It's Hard Work!

I really want to post something today. I'm determined that this won't just be a one-day experiment that I lose interest in right away. Usually, my brain is working overtime with thoughts just screaming to be written down somewhere. Then, I created a forum, and the thoughts seem to have scattered.

Several thoughts have occurred to me. The complete uselessness of Hannity and Colmes. My vacillating interest between Hillary, Obama and Edwards (leaning Edwards now, after the most recent debate). The frightening disconnect between reality and delusion present on the popular right-wing blog, Free Republic. The tragic state of the media, and their inability to focus on or investigate the actual news. The inability of any of the current scandals in the Bush administration to actually cause the people to sit up and take notice.

But, I will address these issues. I must. That's what this blog is for. If for no other reason than to condense my disparate mental fragments into coherent, complete ideas. So, sit tight, imaginary readers! I will be ranting, and soon!

It did occur to me that my first posting here contained a big fat whopper. I stated that I'd never blogged before. Then, I remembered that I posted on my brother-in-law's earlier blog a couple of years ago. A post about one of those scandals that never caught the public's fancy. I still have no idea why, and so without further ado, on my young blog's third day . . . a rerun!

Guest Editorial

Gannongate

If you keep up with the so-called "liberal blogs," then you've probably heard a bit about the Jeff Gannon/James Guckert story. If you only follow the MSM, you've only heard skewed stories focusing on the wrong aspects of the story--if you've heard anything about it at all.

On various programs on MSNBC and CNN, the story has focused on the "blogger" aspect of the story. It depicts the story as something of a liberal witch hunt on a poor, unsuspecting gay journalist. A gay, conservative journalist. Reality is much different.

Jeff Gannon, AKA James Guckert, was a "White House Correspondent" for an organization called Talon News. He obtained daily press passes to White House press conferences for around two years. He got daily passes because he was unable to get the usual hard passes. Why? Maybe because the organization he worked for wasn't legitimate. Maybe because it wasn't even in existence before he got his first pass. No, the real organization he worked for was GOPUSA, an unabashedly partisan web site. Talon News was created later, apparently to provide him with a less obviously partisan "publication."

Gannon/Guckert was called upon by both the White House Press Secretary and President Bush many times during his visits. He was able to ask nakedly partisan questions, seemingly when questions from other reporters started treading into murky waters. He seems to have been the "go to guy" when they needed to get on firmer ground. These questions have been termed "softball" by many, but I think they'd be more accurately termed "T-ball questions." They were loaded statements, more than questions, set up for either the Press Secretary or President to easily knock them out of the park.

It has come to light, largely due to Americablog and DailyKos that Mr. Gannon/Guckert was also (concurrently, or in the immediate past) a male prostitute. He offered his services on many web sites (some which he owned) at $200 per hour or $1200 for a weekend. He apparently had no journalistic credentials (save for a two hour course), and no resume of note to allow him to claim with any credibility that he was a journalist.

When all of this came to light, there were three notable reactions from the right. The first is a deafening silence. Websites like the Drudge Report, Newsmax and Free Repblic have barely commented on the story at all. This seems odd given the outrage over every little tidbit that suits conservatives. When it has been addressed, the "Freepers" responded with big "yawns," and declared it wasn't even a story. Others, like Ann Coulter, tried to refocus the story, claiming that "liberal bloggers" were out to get a gay guy. Rather than responding to the other aspects of the story, Coulter and others are trying to paint liberals as hypocritical for attacking Gannon for being gay. Aren't liberals supposed to like gay people?

NEWSFLASH: It has not been ascertained if Jeff/James is gay. But it is rather obvious that he's a hooker! With no journalistic credentials! In the White House! DAILY for YEARS!

Now, either the White House had no idea of his background--which indicates a huge security breach. OR, the White House DID know of his background--which indicates that somebody, somewhere in the White House was helping this guy. Why? Were they being blackmailed? I think it is a legitimate story. I think that if this happened during the Clinton administration (or a hypothetical Gore or Kerry administration), the mainstream press would be having a field day. So would the conservative blogs. It would make the "soiled blue dress" look like a non-event. What do you think?

James L. Greenlee
Las Vegas, NV

posted by Independent eyeBlog at 2:45 PM