Reporters were given only 15 minutes’ notice of the briefing, making it unlikely many could show up at FEMA’s Southwest D.C. offices. They were given an 800 number to call in, though it was a “listen only” line, the notice said — no questions. Parts of the briefing were carried live on Fox News, MSNBC and other outlets.
“And so I think what you’re really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership,” Johnson said, “none of which were present in Katrina.” (Wasn’t Michael Chertoff DHS chief then?) Very smooth, very professional. But something didn’t seem right. The reporters were lobbing too many softballs. No one asked about trailers with formaldehyde for those made homeless by the fires. And the media seemed to be giving Johnson all day to wax on and on about FEMA’s greatness.
Of course, that could be because the questions were asked by FEMA staffers playing reporters. We’re told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA’s deputy director of external affairs, and by “Mike” Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John “Pat” Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin…read on
The manipulation of our media is a major reason why we’re in the Iraq war to begin with so this outrageous propaganda presser by FEMA, while shocking—is not surprising. It’s a sad state of affairs. Only in this administration could this possibly have happened. After all, it’s how they work. Somebody should be fired over this blatant attempt to distort reality.
Filed Under: Government Policy
Tags: FEMA, propaganda, Wildfires
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In a word?
No.
Pravda anyone?
The U.S. is smelling more and more like a fascist dictatorship anyday… but I guess that’s what you get when a government is run by the military-industrial complex.
Land of the free! Yeah, right.
Gotta keep catapulting the propoganda, the only truth W. has ever told.
This is as laughable as it is scary. If nobody calls them out on this steaming turd then…well, I guess things just get worse.
I bet Jeff Gannon is devastated that he wasn’t invited to the fake presser.
Bonkers @ 3:
MSNBC ran a story about this a few minutes ago and “supposedly” they claim the WH is pissed….
Sure…
Lapse of judgement.
Huh. thanks for clearing it up Dana. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. Now.
Networks should refuse to broadcast live footage from the rest of the Bush Administration press conferences unless their network has at least one reporter at the press conference.
Otherwise, it could be another phony.
Are these people even human, The constitution is but a myth.
Rush to War @ 8:
I love your name. I wish we could send Rush to war.
Shocked! Shocked I am to find the Bushies rigging a “public” event!
The most amazing part of this is their belief that no one would notice or protest.
15 minutes notice to the media so no one has time to arrange to be there.
Then, have your own people ask questions for which you’ve already prepared answers.
Act as if you can get away with it — this is real chutzpah!
They should have been going out of their way to answer real questions.
we’ve ALWAYS been at war with East Asia
Good grief: I worked at a rural weekly newspaper and we had much higher standards of journalism. Then again, we lived there. That’s the difference I think. I can barely stand to watch the MSM in small doses anymore, simply because I know how much Hell I would have caught for the sloppiness and bias that these self-important @$$hats get away with on a daily basis. And I made all of seven buck an hour back then…
If the white house is really pissed it’s only because FEMA got caught doing this. Didn’t hear anything about the white being pissed before this was made public.
To say the white house didn’t know about this when it happened means either the white house and Fema weren’t connecting in the middle of this disaster (which is not good) or the white house knew about it and was okay with it. (also not good)
So is it about time to hear some big wig at Fema has decided he or she needs to spend more time with their family or do they get a medal first?
Andy @ 5:
They are pissed that FEMA would pull a stunt like that?
More likely they are only pissed because the press found out about it…
“FEMA’s fake Press conference: Are you surprised?”
Nope.
We can only home that this pisses off even more Republicans.
I commented at MSNBC also
that I hate this staged stuff, and sense every action by this adim can only be corrupt, but ….
given the nature of news conferences in recent history, one can expect the reporters of the mainstream media to ask inane, knee-jerk, emotional questions for the purpose of creating hype, outrage and reaction, and worse the distraction from real questions and answers.
I thought that the questions posed by the FEMA folks were mostly honest in nature in that they were administrative-type questions being asked of a purely administrative organization, and realistically, they were things they had answers to. If it were reporters, they would be spinning and making stuff up, or suspiciously avoiding questions.
If I were A FEMA worker, I would rather be doing the actionable elements of my job than spending time with reporters, who … let’s face it, are mostly in the entertainment business.
I found the dialogue refreshingly unemotional and hissy fitted.
Gregg @ 17:
oops! meant to say, without the hissy fits!!
They do the same thing at my job (a very large corporation). A few days before the “town meeting”, they pick some bootlickers and tell them what questions or comments to make.
There’s something wrong with this country when the government can’t face the public when it lies.
BEAUTIFUL. This will help Waxman boot several FEMA regulars, so their actions today has helped the restoration of what was once a fine agency.
Let’s recall for a second the three promises made by President Carter when he formed FEMA:
• FEMA will always help all Americans the same, regardless of race, creed, color, or political affiliation.
• FEMA will always be a cabinet-level post.
• FEMA will always be run by an experienced first-responder.
Bushco rushed to break all those promises, because Bushco profits from the destruction of government, as well as from the disasters that result from defunding, instead of defending.
does anyone know how many times we have heard “they have accepted responsibility” in this administration? one thing i do know is how many times “accepting responsibility” has lead to any disciplinary actions…zero.
no big deal. unbelievable.
Somebody should be fired for this but it won’t happen. If it does, it will be somebody who shouldn’t have been fired.
The White House would only be angry about this because they got caught.
there is one good thing about this story - it’s all over MSM ..
We can expect Henry Waxman to drill a few new assholes over this. I am.
One way to repair the budget would be to sell tickets to an evening event during which George Bush juggles swords with Michael Chertoff.
If the administration is going to be this transparent and shameless, they might as well bring back Jeff Gannon. At least entertain us while lying to us…..
Really, i don’t think anyone is taken in by this propanda.
San Diego Fires-BLUE STATE
Katrina=RED STATE
that explains why things went well in California. We live in California. this state works for the people, not for a bunch of crooks and thugs.
It’s the typical game plan and tactics that we’ve all come to expect and despise from this fucked up administration. One would be delusional to expect anything different from these self serving, soulless scumbags.
anonymous @ 2:
Unfortunately, I believe you’re quite right. Did you see Robert Reich’s article on the sold out Dems? It snuffed out my last shred of hope for these pathetic pols in D. C. They’re all just bought and sold. I can’t even envision a way to restore the democracy now that W has turned loose the corporations. They’ve bought everyone in government as they did in the Gilded Age. Back then, there were liberals of integrity who fought to bring the Progressive movement to fruition. This is all a replay, but today we don’t have candidates of good character and integrity. Everybody’s on the take.
This will totally repair the agency’s battered reputation.
MountainMan23 @ 24:
This is a real REPUBLICAN disaster which hits them directly in the pants pocket, and the political fallout is going to be joyous.
It’s also a real six degrees of separation experiment, with repercussions throughout the country.
A close family friend lost their house in Rancho Bernardo. They are both well-paid upper-tier professionals, so the loss is property, not a roof over their heads. I’m one degree of separation from this fire, and of course have choked on the smoke all week (though now the skies have cleared). My experience is far from unusual. Bad news for Republicans, who rushed into office and gutted the fire response.
I know this may be off-topic, but I wanted to alert everyone at Crooks and Liars, (staff and readers alike) about this very important news story and event that may escape the mainstream media. Thanks so much.
According to a report on SemocracyNow! From Friday, October 26, 2007, Donald Rumsfeld was hit with lawsuit for ordering and authorizing Torture on a personal visit to France. Check out the details yourselves after this excerpt and you can listen to the story at: http://www.democracynow.org/ar.....26/1452236
Here is the excerpt folks:
Friday, October 26th, 2007
On Visit to France, Donald Rumsfeld Hit with Lawsuit for Ordering, Authorizing Torture
The complaint was filed with the Paris prosecutor’s office as Rumsfeld arrived in France for a visit. This is the fifth time Rumsfeld has been charged with direct involvement in torture since 9/11. We speak with two attorneys with the plaintiffs — Center for Constitutional Rights president Michael Ratner and Jeanne Sulzer of the International Federation of Human Rights. [includes rush transcript]
U.S. and European human rights groups filed a lawsuit in France today charging former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with ordering and authorizing torture. The plaintiffs include the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights and the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights. They say Rumsfeld authorized interrogation techniques that led to abuses at US-run prisons in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
The complaint was filed with the Paris prosecutor’s office as Rumsfeld arrived in France for a visit. This is the fifth time Rumsfeld has been charged with direct involvement in torture since 9/11. Michael Ratner is the president of the Center for Constitutional Rights. He joins me in the firehouse studio. Jeanne Sulzer is a French attorney with the International Federation of Human Rights. She joins me on the line from Paris.
For more stories please go to: http://www.democracynow.org/
Thank you all! Have a nice day! All The Best.
Sincerely,
Mr. XXXX
kaT @ 30 “Did you see Robert Reich’s article on the sold out Dems? It snuffed out my last shred of hope for these pathetic pols in D. C. They’re all just bought and sold.”
Oh really. Generalize much?
Try to find ‘bought and sold’ evidence in the progressive caucus in the House.
(crickets)
The unanswered question is why the hell did they do it? From what we were hearing from people in the fire area, FEMA appeared to be doing a pretty good job. It appeared they had learned from some past mistakes and were improving. Why the hell would they want to pull a stunt like this? Just when it looked like they might have their shit together, why shoot themselves in the foot?
“Mr. Johnson, is George Bush a great President or the greatest President?”
I’m not sure which article you mean, but from his blog, this may be what you’re referring to:
Did you read carefully? Now go back and underline the part which says “Senate Dems.”
Frankly, if Reich is shocked to find out that the rich control the Senate, he has wasted his education.
pissed off patricia @ 35 “It appeared they had learned from some past mistakes and were improving.”
According to lying media reports you heard.
Look at Carter’s three promises. Until those are in place, Bush’s FEMA is bullshit.
Paul I was referring to interviews that were held with evacuees from the fire who were housed at the stadium. The people were telling their own experiences not the media critters.
There is no truth in the news and no news in the truth…so goes an old saying of the now extinct, Homo Sovieticus.
Homo Americanus may not be far behind, and for the exact same reasons.
pissed off patricia @ 39:
Maybe the “evacuees” were played by FEMA personnel. :)
Yes I am surprised. Why did they bother to go through the actions of having a mock press conference when they could have had Sean Spamity, Glen Bleck and Jeff Gannon Guckert there for free. And after the charade they would have taken turns sucking on Johnson’s johnson. So YES I am surprised they did.
Soo, what did they fuck up this time?
The only reason to do this is to take the heat off, so what did they do that was so wrong this time that they felt the need to try a stupid stunt like this?
pissed off patricia @ 39:
Yes, well when serving a high percentage of rich Republicans in two Repubilcan dominated counties, FEMA will put on the show.
In New Orleans, the bigotry is clear. And that hasn’t changed one bit.
Hi Paul in LA,
Back for some more damage control I see.
Although Paul, at least in this thread you have made some good points tossed in amongst your Dem worship.
No surprise there… nope! What a bunch of lunkheads these people are… Doesn’t anyone stand up for ethics or integrity anymore?
The FEMA fake press conference and the White House censorship of the CDC report on health and global warming are far from the first times the Bush administration has doctored scientific reports and testimony. From rented reporters, purchased pundits, and rigged rallies to scripted sessions, fake news and pseudo-science, an unapologetic White House has long sought to alter public perceptions to control political debate - and reality itself.
For the details, see:
“FEMA, CDC and Bush’s Potemkin Presidency.”
Cant expect any better from FEMA. We thought “heck of a job” Brownie was bad but now “duct tape and plastic wrap” man is just as clueless. Seems to be a pattern with anyone Bush assigns to a key position.
I say….NO MORE Bush appointes. Better the seat be empty then to have these incompetent fools warming those seats and collecting a fat paycheck. :( :(
Symes @ 45:
I have participated on this blog for at least three years. If you are now just noticing me, maybe you should google some of my comments to catch up.
If you call it ‘damage control’ to correct myths, lies, and propaganda, then yeah, I want to lessen the damage caused by liars.
Btw, I protest two hours today, and then Saturday for the big nationwide rally against the war. I presume you will be nursing your anal cysts, and regrettably unavailable for actual work for change. Perhaps you can namecall out your window.
Symes @ 46:
What you call ‘dem worship’ in the proximal case was alerting commenters to facts that they did not know, somehow. That the Speaker of the House is chosen in order to enforce the rules of debate, and that it is her DUTY to treat both sides the same in such rulings. Many other commenters, perhaps not knowing this, were slandering her in the most vigorous of profanity.
You, however, busily clarified the difference in court between libel and slander. That was just as moot to the current discussion there as here.