here's what's important about Gannonmangate

[grasswire]

Look at the example of Congress: there's a Standing Committee made up of journalists who do the credentialing for reporters who cover Congress.

That Standing Committee turned Gannon down.

Now compare to the WH -- the credentialing is done (now) by the WH press office. (Authority used to reside in the White House Correspondents Association)

Imagine if Congress itself had the authority to credential reporters covering it. Especially a Republican-controlled Congress.

Thank the earth they don't.

And the WH shouldn't.

Authority rightfully belongs with the profession itself. That's my campaign. This WH has abused the authority to credential reporters. Take it away!

[democracyindanger]

1. I think Congress DOES credential reporters covering it

And they refused to credential Gannon.

[papau]

5. True

chairwoman of the Senate press gallery's executive committee

Julie Davis, chairwoman of the Senate press gallery's executive committee, said Guckert could not demonstrate any separation between Talon News and GOPUSA, a Republican consulting group.

[grasswire]

8. no.

A committee of journalists does the credentialing for Congress.

[Just Me]

2. The WH abused its power by pushing propaganda.

This is simply another substantive example of the WH's abusive use of deceptive propaganda to manipulate the American people.

[hector459]

3. And this is the REAL story here AND how the MSM is so controlled they

won't investigate this story thoroughly and make an issue out of the lax security overseen by this WH. For an administrtion that spent it's last year of its previous term scaring the bejeezus out of the nation about security and safety and charging that if Kerry were elected we would be attacked again, they don't seem to care mush about who gets into the WH.

[Botany]

4. We have Wolf Blitzer and Howard Kurtz on the case.

They will get to the bottom of this story.

http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/05/02/edi05028.html


:bounce:


Big ups to Grasswire for breaking Mangate too.

[bluedeminredstate]

6. If you're correct, you make an excellent point.

The fact that this guy got into the WH, and up close and personal with El Chimperor is every bit the scandal that
the travel office "Travelgate" or FBI "Memogate" or the incident involving Hillary finding documents that exonerated her in the Whitewater billing records "scandal", or all the other silly "gates" and psuedo-scandals ever were! Unlike those episodes, in which huge amounts of air time and endless discussion could had have been focused more usefully elsewhere, this story is actually a very real and potentially serious situation that should be investigated. People should lose their jobs over this!!

Just HOW did someone with a false name acquire a pass to the WH as a journalist afer being turned down at Congress for the same thing? An explanation hasn't even been attempted!! What did the committee that handles the press passes in Congress know that the WH didn't? And why was his pass distributed daily instead of the traditional way passes are given to journalists? That alone indicates that the WH knew there was a problem with this guy that wouldn't pass the smell test if he were credentialed the normal way. Normal procedures were not followed to get this guy in the WH press pool. Why, and at who's direction? All eyes are on Scott McClellan since he's press secretary and he deals with this kind of stuff as part of his job description. He's also a total Bush loyalist from way back, not a Washington insider.

The fact that the press couldn't seem to give a flying fig about this issue is strange, especially since "Gannon" was treated more favorably than many of the "legit" reporters time and time again. Where is their outrage? Where are their "reporter's" investigation instincts? Are they so cowed by the WH that a little scrutiny on their part might affect their access to the lies coming from "Senior White House Officials?"

I just can't believe the way the press is handling this. It's actually a little scary when you think about it - NOTHING this WH does seems to generate demands for answers from the press that covers it. This is SERIOUS and our press is done with it and moving on to things like the possibilty of Brad & Jen's reconciliation and Jacko's trial.

I never thought I would see the day when the American media would back away from and ignore a real scandal involving the WH, lying, SEX and prostitution. It's so unnatural that I just can't believe it.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?????

[grasswire]

7. I am correct.

Here is the info on Senate accreditation by the Standing Committee:

Information about the process is available here:

http://www.senate.gov/galleries/daily/accred.htm

The application for credentials is available by pdf here:

http://www.senate.gov/galleries/daily/accred.htm

These are the rules:

The Senate Press Gallery administers for the Standing Committee of Correspondents' Congressional press passes. There are three types of passes available: a one day pass; a temporary pass; and, a permanent pass. Listed below are the rules and guidelines governing the accreditation process.

RULES GOVERNING PRESS GALLERIES

1. Administration of the press galleries shall be vested in a Standing Committee of Correspondents elected by accredited members of the galleries. The Committee shall consist of five persons elected to serve for terms of two years. Provided, however, that at the election in January 1951, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for two years and the remaining two for one year. Thereafter, three members shall be elected in odd-numbered years and two in even-numbered years. Elections shall be held in January. The Committee shall elect its own chairman and secretary. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by special election to be called by the Standing Committee.

2. Persons desiring admission to the press galleries of Congress shall make application in accordance with Rule 34 of the House of Representatives, subject to the direction and control of the Speaker and Rule 33 of the Senate, which rules shall be interpreted and administered by the Standing Committee of Correspondents, subject to the review and an approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

3. The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall limit membership in the press galleries to bone fide correspondents of repute in their profession, under such rules as the Standing Committee of Correspondents shall prescribe.

4. Provided, however, that the Standing Committee of Correspondents shall admit to the galleries no person who does not establish to the satisfaction of the Standing Committee all of the following:

(a) That his or her principal income is obtained from news correspondence intended for publication in newspapers entitled to second-class mailing privileges.

(b) That he or she is not engaged in paid publicity or promotion work or in prosecuting any claim before Congress or before any department of the government, and will not become so engaged while a member of the galleries.

(c) That he or she is not engaged in any lobbying activity and will not become so engaged while a member of the galleries.

5. Members of the families of correspondents are not entitled to the privileges of the galleries.

6. The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall propose no changes in the these rules except upon petition in writing signed by not less than 100 accredited members of the galleries.

Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Trent Lott, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

The above rules have been approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration.

http://www.senate.gov/galleries/daily/rules.htm

This is the current committee:

Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Chairman, The Baltimore Sun

Chuck McCutchen, Secretary, Newhouse News Service

Bart Jansen, Portland Press-Herald/Maine Sunday Telegraph

Susan Milligan, Boston Globe

Bill Walsh, The Times-Picayune
...............

Compare this to the WH process, where the entity being covered has the opportunity to influence the coverage through intimidation of the press and by planting shills.

OUTRAGEOUS!