Sen. Lautenberg Requests All Docs from WH relating to "Gannon"

[Stephanie]

http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005210903.html

Lautenberg Requests All Documents From White House Relating to Discredited "Journalist" James D. Guckert, A.K.A. Jeff Gannon

WASHINGTON, DC -- In light of yet another scandal involving the Bush administration's manipulation of the media, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today requested from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan all the documents relating to the press credentials of James. D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon"; the "journalist" now famous for being the White House correspondent for his softball questioning of President Bush and various Administration spokespeople.

"I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "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," wrote Lautenberg.

"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," Lautenberg wrote.

Senator Lautenberg has been the Senate leader in exposing the Bush administration's propaganda efforts.

February 10, 2005

Scott McClellan Press Secretary The White House Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. McClellan,

I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "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. Additionally, I am seeking documents indicating whether Mr. Guckert/Gannon received a "hard pass" or daily passes from your office. Despite your assertions to the contrary, at least one White House reporter has revealed that Mr. Guckert/Gannon appeared to have "hard pass" credentials.

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.

I have led the effort in the Senate to investigate a number of instances of troubling propaganda efforts by the Administration. The Government Accountability Office has agreed to my requests to investigate various attempts at media manipulation: fake television news stories touting both the new Medicare law and the "No Child Left Behind" education program; a study rating individual journalists on their "favorability" to Republican education policies; and the payment to journalist Armstrong Williams.

Since the Armstrong Williams controversy became public, Administration payments to two other journalists, Maggie Gallagher and Michael McManus, have come to light. Given the backdrop of these scandals, coupled with Mr. Guckert/Gannon's role in recent White House press briefings and press conferences, it is understandable that the circumstances of Mr. Guckert/Gannon's credentialing have raised suspicion.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely, Frank R. Lautenberg

[crispini]

1. Ahhhh, this just gets better and better.

What else will get dragged up?

[hector459]

17. Now, that's what I am talking about!!! It's about fake IDs, lax security,

and WH plants and shutting out REAL journalists and calling on fake journalists.

[WI_DEM]

Good going, Lautenberg.

[moggie12]

2. Oh, God, this Gannon story is so much fun -- go Lautenberg.....

get to the bottom of this slimy story!!

[Blue Gardener]

27. It is great isn't it?

It has really put me in a good mood that last couple of days. I love to see the wingnuts squirm. Even if it goes nowhere in the end like all the other revelations over that past four years, at least we've been able to poke fun at the bushies for awhile.

[LynzM]

3. Excellent...

I really hope this thing just keeps picking up speed!

[Bethany Rockafella]

4. Is the shit hitting the fan?

[nostamj]

5. "denied a Congressional press pass...

because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization"

man, this STINK from this is endless...

[Wilber_Stool]

6. This is begining to get interesting.

I wonder how long it will take to find the records.

[joanski01]

12. Oh, probably about 10 years or so.

These people just don't seem to answer Congressional inquiries.

[aden_nak]

13. I wonder if they will be damaged and/or destroyed.

Stored, it would tragicly seem, in the same place as Bush's National Guard documentation.

[otohara]

7. Senate & Congress Does Media's Job - Now That's Just Pitiful

Softball interview on CNN tries to bury story, Senate & Congress dems refuse to let it go.

[underpants]

8. They had to do it with Condi and Gonzo too

Let alone that Kerry had to "rip stories from the headlines" the last two weeks of the campaign otherwise the 350 TONS of ammo missing from Al Qua Qua would have gotten zero attention.

[otohara]

15. The Dems Are Busy These Days....Exposing Lazy Librul Media Is Hard Work

Librul media too busy copying White House press memos word for word and calling it news. It's hard work typing all those words then editing out a few here and there.

[ClintonTyree]

33. Which brings up the question..................

what do all of these "journalists, reporters and pundits" DO all stinking day? You're correct, they're just an echo chamber for the WH, what the hell do they DO to earn their pay?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Spazito]

9. Excellent!

I love the questions regarding what name 'Jeff' received his pass and what name was on his passes. Scotty is on tape calling upon 'Jeff' and so is bush, I believe. Why was the WH complicit in hiding 'Jeff's' real name?

[underpants]

10. A Senator?

BAM!

[aden_nak]

11. I am so glad Lautenberg ran again, last minute and all.

He's generally one of those "old school" Democrats that doesn't take any shit.

[realFedUp]

14. How Gannon got a gander at the memo about Wilson is the ?

He is real connected if Bush Inc. wanted
him to leak it. Has he ever slept in the WH?
or let's say, had sexual relations inside the
WH?

[rocktivity]

16. YOU GO, JERSEY BOY!

Senator Lautenberg has been the Senate leader in exposing the Bush administration's propaganda efforts.

Smoke 'em out, hunt 'em down! And don't start there--investigate EVERYONE who gets a white house press pass, and what kind of business/financial ties they have to the Bush Empire! A SACK OF GOLD HAS JUST LANDED ON YOUR HEAD--SHOW 'EM THAT WE DON'T TAKE THIS KIND OF CRAP IN JERSEY!!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Maguzzi]

18. Is Drudge covering this yet?

[Maguzzi]

19. what M$M is covering this hot potato tonight?

[intheflow]

38. Hey, Maguzzi!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

44. Although MSNBC falls under M$M, Keith Olbermann...

did a segment on Gannon/Guckert. He interviewed some really lame NPR reporter who supposedly interviewed G/G and said that he "wept" at one point and is extremely distraught. (Tough I say, he brought this on himself.) The NPR guy told very little of the whole story--it was quite frustrating. I have no idea re Drudge. His site gives me a headache.

[IronLionZion]

20. Why is Lautenberg so awesome?

Isn't he afraid of the big bad GOP?
:P
OMG, a Democrat with a spine!

Thank you Frank, for kicking ass!

[femme.democratique]

29. Yeah it was awesome when he stepped back in to the Senate...

since he retired in the 90's then came back to win the election for the Dems when Torricelli left in disgrace...my entire family lives in NJ and they love him!

[ultraist]

21. Time for a THANK YOU email! Show your support

contact:
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

[katinmn]

24. Done... My letter...

Dear Senator Lautenberg;

Thank you for pursuing the truth about the propaganda machine in the White House. Government propaganda is bad enough but when citizens unwittingly finance it through their tax dollars, it's a disgrace to our nation.

I am 100 percent behind your decision to call for the records from the White House press secretary and your request of the GAO for further investigation into the paying of so-called journalists to advance the Republican agenda.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxx

[mermaid]

35. Done!! Here's MY Letter

The Honorable Senator Frank Lautenberg:

Sen. Lautenberg,
As a former constituent of yours, I wish to thank you for taking the lead role in investigating the issue of James Guckert/Jeff Gannon, of Talon News, and how a man who could not show he worked for a legitimate news agency could gain White House press credentials.

It is a disgrace that legitimate journalists have been denied access to the White House, while a man such as Guckert/Gannon could get front-row center seats in White House press briefings, simply because he would advance The Bush Administration's propaganda, and lob softball questions to the President.

It also raises the question of how a man could possibly get White House Press credentials in a false name. Either he obtained these documents in a false name, or White House Press Secretary McClellan, and President Bush are complicit in helping Guckert/Gannon hide his true identity as a Republican operative.

If Guckert/Gannon's press credentials correctly read "Guckert" then McClellan and Bush are both complicit in helping Guckert hide his true identity as a Republican Party operative, since both are on tape referring to him as "Gannon." On the other hand, if his credentials read "Gannon," one must question how a man could obtain these credentials with a false name.

I think that we Americans deserve fair and accurate reporting, and legitimate journalists should be the only people with access to White House press credentials. A man such as Guckert, who was merely a part of Bush's payola/propaganda machine, has no place in the White House Press Corps.

Thank you for your efforts to expose this matter, and return fairness of the press to the American people. I am honored to be a former constiuent of yours!

Name Redacted

[Coloradan4Truth]

48. Done - n/t

[mcscajun]

59. Done. I'm so proud of my Senator — Again.

It's been great to have him back in the Senate. I hope he keeps the flames High on this one till we break the back of this propaganda machine that calls itself the Bush White House.

[ArtVandaley]

22. Nice

The media isnt covering this at all, and a US Senator is? I think the Democrats are looking tougher every day.

[Politicub]

23. Won't it be great if the male escort Gannon is what damages

Bush beyond repair? It will be sweet to see these family values republicans get theirs from Gannon the rent boy.

[dandrhesse]

25. what will be done about it? What has been done about the 3 already

shown to have been paid? The White House said we didn't know and they won't do it anymore? Was that the end of it?

[ktowntennesseedem]

26. Go, Frank, Go!!!!!

This is just what we need to keep these stories as the leads and not let them get buried behind Michael Jackson, Jennifer & Brad, and the latest Apprentice firing. I doubt we'll get any satisfactory answers from the White House, but inquiries like this can't be ignored long. I look forward to watching them lie and deny and squirm and spin their way out of this one! (in the eyes of their blind and loyal followers, they will get out of it, I'm sure, but it'll still be fun to watch!)

[Maestro]

28. In my best Montogomery Burns voice

"Excellent."

[mermaid]

30. Go Frank, Go Frank, Go Frank!!

I love it!! Sen. Lautenberg is my former Senator from when I lived in New Jersey, and I have had the pleasure of being in his office more than once in Washington, addressing him and his staff on issues of concern to myself, and those I consider family (GLBT community)

I have always liked, admired, and respected Sen. Lautenberg, and this is exactly the type of leadership I'd expect of Sen. Lautenberg, and, all I can say is, I am proud to be a former constituent of this great Senator!

Go get 'em, Frank!!!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

REPUBLICANS SUCK BIG, DEAD, GREEN, HAIRY DONKEY DICKS!!!!

[ClintonTyree]

31. I'm sure the WH will give him their FULL cooperation...................

:eyes: yeah........right. I'm sure it's a "National Security" issue or "Executive Privelege"........or "We just don't have to".

This White house is about as cooperative as a jackass with 3 legs. Maybe this will start the wheels in motion of a Watergate style investigation. IF we had a free press in this country that is. They might find incriminating evidence out the wazoo, but nobody would cover it. Prince Charles is marrying Camilla Parker Bowles you know, and Americans wouldn't want to miss that! Or the MSM wouldn't WANT them to miss it anyway!

Way to go Senator Lautenberg, keep the pressure on these scumbags!

[LocalGuy]

32. Go Frank!

Senator Lautenberg has been consistently at the forefront exposing this administrations fraud & deceit.
I'm proud to call him my Senator.

[RedSpartan]

37. He's mine, too!

Frank kicks ass! So proud to be from Jersey! He takes no shit.


And welcome to DU!
:toast:

[Kool Kitty]

50. He's my Senator, too.

Thought I'd jump in here as another proud Jerseyite. Welcome, both of you!!! :hi: And a big THANK YOU!!! to Mr. Lautenberg.

[LiberalinNC]

34. Isn't this a breach of security, seeing he used an alias?

[intheflow]

39. You'd think so.

Of course, he was only using the alias to escape detection from the IRS, so it really isn't a security issue... :eyes:

[AuntiBush]

36. Just when I think I couldn't be more appalled,

again another scandalous story hits the airwaves. I just don't understand how they are getting away with all of this. Neither does anyone I know, from high-ranking doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, to my kindly neighbors and friends, no one and I mean no one that I know, including myself can get a grip on how he and his group are getting away with so much, and so quickly.

This is the line everyone I know uses... "When is someone going to stop this," and "Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd witness such a disgrace in the Oval Office."

It's sickening, disgusting, and beyond appalling. We're running out of words to describe it.

[intheflow]

41. "When is someone going to stop this?"

Yeah, everyone I know is asking the same question. And I give them all the same answer: "Who are you waiting for? We must stop it. We the people."

Please urge them to get active in some way: writing letters to elected officials, calling TV news stations, anything! We are the people we are waiting for!

[beltanefauve]

52. Government by the People for the People

WE need to tke back our Democracy!

[MadisonProgressive]

40. I'm in heaven!

Lautenberg Requests All Documents From White House Relating to Discredited "Journalist" James D. Guckert, A.K.A. Jeff Gannon
:spank:

[Treaghon]

42. I guess we finally now know ...

who's really "divorced themselves from reality?"

Bet "Jeff's" sorry he ever asked that question now.

[muchacho]

43. Boooyah!

smell the end.

[Rainscents]

45. I can't wait until Democrats un-seats Republicans...

We need to do this in 08.

[stlsaxman]

54. We need the House of Reps back in '06!

Then impeachment procedings can begin...

start working now for 2006- it's our only hope. And with Dean in place
to motivate us we CAN do this.

[Citizen Carl]

46. Garden State Pride.

I'm in NY for school but I just love when I hear that Senators Lautenberg, Corzine, and representatives Rush Holt and Frank Pallone stick to it to the Republican thugs.

Give 'em hell, Frank!

[Stephanie]

47. Don't leave out Rep. Louse Slaughter, of upstate NY -

who was the first member of Congress to speak out on this issue.

Go NY/NJ!

[XanaDUer]

49. HA HA HAH BWA BWA!

Love it, Frankie baby!

GO!

[Shredr]

51. That should heat things up a bit. n/t

[FlyingIrishman]

53. Not sure if anyone caught

the odious Special Report w/ Brit Hume tonight, but it was a hoot. Hume thinks it's excusable that Guckert used a false name because it's in the tradition of "Mark Twain". Oh, and according to the panel Talon News is an uber-popular blog (which, being as that its a conservative blog, is to them considered a legitimate form of journalism)...here's to laughable double standards.

[newyawker99]

58. Hi FlyingIrishman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

55. WHAT DO YOU SAY EVERYONE -

Should we vote for Gannon to be next weeks Number 1 Top Ten Conservative Idiot? I do think he has earned that title!

[Roland99]

56. MSM can't ignore this story forever!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

57. They will give him ONLY what they want him to have.

Nothing incriminating, I'm sure. The shredder is probably smoking by now. KKKRove ain't gonna let this story go anywhere.