The Chicago Sun-Times Covers Gannon/Guckert

[Lone_Star_Dem]

More coverage
White House reporter linked to escort service

February 16, 2005

BY ERIC BOEHLERT



WASHINGTON -- Last week, Republican activist Bobby Eberle, the man behind the conservative Web site Talon News, insisted that before hiring James Guckert as his White House correspondent, he never looked into Guckert's background. Eberle probably wishes he had.

The same might be said for the White House officials who let Guckert into the press room.

There's new evidence that the Talon reporter, who attracted attention after asking President Bush a pointedly conservative question at a press conference last month, worked as a male escort.

Guckert, who wrote under the name Jeff Gannon, resigned last week from Talon amid scrutiny of his identity and background. Online "blogger" critics questioned what they said was Talon's lack of independence from Eberle's GOPUSA Web site. Then questions arose about why the Talon reporter was given access to the White House press room after being turned down for Capitol Hill press credentials.
more...
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-press16.html

[BrainRants]

1. Traction in the MSM, wheel spinning from the Dems...

C'mon, let's go after this Harry! You have the facts on your side, use them!

[slor]

2. Was the page sent down...

the memory hole? All I get is " The page you requested cannot be found".

[UL_Approved]

3. The link is cut off

The story is here:

Chicago Sun-Times: White House reporter linked to escort service

BTW, thank you for reposting the article.

[rodeodance]

4. this article gave credit to the bloggers who exposed his "escort" stuff

From your Chicago Sun Times link:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-press16.html

......The final straw for Guckert came when bloggers revealed associations that Guckert had with a handful of gay-themed male escort services..........


The same day, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) picked up on the issue, saying it was "important from an ethical as well as from a national security standpoint.

"It is hard to understand why a man with little real journalism experience was given a White House press corps credential," Hoyer said.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said "in this day and age" it's not easy to decide who qualifies as a reporter. "Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room."

Salon.com, with AP contributing

[rodeodance]

5. "Salon.com, with AP contributing"--It seems they got their info from

two sources. Wonder why they did not did a little??

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. Welcome

Sorry about losing the end of the link. Too much cutting and pasting. :)

[ima_sinnic]

7. ha ha, dumb@$$ Scottie McClellan quote in the article:

<snip>
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said "in this day and age" it's not easy to decide who qualifies as a reporter. "Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room."
</snip>

who "qualifies" as a reporter?
well, duh, a little verifiable EXPERIENCE as a reporter would be a good place to start--you know, like with a portfolio full of bylined articles or such foolishness. or even an authentic degree in journalism?

please, "real" reporters do your job and get this idiot squirming on the hot seat. as someone pointed out in another thread, McClellan says he was unaware of Guckert's "pseudonym" yet at a press briefing on May 15, 2003, he can be heard calling on "Jeff." are we now going to be too "polite" to confront him with that?

[kohodog]

10. I guess Scotty was the last to know

About Gannon's fooling around. Isn't that always the way with these affairs??

[Kahuna]

8. Guess who I'm gonna email this evening after work?

Wolfie and Whorie. :evilgrin:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. They rewrote the article

New Headline:
Online newsman resigns amid questions about his credentials

WASHINGTON-- A conservative writer who attracted attention by asking President Bush a loaded question at a news conference last month has resigned amid questions about his identity and background.
<snip>

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Guckert did not have a regular White House press pass but was cleared on a day-by-day basis to attend briefings and used his real name.

"He, like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly and so he was cleared two years ago to receive daily passes just like many others are," McClellan said. "In this day and age, when you have a changing media, it's not an easy issue to decide, to try to pick and choose who is a journalist. It gets into the issue of advocacy journalism. Where do you draw the line? There are a number of people who cross that line in the briefing room."

He said he had been was unaware of Guckert's affiliation with any sexually oriented domain addresses.
<snip>


Well, that's a completely different angle now. It's more what I would have expected in the first place. Much less flattering to the bloggers.