From The Washington Blade, 2/18/05:
http://www.washblade.com/2005/2-18/news/national/reporter.cfm
Reporter exposed as GOP operative
Guckert linked to male escort sites, Va. orgy party: sources
By JOE CREA
Several members of Congress have intensified criticism of the White
House’s media credentialing process and are demanding an investigation
after a conservative reporter with dubious credentials was unmasked as
working for a GOP political operative.
But the story of James D. Guckert, who worked under the alias "Jeff
Gannon," took on a more salacious tone early this week, when gay
activist John Aravosis provided evidence that Guckert had worked as a
gay escort and posted profiles featuring nude pictures of himself on
various Web sites, including MaleCorps.com and MeetLocalMen.com.
Aravosis reported that Guckert’s profile on an escort site remained
active until May 2003 -- just before he began writing for Talon News.
Since the Aravosis report, two sources have confirmed to the
Washington Blade that Guckert attended a December 1998 Christmas party
near Leesburg, Va., that "always turns into an orgy toward the end."
The party was described as being predominantly for gay men, though not
exclusively.
The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that about
25 people attended.
The sources provided to the Blade two photos from that party of a man
who appears to be Guckert.
In one image which the Blade has decided not to publish, the man poses
with his arm around another man and his penis is exposed.
Guckert responded to inquiries for this article, but declined to
comment.
He has not commented publicly about his sexual orientation.
The gay revelations are significant, some gay rights advocates have
asserted, because Guckert worked for anti-gay employers.
Guckert worked for Talon News and GOPUSA, which are both owned by
Texas Republican activist Bobby Eberle.
Talon News is a Web site regarded as a Republican propaganda outlet
and not a reputable journalistic enterprise.
Eberle acts as editor in chief for Talon News.
Guckert, writing under the name Gannon, regularly reported on the news
of the day including a few gay-related stories.
In one article, "California Gays Celebrate Domestic Partner Law,"
Gannon reported that "Homosexual advocates in California are hailing a
new law that went into effect on Jan. 1 that established ‘gay
marriage’ in the state."
In another piece, he wrote that an aide to Sen. John Kerry used a gay
smear to defeat an incumbent senator.
He also wrote about the federal gay marriage amendment and about the
journalistic integrity of CBS News in light of Dan Rather’s 60 Minutes
II story about President Bush’s tenure at the Texas National Guard
that turned out to be based on forged documents.
Guckert, who was a fixture at the daily White House press briefings,
gained national attention after he asked President Bush a loaded
question last month about how the president planned to work with
Democrats on Social Security when they "have divorced themselves from
reality."
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is insisting that all documents
relating to the credentialing of Guckert be released.
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) is calling on the White House to
explain the matter more fully and, along with Rep. John Conyers
(D-Mich.), wants to know of Guckert’s possible involvement in the
leaking of a classified memo containing the identity of undercover CIA
agent Valerie Plame.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement that
"valid questions" are being raised over Guckert’s White House press
credentials since he was denied a congressional press pass because he
did not write for a valid news organization.
"This issue is important from an ethical as well as from a national
security standpoint," Hoyer said in a statement.
"It is hard to understand why a man with little real journalism
experience was given a White House press corps credential let alone
access to sensitive security documents. In fact, it only raises
questions as to the nature of the relationship between ‘Jeff Gannon’
and the White House, and whether there was an alliance of interests
that did not conform to ethical and security standards."
"This is an important story because this is the latest in a long line
of the Bush administration using fake news outlets to promote their
agenda," said Jamison Foser, a senior adviser at Media Matters for
America, a liberal media group that first broke the Guckert story.
"We found that there was no reason to consider [Talon News employees]
journalists since they are advocates," Foser said.
"His questions, sure, were over the top but some of the things that
were written -- they were lengthy pieces from the White House
briefings, not independent reports. Yes, Fox News or the Washington
Times, they are conservative but they are legitimate news
organizations."
Guckert resigned from Talon News on Feb. 8.
Since then, bloggers and media watchdog groups have dug deeper into
his personal life.
First came reports that Guckert had ties to a number of gay sex sites.
The same person who had registered his personal Web site also
registered others, including HotMilitaryStud.com, MilitaryEscorts.com
and MilitaryEscortsM4M.com.
Late last week, Guckert was asked about those sites in an interview on
CNN’s "Wolf Blitzer Reports" and said, "Well, several years ago,
before I came to Washington, I had registered various domain names for
a private client. I was doing Web site development. Those sites were
never hosted. There’s -- nothing ever went up on them. And the client
went on to do something else."
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http://www.ElmerFudd.US/ http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
Scientology murder: http://PerkinsTragedy.org
"And I sure wouldn't bet a damn buck that Bush's two
girls haven't done their fair share of carpet cleaning!" - AB
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