I actually broke down and Goggled Rhodes. Thanks for the info about Gannon once being a FReeper. (Shivers.) I still can't figure out why a male escort was even allowed in the White House Press Corps given his sleazy background was discovered rather easily by internet slueths. It's a mystery to me.
Gary Aldrich (who wrote the very fine book "Unlimited Access") was right...the FBI no longer does competent background checks. You'd think this GOP administration would be wiser than the former.
Something is just not right about the entire situation. For some reason it gives me the creeps. I think I'll pass on watching the show...on the other hand, I wonder if he's going to blow the whistle on other closeted Republicans. If he does, I won't like it, but, heck, if a politician is frequenting male (or female) prostitutes, soliciting minors (male or female)...or engaging in other unsavory, illegal activities that can be proven, I say we conservatives need to take out the trash. (If it's just sex between two consenting adults, well, that's up to the voters to decide.)
OK, here I go, again. One thing I admire most about conservatives is that the majority of them are moral, accept responsibility, and won't excuse or put up with bad nehavior from their so-called representatives. (Unlike many of the leftist liberals who seem to view bad, illegal, and immoral acts from their politicians/representatives like a badge of courage, so long as their pol votes to save the spotted owl, a woman's right to abortion, etc.. )
There are two kinds of press passes. One is a daily pass which anyone can get, and a permanent press pass which Gannon couldnt get. Gannon got in on the daily press pass.
Without Capitol Hill credentials, Gannon/Guckert had no chance of getting a permanent pass at the White House. According to the source, all applicants for a White House permanent pass are vetted not just by the Congressional Press Gallery, but also by the FBI and Secret Service. Day passes, on the other hand, do not require this degree of scrutiny. Applicant must only submit their full name, Social Security number and birth date. This may explain why Gannon/Guckert went through the daily accreditation process while reporting from Pennsylvania Avenue. Gannon allegedly was the only reporter to skirt the rules that way, obtaining day passes month after month. Eric Boehlert writes that day passes were intended to provide flexibility for out-of-town journalists who might need to cover the White House for a day or two. For nearly two years Gannon worked this loophole to avoid being excluded.
http://mediacitizen.blogspot.com/2005/02/gannons-white-house-maneuver.html