Comment

I apologize for my late arrival at this particular informational party, but I would like to review and comment on the following story. Paying it more than casual attention will invariably lead you off in a lot of different directions, many of these are difficult and even dangerous to venture into. If you do choose to spend an hour or two educating yourself on this matter, you will find that some of the sites you visit contain adult content. I do not endorse or condemn the material, but merely suggest you consider it's relevance to the overall story. However, what we see on the surface here is very likely only the ripples moving over the face of a very deep and murky body of water. So watch yourself (!), don't fall in, and just in case.. bring a life-jacket!

Article

The increasingly surreal and psychotic political theatre, that is the present-day United States of America, comes into even sharper focus when you look closely at one of the current hot topics swirling around the political blogosphere. Dubbed 'Gannongate' it has sparked a wave of blogging interest, and investigation from all quarters. The story revolves around how and why '"Jeff Gannon"' an uncredentialed 'journalist' whose only training consisted of a two day course at the Broadcast Journalism School gained access to the inner core of the White House, and was able to pass himself off under a false name or pseudonym, for over 2 years.

The first record of his doing this, appears on February 28th 2003, and continues from then until very recently. Mr Gannon was issued with a daily White House press pass by the Secret Service under his real name of James Dale Guckhert, but would introduce himself as "Jeff Gannon" during White House press briefings. He was generally percieved by commentators and insiders as someone who asked leading (or 'softball') questions. Fox News once hailed him as "a terrific Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent", and he has frequently appeared as an expert guest on various rightwing radio shows. He was also involved as one of the reporters questioned by special prosecutors about the leak of a secret CIA memo, that disclosed the identity of Bush war critic Joseph Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as a CIA operative.

Blogger's have since dug up even more related material on Mr Gannon/Guckhert and those companies and individuals affiliated with him. Included, is his involvement with a number of porn websites such as Militarystud.com, MaleCorps.com, WorkingBoys.net, and MeetLocalMen.com. It also emerged that he offered his services as a gay escort. He has been linked with the Republican backed GOPUSA a company run by Texas based business man and activist Bobby Eberle. Gannon's boss at Talon News and GOPUSA is a friend of leading Republican strategist Karl Rove.

Talon News was not in existence until March 29th 2003, (and is currently down), yet Mr Gannon maintains that he merely asked to attend the White House briefings because he wanted to report on the activities there, and was susequently issued with the relevant clearance.

Opinion

At the very least it seems likely that the Bush administration planted a fake reporter to ask soft questions of the president at White Hose press conferences. It also appears that (baring a massive security blunder), senior Bush officials were aware of Mr Gannon/Guckherts past, and his work as a male prostitute/escort.

Rumors also continue to circulate that "Gannon" 'entertained' British PM Tony Blair when he visited the White House on July 17, 2003. According to notes in the minutes report of the TKE fraternity chapter at West Chester University's alumni association, "Gannon" was a member of the alumni chapter. The minutes report
of August 24, 2003 shows that Gannon was engaged in entertaining Blair.

If this is true it only adds another layer of mystery to an ever deepening saga. This story seems to run as far as you can push. However I'm not going to do that, and certainly there are others better qualified or disposed to do so. For me, 'Gannongate' is not about Gannon/Guckherts sexuality, his politics, or even his apparent servility to the current administration. All of those things are obvious and perhaps even intended messages and signals being given off by this story. What is far more interesting, is what it begins to reveal about the reality behind the carefully staged facade of American politics.