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 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."

The White House is concerned about manipulation of the news media?  One would think that no Bush Administration official had ever twisted the truth or choreographed a press conference.  I can't help but remember:...

- WMDs

- The now-debunked myth about Iraq's link to 9/11

- Promises that Iraq would be a short war

- Flight-suit-clad President saying "Mission Accomplished"

- President's dramatically lit press conference at after Katrina

And the FEMA administrator's answering soft, planted questions, is hardly news. Certain Republicans at congressional committee hearings -- the ones probing anything related to the War, the Administration or big donors -- habitually lob softies at Administration officials.

About FEMA's fraudulent press conference, Captain's Quarters noted:

"It's almost as if the writers of The Onion have infiltrated the government. The most mind-boggling aspect of this event is that someone in FEMA actually opened their mouth and proposed staging a fake news conference -- and everyone else went along with it."

Below the Beltway suggests: "There’s one way to make sure it never happens again, fire the people responsible for it.

Gun Toting Liberal commented:

"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...."

On the lighter side, Michelle Malkin published readers' ideas on what F-E-M-A really stands for, including:

1.  Fake Emergency Media Actors

2. Flabbergastingly Exposed Mendacious Artifice

3. Failed Emergency Management Always

 

PoliBlogger points out this chilling reality about FEMA: "if there ever is a massive terrorist attack on the US, these clowns are supposed to be on the front lines dealing with its effects"

Memorandum has other bloggers' reactions.

Related BN-Politics Posts:

* Oversight Hearing: Rice Evasive, Republicans Don't Want Probes

* Blackwater Hearings: Odd Comments & Poor Media Coverage

* Republican ex-AG Thinks Justice Dept. Selectively Prosecuted, Republicans Don't Want Probes