Jeff Who?
Admittedly, for those not in the know, yesterday's post was pretty enigmatic. So why is the story of Jeff Gannon something to post on my blog? Today I'll offer a little bit of an explanation. (all work done by Dan Froomkin @ the Washington Post)
Gannon worked for a Web site called Talon News, and his writings appeared on that site as well one called GOPUSA.com, both of which were operated by Texas Republican activist Bobby Eberle. On his personal Web page, Gannon had a section called "Behind Enemy Lines: Stories from Inside the White House Briefing Room."
Pretty much every day, Gannon got cleared into the White House briefing room by a press office that knew his real name (Jeff Guckert). Press Secretary Scott McClellan frequently called on him during the mid-day briefings, using his fake name. McClellan was consistently rewarded with questions that -- in stark contrast from most of what passes for questions in that room -- were more expressions of conservative dogma than actual attempts to elicit information. Members of the press corps individually confronted Gannon and told him that he didn't belong there. But nothing more serious than that happened -- until Bush called on him at his televised Jan. 26 news conference and he asked a loaded, inaccurate question partly derived from a Rush Limbaugh joke.
But Mr. Gannon is not all he seems. Or rather, all of Mr. Gannon is perhaps a little more than most people are comfortable with. You see, it has come to light that Gannon is a gay Military-theme escort. So why is this guy in the WH Press Room? I'd say it's because it's the same razzle dazzle that helps the Bush WH fluff up it's image - and some aren't too happy about it.
In part yes, this is probably revenge - as Daily Kos blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga wrote [Jeff Gannon]"gets White House credentials using a fake name, provides McClellan a welcome ideological lifeline during press conferences, and somehow gets access to classified CIA documents that outs an undercover CIA operative."
Many of the Daily Kos postings are now focused on how Gannon apparently got hold of a secret internal CIA memo that he mentioned in an interview he had with Valerie Plame's husband, former ambassador and administration critic Joseph Wilson.
About a year ago, the federal grand jury investigating the leak of Valerie Plame's identity as a covert CIA operative subpoenaed White House records on contacts with 25 journalists. Gannon was one of them -- apparently on account of that memo.
So OK, that was a pretty heinous episode, we can understand some frustration.
But why Gannon's web activity should matter to Liberals, I believe (this content not boldly stolen by a creditless blogger) has to do with the fact that the know Gannon issues - no credibility in the press franchise, fake name, blatant conservative PR lifeline - were overlooked simply because the end was more desirable. And some of us - and there are apparently many millions fewer than you'd expect - have a memory of an administration that ran on a family values platform and that gay marriage referendums on the ballot probably helped bring out the vote in many states.
So yes, I'm railing against the duplicity of the Bush Administration - and I'm frustrated. Don't think Johnny, just keep watching the bouncing ball.
Gannon worked for a Web site called Talon News, and his writings appeared on that site as well one called GOPUSA.com, both of which were operated by Texas Republican activist Bobby Eberle. On his personal Web page, Gannon had a section called "Behind Enemy Lines: Stories from Inside the White House Briefing Room."
Pretty much every day, Gannon got cleared into the White House briefing room by a press office that knew his real name (Jeff Guckert). Press Secretary Scott McClellan frequently called on him during the mid-day briefings, using his fake name. McClellan was consistently rewarded with questions that -- in stark contrast from most of what passes for questions in that room -- were more expressions of conservative dogma than actual attempts to elicit information. Members of the press corps individually confronted Gannon and told him that he didn't belong there. But nothing more serious than that happened -- until Bush called on him at his televised Jan. 26 news conference and he asked a loaded, inaccurate question partly derived from a Rush Limbaugh joke.
But Mr. Gannon is not all he seems. Or rather, all of Mr. Gannon is perhaps a little more than most people are comfortable with. You see, it has come to light that Gannon is a gay Military-theme escort. So why is this guy in the WH Press Room? I'd say it's because it's the same razzle dazzle that helps the Bush WH fluff up it's image - and some aren't too happy about it.
In part yes, this is probably revenge - as Daily Kos blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga wrote [Jeff Gannon]"gets White House credentials using a fake name, provides McClellan a welcome ideological lifeline during press conferences, and somehow gets access to classified CIA documents that outs an undercover CIA operative."
Many of the Daily Kos postings are now focused on how Gannon apparently got hold of a secret internal CIA memo that he mentioned in an interview he had with Valerie Plame's husband, former ambassador and administration critic Joseph Wilson.
About a year ago, the federal grand jury investigating the leak of Valerie Plame's identity as a covert CIA operative subpoenaed White House records on contacts with 25 journalists. Gannon was one of them -- apparently on account of that memo.
So OK, that was a pretty heinous episode, we can understand some frustration.
But why Gannon's web activity should matter to Liberals, I believe (this content not boldly stolen by a creditless blogger) has to do with the fact that the know Gannon issues - no credibility in the press franchise, fake name, blatant conservative PR lifeline - were overlooked simply because the end was more desirable. And some of us - and there are apparently many millions fewer than you'd expect - have a memory of an administration that ran on a family values platform and that gay marriage referendums on the ballot probably helped bring out the vote in many states.
So yes, I'm railing against the duplicity of the Bush Administration - and I'm frustrated. Don't think Johnny, just keep watching the bouncing ball.
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