Propagandagate takes an interesting turn...

[Relbeek Einre]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/ ... index.html

Jeff Gannon aka James Guckert... the blogosphere is in a feeding frenzy, but this boy masquerading as the legitimate press has ties to the Valerie Plame case, and also has been the "source" of a number of misquoted Democrats.

This is going to get interesting.

[maltheos]

This gets more and more fascinating:

He is a shill for tallon news which is owned by a national GOP fundraising organization.
He is attempting to publicise a conservative agenda and is linked rather strongly to several gay porn internet sites( he claims that this is due to work as a web designer for a previous employer and that he has no link to their content).

The more I look into this the weirder it gets. Some of this is probably hype and/or the result of an overly agressive blogosphere, but if even half of this is true this is weirder than fiction.

[superwalrus]

this just in, 99% of Americans don't give a fuck!

Walrus

[SicTimMitchell]

This just in, you don't speak for 99% of Americans.

Giving a guy who's not a reporter press credentials so he can support the administration during press conferences is an insult to all Americans.

I imagine this story broke because the legitimate reporters at the press conferences asked, like I did when I saw him in action, "Who the fuck is this guy?"

[Relbeek Einre]

In the wake of the three briberies, it's just that much more interesting.

MSNBC tied this guy to the Plame case, which makes it -very- interesting if that can be confirmed.

[Erinos Wrysing]

is an insult to all Americans.

This just in! You don't speak for "ALL"Americans.

[Partha]

Just because people are too dumb to realize when they're being insulted doesn't mean an insult never happened.

[Partha]

In the wake of the three briberies, it's just that much more interesting.

MSNBC tied this guy to the Plame case, which makes it -very- interesting if that can be confirmed.

Oh yeah....

He was subpenoaed in the Plame case.

[SicTimMitchell]

This just in! You don't speak for "ALL"Americans.

Yes, yes I do.

[Syeni Soulslasher MK6]

stumbled on this

In addition, "Jeff Gannon" may have dabbled in male prostitution rings

http://democrats.com/gannon

[Partha]

Eh, that's weaksauce. Conjecture at this point. Better to ask how a man with a fake name got daily access into the White House, and within a few feet of the President, especially using a fake news agency that had been created less than 96 hours earlier AND during an Orange Terror Alert.

[Torakus]

I am not at all surprised, the line between "journalist" and partisan shill is not a very clear one these days. There are a large number of so-called journalists with credentials on both sides who are partisan shills. The difference is, I can't see that this guy ever had any experience as a journalist. Did he have a formal education in journalism? I can't find it. Even if he did, has he ever worked for a news organization that at least tried to be legitimate? If so I can't find it.

Now, I do see a bit of journalistic snobbism going on, but in this case it seems deserved. I think whoever approved this clowns press credentials should be whipped on the south lawn in front of the legitmate press corp.

Tora

[Aabe]

I am not at all surprised, the line between "journalist" and partisan shill is not a very clear one these days. There are a large number of so-called journalists with credentials on both sides who are partisan shills. The difference is, I can't see that this guy ever had any experience as a journalist. Did he have a formal education in journalism? I can't find it. Even if he did, has he ever worked for a news organization that at least tried to be legitimate? If so I can't find it.

Now, I do see a bit of journalistic snobbism going on, but in this case it seems deserved. I think whoever approved this clowns press credentials should be whipped on the south lawn in front of the legitmate press corp.

Tora

I wonder what Kaite Curics credentials are.

[Ddrak]

Katie Couric graduated with honors from the University of Virginia in the 70s. Started work as a desk assistant with the local news bureau in DC for ABC in '79. Worked her way up through the chain at CNN, WTVJ and WRC-TV to eventually land a job as co-host of Today show in 1991.

Your point?

Dd

[Aabe]

WIth honors in what?? What was her major?? I knew she was a dest assistant..

[Partha]

This guy's credentials are a single 48 hour course that cost him $50.

[Ddrak]

Honors in American Studies. Come on Aabe, stop being lazy. Google it yourself.

Again, I ask what's your point in all of this? Does Katie Couric have a White House Press Pass? Was she selected repeatedly for questions? Did she even offer as stupidly partisan questions as the guy in context?

(Note: I don't have a problem with partisan questions. I do have a problem with *stupidly* partisan questions)

Dd

[Aabe]

No, since you were looking at credentials, I had been wondering what Katie had. Obviously you guys on this thread are pretty versed on jurnalistic credentials. I moved her up a couple of notches on my respect meter. As for this other guy, never heard of him, if hes a sham, so be it. He never got on my radar, never even got a reading on my respect meter.

I just like to dispell bad judgements (which I obviously had about Katie), but since she didn't have journalism as the major, that does explain a few things I have observed about her. In general I rate TV journalists lower than those that deal in the printed word.

As for me being lazy, well, thats one I never will deny. =D

[Ddrak]

In general I rate TV journalists lower than those that deal in the printed word.

That's for sure. The again, the printed word is an easier medium - you get to revise your presentation and statements over and over until you have it right whereas on live TV you get one shot.

Dd

[Klast Brell]

Apparently Talon News Service was set up as a web site April 29 2003. Gannon made his first appearnce at a Whitehouse press breifing 6 days later.