White House Ringers Redux

February 2, 2005 8:13 AM

Bush relies on a "ringer" at White House press conferences. Jeff Gannon is the "White House correspondent" of Talon News, a website devoted to "no-spin reporting." Indeed. The questions Gannon asks during presidential press conferences -- uncannily when Bush is in a tough spot -- include language taken verbatim from GOP talking points, says David Brock of Media Matters. Gannon's own articles buttress Bush's claims about Social Security with such phrases as "it's just a matter of math." He even plants questions in online chats, and posts comments to websites that stay on-message, GOP-style. Gannon defends himself by saying, "all material in these articles comes from White House PRESS RELEASES, (you know, those things that a PRESS OFFICE puts out for use by the PRESS)... In many cases I have liberally used the verbiage provided on key aspects of the issue because it is the precise expression of where the White House stands - free of any 'spin.' It's the ultimate in journalistic honesty." Payolagate continues.
posted by digaman (5 comments total)

Yes, we've heard.
posted by dhartung at 8:18 AM on February 2, 2005

Oh, lord. Sorry.
posted by digaman at 8:23 AM on February 2, 2005

Interesting that there isn't one shared tag between the two posts.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:30 AM on February 2, 2005

Well, I was proud of myself for having found "Gannon's" contributions to online chats, but it's clearly my double-post mess-up.
posted by digaman at 8:36 AM on February 2, 2005

I completely missed the first one and thoroughly enjoyed going through this one, so thanks anywho.


Also, I await the destruction of this thread.


(this was good)
posted by NinjaPirate at 8:56 AM on February 2, 2005