Gannongate

IF you’ve been spending your time following developments in the fight over Social Security, or the nuclear showdown with North Korea, or the formation of a government in Iraq, you might have missed what has become, to some on the left, the biggest scandal of the Bush administration: Gannongate.

The name refers to Jeff Gannon, a previously little-known correspondent for a previously little-known conservative website called Talon News. For the last couple of years, Gannon was a fixture at White House briefings, where he often asked questions with a clear conservative slant (as opposed to questions from others with a clear liberal slant). Although the softballs Gannon lobbed to press secretary Scott McClellan irritated some members of the press corps, Gannon did not attract much attention until January 26, when President Bush surprised reporters by giving a news conference.

About the Author

Byron York

Byron York is a former White House correspondent for National Review.

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IF you’ve been spending your time following developments in the fight over Social Security, or the nuclear showdown with North Korea, or the formation of a government in Iraq, you might have missed what has become, to some on the left, the biggest scandal of the Bush administration: Gannongate.

The name refers to Jeff Gannon, a previously little-known correspondent for a previously little-known conservative website called Talon News. For the last couple of years, Gannon was a fixture at White House briefings, where he often asked questions with a clear conservative slant (as opposed to questions from others with a clear liberal slant). Although the softballs Gannon lobbed to press secretary Scott McClellan irritated some members of the press corps, Gannon did not attract much attention until January 26, when President Bush surprised reporters by giving a news conference.