FEMA’s deputy director, Vice Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, was fielding the “tough” questions like a pro, holding up so well to the “reporters” as a matter of fact, something didn’t seem quite right…
From the CNN Political Ticker:
FEMA under fire for ‘faking’ news conference
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House scolded the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday for staging a phony news conference about assistance to victims of wildfires in southern California.
The agency — much maligned for its sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina over two years ago — arranged to have FEMA employees play the part of independent reporters Tuesday and ask questions of Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the agency’s deputy director.
The questions were predictably soft and gratuitous.
“I’m very happy with FEMA’s response,” Johnson said in reply to one query from an agency employee.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said it was not appropriate that the questions were posed by agency staffers instead of reporters. FEMA was responsible for the “error in judgment,” she said, adding that the White House did not know about it beforehand and did not condone it.
“FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error in judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California,” Perino said. “It’s not something I would have condoned. And they — I’m sure — will not do it again.”
She said the agency was just trying to provide information to the public, through the press, because there were so many questions.
“I don’t think that there was any mal-intent,” Perino said “It was just a bad way to handle it, and they know that.”
FEMA gave real reporters only 15 minutes notice about Tuesday’s news conference . …”
Here is the YouTube video of the fake “FEMA Press conference” (H/T goes to Hot Air) for your viewing and listening pleasure:
While the Bush Administration may be pretending to be “horrified” that such a manipulation of the MSM could occur, this incident underscores the importance of a REAL “Press”, staying constantly on the heels of the government, challenging “Big Brother” every step of the way; something mainly found almost exclusively in the blogosphere today.
I particularly liked the part toward the end of the video where Admiral Johnson praised the leadership of “Kah-lee-fone-ya” and blasted the leadership of Louisiana during Katrina, citing that to be the primary reason FEMA has acted so “flawlessly” during the California wildfire disaster. Yeah, that’s some real “Fair And Balanced” reporting you’ve got going on there, Mr. Johnson…
Just PUTRID, these people.
***
A huge thanks to my good friend Joe Gandelman of The Moderate Voice for quoting this article — great blogger and MSM roundup there…
Thanks also to Buck Naked Politics for quoting this article — another roundup found there…
Other bloggers weigh in, courtesy in part of MemeOrandum — Interesting, both Right and Left bloggers seem to be equally appalled: The Democratic Daily; Tennessee Guerilla Women; Shakesville; Comments From Left Field; Crooks and Liars; The Carpetbagger Report The Reaction; Michelle Malkin (Right)
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11:46 am on October 27th, 2007 1
White House Upset by FEMA’s Phony Press Conference [Updated]…
Posted by D. Cupples | Yesterday, CNN reported: The White House scolded the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday for staging a phony news conference about assistance to victims of wildfires in southern California. The agency — much maligned …
11:57 am on October 27th, 2007 2
[...] –Gun Toting Liberal: While the Bush Administration may be pretending to be “horrified” that such a manipulation of the MSM could occur, this incident underscores the importance of a REAL “Press”, staying constantly on the heels of the government, challenging “Big Brother” every step of the way; something mainly found almost exclusively in the blogosphere today. [...]
12:31 pm on October 27th, 2007 3
FEMA’s Media Mishap: Bad Judgment or The Absence of Judgment? You Decide!…
Posted by Damozel (photo, California Wildfire, by Richard Smith | Here’s the question. Would you rather have the federal agency that is principally charged with emergency management be run by: (1) People who think it’s okay to get the agency’s messa…
2:35 pm on October 27th, 2007 4
[...] I was wrong. There seems to be much disgust among the conservative bloggers, according to Gun Toting Liberal: Other bloggers weigh in, courtesy in part of MemeOrandum — Interesting, both Right and Left [...]