A couple more thoughts on Gannon/Guckert

There has been some brilliant writing today on Americablog. Kudos to John for his excellent work. The other bloggers have also laid out key issues. I just wanted to say the things that are on my mind:

First, from talking to friends and family, I get the sense that there is some hesitancy about what appeared here today. Granted, some of the web sites and pictures people are looking at is pretty shocking. But, rest assured, to comment on what Gannon/Gucker has done isn't homophobic. This isn't about the gay issues. So, when you get over the initial shock, focus on the real issues.

Second, this shows the absolute disdain the right wingers have for the allegedly mainstream media. Gannon/Guckert/Talon/GOP USA did this right in front of the White House press corps. Gannon used the media last week to create a sob story...those means bloggers are picking on me. He had no compunction about appearing with Wolf Blitzer and denying anything sordid. He thought there were no ramifications. And Howie Kurtz...could he have had any more misplaced sanctimony?

This guy played the media -- including Wolf and Howie -- for fools. And they let him.

Third, is there some big GOP Down Low? Come on, think about it. How does a guy like Gannon, with no media background, go from being called "Bulldog" by his clientele to being called "Jeff Gannon" in the White House within weeks? Seriously, how did this happen? He sure didn't follow the career path of most of the White House Press Corps. I bet there are a lot of gay Republicans who are losing sleep over this mess. And I bet we find out how Gannon got his White House credentials, too. Someone greased the skids for Mr. Gannon.

Finally, for all the hand wringing about whether this is fair game, let's be honest: the White House and the right wing (of which Gannon/Guckert was a proud member) have made sex an issue. George Bush devotes a lot of time worrying about other people's sex lives. The whole abstinence thing is one of top examples. (I still want to know if the abstinence policy applies to the White House staff and family, too.) The Bushies and the right wingers are obsessed with the relationships of gay people. They have a sex filled agenda. They have made sex an issue. Of course, once again, no one in the mainstream media ever asks if the Bush family and Bush staff practice what they preach. Clearly, some of their biggest supporters don't.