Democrats using Gannon to keep Williams in limelight
Coming as it is fresh on the heels of the pay-for-say controversy linked to Armstrong William, Maggie Gallagher and Michael J. McManus, the controversy surrounding former Talon News White House correspondent Jeff Gannon aka James D. Guckert has fueled attacks by Capitol Hill Democrats concerning the Bush administration's relationship with the press.
Gannon resigned from Talon after becoming the target of a flurry of charges from other reporters, along with extensive investigative activity in the blogosphere. He has been accused of lobbing softball questions both to Bush and to McClellan at White House press conferences. The fact that he has been getting into the conferences on perpetually-issued day passes, despite the fact that he was turned down for press credentials on Capitol Hill because he failed to establish that he worked for an independent journalism organization, has fueled questions as to why the White House would let him in over and over again. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has been taking point on the issue, and used the Gannon case to keep the pressure on, "...in light of yet another scandal involving the Bush administration's manipulation of the media."
Lautenberg fired off a letter to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan on the topic. "I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, aka. 'Jeff Gannon.' Specifically, I am seeking documentation related to the question of which name Mr. Guckert/Gannon used when applying for credentials, and which name was on the official White House press credentials he received." He continued, "As you may know, Mr. Guckert/Gannon was denied a Congressional press pass because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization. Given the fact that he was denied Congressional credentials, I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials." Louise D. Slaughter (D-NY) has been taking point for Democrats in the House, and sent a similar request for an explanation directly to George W. Bush.
RBR observation:
Two of your humble servants at RBR are bona fide, active members in good standing of the Congressional Periodical Press Gallery, and while they certainly made us jump through a few hoops, we cannot say that it was all that difficult to gain acceptance. We actually dig up and report news, and we can prove it. Most of our readers who are associated with bona fide news operations probably would have little trouble getting into the Congressional Radio/Television Press Gallery. The fact that Gannon/Guckert/Talon could not tells you something.
Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
