I recently wrote about how blogs and RSS feeds were changing the way people receive and view news. I also noted that blogs were uncovering stories and doing the type of investigative journalism that has in the past, been within the realm of the major newspaper and television networks. Well, here comes another story down the pikes the journalists of print and screen missed or are just now reporting.
Ever heard of James Guckert? Neither had I. But I had heard of Jeff Gannon. He’s a “reporter” that during a press conference at the White House asked the President some very, well, easy questions are a bit of an understatement. Some have said “softball” questions, but I’m gonna take the plunge and say bullshit questions. For example, he asked the President:
Thank you. Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-NV] was talking about soup lines. And [Senator] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there’s no crisis there. How are you going to work — you’ve said you are going to reach out to these people — how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?
Well, apparently I’m not the only one who thought his questions were a little less well thought out than a reporter chosen to be allowed inside a White House press conference should be asking. The internet has been going crazy with this guy, and his story keeps getting better and better. I’m gonna start with CNN, but keep in mind that they were practically the last place to catch hold of this story. They report that Jeff Gannon is actually James Guckert, and that he has been receiving GOP money via “Talon News,” which is run by a Texas GOP activist. Also, no one is real sure he is an actual journalist.
Ok, so far we have a guy whose journalistic credentials are questionable, who also goes under an alias, who is not only allowed in to the white house press conferences, but also allowed to ask the President questions that are almost retarded enough to have been written by Bill O’Reilly. Not bad, as far as embarrassing situations go. I mean we have the makings of another Armstrong Williams here. But sweet, sweet irony steps in and the situation gets even better.
It appears that Jeff Gannon is very active on the internet. And when I say active, what I actually mean is that Jeff Gannon appears nude and quite aroused on quite a number of gay websites, and not only does he leave information to contact him, he alludes to the fact that he can be bought as an “escort.” Click here for an extensive and well-researched look at his various adventures on the internet (be advised there are a few pictures of Gannon nude…the naughty bits are blurred, but I don’t want anyone to blow milk out their nose after following this link) Now, to each his own. I have absolutely no problem with what Mr. Gannon does in his spare time, but I think it absolutely hilarious that the same administration that has attempted to pass an AMENDMENT to the CONSTITUTION (a document in which the amendments usually GRANT rights) banning gay marriage would employ a man that prostitutes himself online. Here is another story about his duplicitous nature and his ties to the GOP.
After a few days of the internet blogs reporting on this story CNN finally latched onto it, but the majority of the reporting being done on the story is still limited to blogs and independent web sites. Just go to google and type in his name. You’ll get a lot of hits. It’s a shame that the internet is beating the networks and newspapers to stories as juicy as this, and Armstrong Williams, and Rathergate, and probably many more I haven’t stumbled on yet.
It’s always good to keep in mind that all the news we receive from traditional sources (print or video) originates from primairly five sources: Viacom, Time Warner, Disney, GE, and the extremely reputable News Corporation.
Viacom’s holdings include: CBS, UPN, MTV, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Blockbuster Video, BET, Simon and Schuster publishing, Comedy Central.
Time Warner’s holdings: CNN, AOL, HBO, Cinemax, WB, Warner Bros. Pictures, Court TV, Warner Brothers, Time, Life, People, Warner Books.
Disney’s holdings: Walt Disney Pictures, The Disney Channel, Disneyworld, Disneyland, Eurodisney, ABC television networks that include ESPN, A&E, Lifetime, E!, Disney Radio Netword, Miramax, Touchstone.
GE’s holdings: NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Bravo, IFC, AMC, Telemundo, Universal Pictures, Universal Studios, Universal Theme Parks.
News Corporation’s holdings: Fox, Fox News, FX, 20th Century Fox, HarperCollins, The New York Post, TV Guide, Fox Searchlight Pictures.
So, pop quiz hot shot: Why is the internet beating the pants off of traditional news organizations in acquiring the good stories? Answer: Well for one Rupert Murdoch doesn’t own the internet…yet. Those five organizations are the gatekeepers to the news, so if they don’t report it, well as far as John Q. Public is concerned it just hasn’t happened. Perception shapes reality. Wouldn’t Kant be impressed. But we must remember that they are the gatekeepers. They are guarding all the doors, they are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later someone is going to have to fight them. I won’t lie to you Neo, every single…uh…ahem. Yes, well. Seems I got a little sidetracked.
Back to your regularly scheduled indoctrination.