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Gannongate
Advocate, The, June 7, 2005 by Steven Kee, Albert Giang, Mike Kerkman, Johnny Pujols, David Lynam, Christopher Killian Cantino, Rob, Alan Reeser, Dave Cutler
Jen Christensen's e-mail interview of Jeff Gannon (a.k.a. James Guckert) ["Jeff vs. the Bloggers," May 10] featured several softball questions of its own. Seeing Christensen ask Gannon, "What do you say to our gay readers who think you're really, really hot?" turned my stomach. There could not have possibly been a more inappropriate question. Did Christensen formerly write for Tiger Beat magazine? I understand that The Advocate has to be cautious about how it phrases things in order to avoid a libel claim, but I found the phrasing about Gannon's alleged escort trade (a.k.a. prostitution) a little too soft. I don't find shame in his allegedly being a male escort, but what Gannon should truly be ashamed of is his support for and loyalty to political and religious conservatives who would rather we gays did not exist.
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Steven Kee,
Boston, Mass.
With so little coverage in the mainstream media about "Gannongate," it is disappointing that The Advocate squandered a chance to ask serious questions about Gannon's shady relationship with the White House: "Why were you given access to White House press briefings despite having little prior journalism experience?" "Though you claim you were not planted by the Administration, how do you respond to accusations that you frequently diverted attention from topics that were embarrassing to the Administration, like gay marriage?"
In the end, Gannon is being (rightly) vilified for using undeserved White House press credentials to lob softballs at the troubled administration like an unctuous toady. How ironic, then, that The Advocate gave him carte blanche to defend his actions ("What was done to me is wrong") without asking a single critical or hard-hitting question.
Albert Giang and Mike Kerkman
Pasadena, Calif.
Thank God for Mr. Aravosis! Good job! May Mr. Gannon/Guckert and his ilk burn in hell.
Johnny Pujols,
Los Angeles, Calif.
My first reaction to seeing Jeff Gannon was outrage. This to me is about as outrageous as Time putting Arm Coulter on its cover. This man has done nothing to add to the world of journalism and everything to add to the proliferation of the Bush administration's surge of propaganda paid for by our tax dollars. His questions weren't anything resembling journalism but an act played on America in order to dupe us further to the idea that the Bush administration is doing what is in our best interest. Who should truly be on your cover are the bloggers who uncovered this fraud. What is even more outrageous is that Gannon still acts as though he did nothing wrong.
David Lynam,
San Francisco, Calif.
Please, no more free PR for the White House whore. He gets enough attention from the blogs.
Christopher Cantino, Austin, Texas I have followed the Guckert/Gannon story since it broke online. I am still quite interested to hear one specific instance where one of the bloggers has "exaggerated" or lied about his record. I cannot believe that any media--particularly The Advocate--continue to let him get away with his nonspecific allegations and accusations and not to answer directly the real questions iris story raises.
Rob Killian,
Seattle, Wash.
The next time you have a disingenuous scare artist on the cover, why don't you use someone just as slimy, like Tom DeLay?
Alan Reeser, Mesa, Ariz.
What is it with these gay GOP operatives? I will concede there is nothing wrong with being a gay Republican, but I swear it seems like the rule in the GOP is that you can be gay as long as you work for someone who demonizes the GLBT community.
Dave Cutler,
Tampa, Fla.
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