report by the General Accountability Office called such video news releases illegal uses of public funds. More recently, we have heard troubling reports that Social Security Administration officials may be using public funds and pressuring public employees to promote your goal of privatizing Social Security.

As you know, concerns that government officials may be trying to deceive the public by manipulating the media can be extremely corrosive to public trust. For that reason, we respectfully request that you order an immediate and thorough investigation into the Gannon/Guckert matter. How is it possible that a man using a fake name, with dubious journalism credentials, was able to clear the White House’s extensive security screening process and gain such close access to you and your staff for such an extended period of time? Have there been other, similar breaches of security and journalism standards?

We appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter. We urge you to order a full inquiry so that the American people know the facts.

[frogjerk]

YAWN!

[Mike Darancette]

The letter, issued from Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on President Bush to order a full inquiry into how a fake journalist working for a sham news organization got access to the president.

Yet Helen Thomas is OK?

[leadpenny]

Pull my finger, Durbin

[FlipWilson]

This is the Dems new thing. They are admitting the media is biased, but insisting it is biased to the right. It so laughably sad as to be pathetic. At any rate, bring it on losers, this will get you nowhere. The public won't grant monopoly power to your allies in the MSM anymore.

[Piquaboy]

Intercourse Harry and the horse he rode in on.

[areafiftyone]

Here is the part about Reid.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will join Democratic whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) in calling for an investigation discredited White House reporter Jeff Gannon, RAW STORY has learned.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Reid aide said the senator had decided to join the call for an investigation today.

Senator Reid will be signing, the aide said.

Reid's decision to sign on makes him the third Senate Democrat to declare their intentions. Reid joins Durbin and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

Sen. Durbin began circulating a letter to President Bush last night demanding an investigation into how a reporter using a false name and working for a partisan agency got access to the White House. The letter was revealed by RAW STORY Tuesday evening.

Given the unprecedented level of security in Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a non-journalist using a false name and working for a sham news organization could have gained regular access to the White House for such an extended period of time, Durbin wrote.

Durbin's office is aggressively seeking support from other senators. As the Senate is in recess, the process has moved more slowly. Aides say the letter will formally be released to the mainstream press Thursday.

Asked why Sen. Reid was joining Durbin's appeal, the aide declined to comment on specifics, saying only, “He obviously agrees with the principles expressed in the letter itself.

Reid is traveling in his home state of Nevada and was not available for comment.

As late as Wednesday, Sen. Reid's office was sending emails directing constituents frustrated with a lack of inquiry into Gannon to the White House. The following email was dispatched to those who wrote to him.

Thank you for contacting me regarding the White

House press corps. I appreciate hearing from you.

The White House is in charge of ensuring proper credentials for the press corps. Should you wish you make your views known, I encourage you to contact them by telephone at (202) 456-1111;

The email message also gave the White House mailing address.

Earlier Wednesday, Reid told a crowd of supporters that Gov. Howard Dean was not his first choice to lead the Democratic Party, but that he was impressed with his dexterity in the primaries, and that he would help Democrats win congressional seats in the 2006 midterm elections.

[frogjerk]

Only the media elite appointed by the MSM and the devilcRAT party need apply to the White House press corp. Give me a break.

Isn't this the same White House press corp that gave Clinton the sickening standing ovation when he boldfaced lied to the American public when he said "I did not have sex with that women, Ms. Lewinsky"?

I say, lets do a background check on all existing White House press corp members now and see who should be disqualified. I bet there will be some interesting stuff to report about all of the phony elite libs/dims.

[areafiftyone]

Amazing thing is that these Senators get paid huge salaries and have more time off than anyone and can spend time on insignificant crap like this.

[gridlock]

Republicans: Sweep of History

Democrats: Sweep the Floor

[GianniV]

Who cares what Dick Durbin or Harry Reid think? They are not in power - they are part of a loser, declining party. Just ignore these losers.

[roses of sharon]

The Dems are obsessed with sex! Especially gay sex.

These people are sick.

[Noachian]

...order a full inquiry into how a fake journalist working for a sham news organization got access to the president.

Which "sham news organization" is Durbin talking about?

The NY Times, the Boston Globe, or the Washington Post?

[MEG33]

Pitiful, pathetic, desperate.

[Milhous]

Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that dyspeptic, old Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president. Still, it would be suspicious if Dowd were denied a press pass while someone from "Talon News" got one, even if he is a better reporter.

But Dowd was talking about two different passes without telling her readers (a process now known in journalism schools as "Dowdification"). Gannon didn't have a permanent pass; he had only a daily pass. Almost anyone can get a daily pass – even famed Times fantasist Maureen Dowd could have gotten one of those. A daily pass and a permanent pass are altogether different animals. The entire linchpin of Dowd's column was a lie. (And I'm sure the Times' public editor will get right on Dowd's deception.)

Republicans, Bloggers and Gays, Oh My!
Ann Coulter

Twofer:

[FlipWilson]

Quote: "I say, lets do a background check on all existing White House press corp members now and see who should be disqualified. I bet there will be some interesting stuff to report about all of the phony elite libs/dims."

I used to share the sentiment, because this whole thing po'd me so much. Then, I realized that this is all they have to hit Bush with. This is it.

The desperation of the democrats is staggering. I say sit back and let them continue to self destruct. Poll after poll indicates that the public belief that the media has a strong liberal bias. Yet now, the Dems have fooled themselves (a common occurence these days) into thinking that 1)the media has a conservative bias; and 2)the public shares that belief. They just look damn silly complaining about ONE reporter when most of us know that there is a room full of biased reporters.

This is also about the Dems fear of the New Media. So long as the New Media exists, the Dems simply can't get away with not answering quetions or misrepresenting their positions, i.e. what they said about Iraq druing Clinton v. what they say today (same also with Soc. Security) Thus, they are trying to label any organization that is not traditional MSM as being "fake or phony." Gannon provided them with a perceived opening to try and discredit any source that is not a MSM outlet. Trouble is, while they are attacking Gannon, the New Media claimed another scalp (Jordan). The Dems are shooting peas and the New Media is shooting cannons.

[Arrowhead1952]

This garbage started when the press was amazed and thrilled that slick willie gave the answer - "It depends on what the meaning of is is" when asked about the Monica affair.

Softball question got a softball answer and 'el slicko got away with it, now they question this reporter......

[r.d.neck]

While John "effing" Heinz Kerry is in the signing mood, why doesn't he just go ahead and sign off on the form that will allow the Navy to release all of his records? hmmm...

[OXENinFLA]

PUKE!!

Reward: Jeff Gannon information

A wealthy Washington socialite is offering a $10,000 reward for proof that Jeff Gannon (pictured), an allegedly gay kinky-sex prostitute / escort / white house reporter / GOP operative, has had sexual relations with top-ranking government officials.

[MisterRepublican]

Is it time for Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.) to again demand a probe into "evidence that CBS News has aided and abetted fraud" by peddling suspect documents critical of President Bush?

Maybe the Democrats could join a bi-partisan investigation of bias in the media. Ha ha ha hah hah.