FEMA Official Involved In Staged News Conference Leaving The Agency

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: TV Newser

PRNewser reports that FEMA's director of external affairs, John "Pat" Philbin is leaving his job just three days after the agency was "outed for a staging a fake press conference" related to the California wildfires.

PRNewser's Jason Chupick writes, Philbin asked questions "at the press conference which was carried live by the cable networks."

The incident, first reported yesterday in The Washington Post, has been condemned by DHS secretary Michael Chertoff, and, according to the NYTimes, has led to an apology from Harvey Johnson, the official who was answering the questions at the news conference.

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/generalities/fema_official_involved_in_staged_news_conference_leaving_the_agency_69930.asp

[Bozita]

1. too phony even by Bush standards ... and that's saying a lot!

[NYC]

2. Only because they were caught.

[ljm2002]

26. Precisely -- n/t

[lonestarnot]

17. Not really.

Phony is as phony does.

[hlthe2b]

3. shell game... I saw it reported earlier he's going to transfer

to one of the security agencies..... He's just getting a big raise and promotion for keeping his mouth shut that the WH was involved--bet ya!

[Richard Steele]

4. You. Nail. Head. nm

[silverojo]

5. Why the FUCK would they do such a thing?

Pardon my French, folks, but what would possess even these bastards to do such a thing? :mad:

[rodeodance]

10. because he could (until he got caught).

[truthisfreedom]

6. Rolling ONE head? Roll ALL of the heads, including Chertoff's.

The environment at the DHS is completely corrupt. It's a false organization designed to protect bushco from scrutiny.

[splat]

7. He's not fired -- he had already taken a new job...

He said he was going to be spokesman for the Intelligence Department!

Last paragragh of this Washington Post story

Philbin's last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. He has been named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI spokeswoman Vanee Vines said.

Intelligence. Right. Did he think the press wouldn't spot the ringers eventually? Or is it all just theater...

[tom_paine]

13. Of course he was promoting for being a steadfast defender of Bushie/Nazi Values

such as the old Bushie/Nazi maxim "Never tell the truth when a lie will do."

[Ian David]

15. And this is after DHS supposedly condemned his actions?? WTF, man! n/t

[tekisui]

27. He's moving on to direct scenes for intelligience director.

[Hekate]

8. Getting a promotion, is he? nt

[lonestarnot]

18. But of course, isn't that what publicons do...

:shrug: Promotion of and by cronyism

[tanyev]

23. Somehow, the shit keeps rolling uphill in this administration.

Faith-based gravity, maybe.

[EST]

9. It's hard to remember, but there was a time when, should such a

scheme actually go beyond the joke stage--and I don't think it ever would have--there would have been a whole line of people seeking to spend more time with their families. After they got some criminal attention for fraud and then they could face some civil action for the harm they caused.

This kind of crap is flabbergasting beyond words. Speechless!

[rodeodance]

11. Philbin's last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. (GONE already)

Philbin's last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. He has been named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI spokeswoman Vanee Vines said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/26/AR2007102602157.html

[rodeodance]

12. named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,

Philbin's last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. He has been named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI spokeswoman Vanee Vines said.

[KoKo]

21. He could be even more dangerous to "truth" as PA Head...for National Intelligence!

Sheesh... They just march on and reward their liars and criminals.

[Ian David]

14. FEMA Official John Philbin has resigned to spend more time with FEMA employees posing as his family.

[panzerfaust]

16. Talon News could handle this

... where is Jeff when you need him?

[rabies1]

19. Embarrassing!

This is stupid to start with - then to be caught - shameful.

Did anyone else hear that FEMA was going to evict the Katrina victims from their trailer park?
What's going on down there? What's the plan with that?

[funkybutt]

20. Harvey Johnson should resign too

No way he wasn't aware that the people questioning him were his own staff.

[populistdriven]

22. Its all just inter-office politics, move along

:rofl:

[MNDemNY]

24. Heckava job philbie!

[truthisfreedom]

25. bush must have jusr run out of Medal of Freedom awards.

[ailsagirl]

28. Un#$%@ing believable

Just when you think they can't get any lower...

:grr: :nuke: :spank:

[Supersedeas]

29. like the stenographers that work for the GOP/Media Establishment are any less phony

[damntexdem]

30. Sounds perfect for Faux News.

Think they'll hire him?

[spooky3]

31. The Onion couldn't make this stuff up. (nt)