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Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:05:28 PM EST
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Editor and Publisher spoke to Ari Fleisher about Jeff Gannon. Snippets:

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was so concerned about Talon News reporter James Guckert's potential ties to the Republican Party that he stopped calling on him at press briefings for about a week in 2003, Fleischer told E&P today.

"I found out that he worked for a GOP site, and I didn't think it was my place to call on him because he worked for something that was related to the party," Fleischer said in a phone interview. "He had the editor call me and made the case that they were not related to the Republican Party. He said they used the GOP name for marketing purposes only."

He said he resumed calling on Guckert, who used the alias Jeff Gannon, after Bobby Eberle, owner of both GOPUSA and Talon News, "assured me that they were not part of the Republican Party." Eberle is a Texas Republican activist and served as a delegate to the 2000 Republican National Convention.

Ari also weighs in on why it's inappropriate for party workers to be in the White House briefing room pretending to be journalists.

"They are advocates, not reporters, and a line should be drawn." But, after speaking with Eberle and looking at Talon News, he was convinced that GOPUSA.com and Talon News were not official party sites.

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    Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#1)
    by brian on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:19:00 PM EST
    Ari is covering his own a*s on this one. A Texas delegate is able to convince him that his wholly owned news subsidiary is independent? Any why has no one said who dishes out the press passes? Who's the bottom here?

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#2)
    by Adept Havelock on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:20:14 PM EST
    Hmmm. Well, Ari didn't give Gannon/Guckert the pass. Scottie says it wasn't him. Wonder who did, as well as signing off on the Secret Service overlooking his "questionable" past in the background check. My guess is KR or one of his lackeys. This isn't about sex, and it isn't going to go away just because a few trolls say "jeff who?" and "who cares".

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#3)
    by jerry on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:37:06 PM EST
    jebus, the day when ari fleischer is the voice of integrity.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 07:28:41 PM EST
    The tinfoil hat types are posting comments here and there saying that Gannon was a plant by the New York Times as revenge for the White House going after Judith Miller.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 08:13:49 PM EST
    Did Ari stop calling on Russell Mokhiber as well? What about the many other "non-biased" "journalists"?

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ray Radlein on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 08:28:15 PM EST
    I actually believe Ari on this one, despite the fact that I'm fairly sure Ari Fleischer hasn't managed to go 30 seconds without lying in at least five years now. But by the same token, Ari Fleischer always seemed to have a true pride of craftsmanship in his ability to prevaricate and dissemble in front of a crowded room (poor Scotty isn't even remotely in his league). I think that Ari Fleischer would have viewed an actual ringer to be an insult to his abilities. Ari Fleischer never needed a lifeline in his life; Scotty, on the other hand, is a different story.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#7)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 09:22:14 PM EST
    Ah, excuse me but Ari is near the top of the list as to who leaked the Plame info.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 18, 2005 at 07:08:40 AM EST
    Lonewacko, there is a difference between the White House calling on a journalist who is sure to ask a hard question (Mokhiber) and calling on a journalist who is sure to ask a softball (Gannon). I wouldn't care if the White House packed its press corps with biased conservative critics like you (with or without journalistic credentials, I'm no elitist) who would blast them all day long with questions on, I dunno, illegal immigration. Many of us believe that criticism of the White House, even if we don't agree with it, is a good thing. The problem is that there is evidence that the White House has allowed in sycophants to the highest levels. The problem is NOT that some journalists are biased - So What? - anyone with half a brain is biased and anyone who says they aren't is a liar.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#9)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 18, 2005 at 09:12:35 AM EST
    Ari Fleischer was so concerned about Talon News reporter James Guckert's potential ties to the Republican Party that he stopped calling on him at press briefings for about a week in 2003.
    Pffftt... and then the "week" was over. This is a joke in itself. Fleischer is one of the most polished professional liars out there. Well, that was his job.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#10)
    by Dadler on Fri Feb 18, 2005 at 09:35:12 AM EST
    lonewacko, mokhiber is a real journalist, asking real question for the purpose of genuine critical inquiry. gannon was a planted softie; the kind of plant cowards and halfwits are forced to use. and the kind of plant that is a disgrace to everything a free american press is supposed to be -- a check on power, not, like the old pravda and isvestia in the ussr, some kind of rubber stamp for "the party". never thought you'd be an old red at heard, lone.

    Re: Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Fri Feb 18, 2005 at 09:36:09 AM EST
    um, that should read: never thought you'd be an old red at heart.

    Ari Fleisher on Jeff Gannon | 11 comments (11 topical)