Gannon attended White House Christmas parties -- but who invited him?

[pbartch]

Gannon attended White House Christmas parties -- but who invited him?

Former Talon News Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent Jeff Gannon (aka James D. Guckert) attended at least two invitation-only events in Washington, D.C.: the 2003 and 2004 White House press Christmas parties. Gannon has been discredited by numerous charges -- most notably that he is a Republican activist who has reproduced sections of Republican Party and White House materials verbatim in his own "news reports," and not a true news reporter. So the question arises: who invited Gannon to these exclusive events?

In a February 11 interview with Editor and Publisher, Gannon claimed that "The only connection I had with Scott McClellan was when he got married and I sent him a card." McClellan told Editor & Publisher that Gannon was not issued a permanent White House press corps pass, but obtained only daily passes. And according to a February 18 New York Times article, McClellan said that White House "credentialing is all handled at the staff assistant level."

But in past years, the White House press secretary has played a significant role in arranging the guest list for the Christmas parties. As the Washington Post reported on December 9, 1992: "Some national correspondents who cover the president have apparently been unceremoniously axed from the annual White House Christmas party list. ... Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, who's said to be wielding the ax for the half-dozen gigs, didn't return a call."

<snip>

But an April 29, 2002, New York Times article suggests that the responsibility in the current Bush White House -- at least for the previous year's party -- again rested with the press secretary: " Fleischer offered to have Rachel Sunbarger, the 23-year-old, highly efficient manager of the White House press office, work as a clearinghouse to sort invitations . ... Ms. Sunbarger, who considers her position 'the greatest job in the world,' said that the invitation task was not as bad as the job she had in December of overseeing the invitations to the White House Christmas party for the clamoring press." McClellan replaced Fleischer as press secretary in July, 2003.

The 2004 White House news media Christmas party had "two shifts of 600 guests each," according to a December 13 New York Times report. As for the significance of the Christmas party, Chicago Tribune columnist Michael Killian observed on December 31, 2003, that receiving an invitation is a sign that "one may consider oneself a member in good standing of the fabled Washington establishment."

http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200502190003

[In_The_Wind]

1. ~

thanks

:kick:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. No one invited him

He wrapped himself up in a box and had himself delivered. On Christmas morning under the tree, he popped out nude and shouted "Ho Ho Ho" at Georgie.

[susu369]

3. The truth to that question will emerge

sooner or later, IMHO. JJGG bragged about being invited, for crying out loud!

There has got to be some frightened members of that "fabled Washington establishment" just waiting for the shoe to drop.

Two shifts of 600 people and no one remembers JJGG being there or who he was with? Hello.....

[Botany]

4. Where is the media?

We have to write, call, e mail, talk to, & scream @ all the democrats
to demand an investigation and answers into Mangate.

Ken Star, where are you?

[wallwriter]

5. Seriously.

Everyone, do us all a favor. Active male prostitute Gannon Guckert. Never mention the guy's name without saying active male prostitute. We need to be as consistent in our language as the repugs.

[Botany]

6. I like it!

I say gay hooker but active male prostitute works too.

[pbartch]

7. don't forget active male prostitute maybe having UNPROTECTED SEX

how nasty this is getting!!

[Botany]

8. I just sent my second email to my state party chairmen .....

..... and demanded that we get answers to Gannon Guckurt.

[Spectral]

10. OK. Active male prostitute Gannon Guckert

He he he

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Gannon went to all the big parties

Whenever Bush was entertaining major world leaders, Gannon got invited too. I think being a pseudo journalist was just a cover for his other talents.