Finally got a letter from Frank Lautenberg - Re: Jeff Gannon !

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Interesting, they fell for my phony address (a Cape May NJ Bed and Breakfast)just so he would respond...

December 2, 2005


Ms. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx

Dear XXXXX

Thank you for contacting me about White House reporter James Guckert, a.k.a. “Jeff Gannon.” I appreciate hearing from you, and apologize for the delay in my response.

Jeff Gannon, then a reporter for the conservative Talon News, received national attention for asking ‘softball’ questions of Press Secretary Scott McClellan during White House press briefings. Gannon was ineligible for permanent access to the briefing room because he was not credentialed by the Congressional press galleries. Instead, the White House issued him daily passes
for nearly two years.

This is just one of a series of incidents that signal this administration’s apparent willingness to mislead American citizens. I wrote to Scott McClellan in February, requesting that he release all relevant documents regarding how Jeff Gannon enjoyed such free access to the White House briefing room when he used an alias and worked for a questionable news source. I have repeatedly demanded answers in cases such as that of conservative commentator Armstrong
Williams, whom the Department of Education paid to pass off positive comments about its policies as his own.

Finally, I have introduced legislation, which has just been reported unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee, to require the administration to disclose itself as the source when it pays for or produces “prepackaged news” for broadcast in the United States. This “prepackaged news” is made to look like real news with a real reporter, and does not tell the viewer that it is actually information coming straight from the U.S. Government.

Please be assured that I will continue to fight disturbing efforts such as these by the administration to control public information. Thank you again for contacting me.

Senator Frank Lautenberg

[TheDebbieDee]

1. You should probably delete your address from the letter, too!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. it's a B & B in Cape May - I found it on the internet, because senators

won't even read mail unless it is from their state. thanks

[stop the bleeding]

2. No doubt - edit that address out of there, I work in the background

screening industry and you do NOT want any of your personal information displayed so people can use it.

Like Bill O'lielly and identity thieves

other than that great letter.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. thanks - see #3