How has Bush been manipulating the Press?

The Christian Science Monitor has an excellent article that supports my earlier comments. Gannon/Guckert was an extreme right-wing Republican plant in the White House Press Corps.

"The public has a reason to be concerned about the ways in which political manipulation is influencing journalism," says Larry Gross at the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California.
In January came news that commentator Armstrong Williams, a syndicated broadcast host, had received a $240,000 payment from the Education Department to promote the No Child Left Behind Act. On a lesser scale, commentators Maggie Gallagher and Michael McManus were paid $21,500 and $10,200, respectively, to advise the Department of Health and Human Services on its marriage initiatives. Unlike Williams, neither were paid explicitly to promote White House policy in their columns.
A 2004 video produced by the Health and Human Services
Department to promote the administration's new Medicare prescription drug law ended with the tagline in journalese: "In Washington, I'm Karen Ryan reporting."

A number of local TV stations aired this spot and others produced by federal agencies, without disclosing their source.

Last May, the General Accounting Office ruled that the prepackaged news report segment violated a law prohibiting the use of federal funds for propaganda because it did not identify the government as the source of the news report.

The Gannon case raises the tougher question of who gets to be a journalist. In Washington, credentialing standards vary among the different branches of government. Gannon, who wrote for the GOP-linked Talon News website, was first criticized by liberal Internet bloggers, who objected to the pro-administration slant in his questions, such as "...How are you going to work with [Democrats] who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"

Turned down for a congressional press pass because he did not meet the standards set for a journalist, James Guckert (Gannon's real name) has had access to the White House briefing room for more than two years on day passes. "Many seasoned journalists have not had the honor of attending the events or enjoying the access Mr. Guckert has," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) of New York.

Guckert/Gannon has revealed a great deal of information that indicates his access to the White House There is no reason to question the fact that he was a conservative republican plant. There may be some question about how far up the White House food chain clear knowledge of his act as a shill goes, but there is no question at all that whoever set the plan up and inacted it is now being protected by Bush. If Bush wanted to know how Guckert/Gannon got access to White House Briefings, he knows. But he approves, because we aren't being told.

Guckert/Gannon in White House Briefings is the responsibility of George W. Bush. He is primary. Others matter, but it is first the responsibility of George W. Bush.