This Just In! Jeff Gannon Is Kinda Creepy!

If you haven't followed the latest blogosphere explosion regarding the ersatz Jeff Gannon and the equally ersatz TalonNews -- and the ongoing blurring of the lines between the White House and right-wing news media lackeys -- well, check out the terrific Keith Olbermann story on Gannon courtesy MSNBC.

At the heart of the controversy is not Gannon's apparent operation of gay porn sites (although TalonNews, like any self-respecting far right propaganda arm, has questioned the "homosexual" lifestyle in the past), but rather how a quasi-journalist with credibility as shaky as the San Andreas faultline gets White House press credentials for the purpose of lobbing continual softballs.

The Boston Globe reports that Gannon first drew scrutiny when Dubya called on him during a rare and nationally televised news conference several weeks ago.

"Gannon's question attacked Democrats as having 'divorced themselves from reality' and repeated an allegation against Senate minority leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, that turned out to be a joke by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

"The unusual question prompted a wave of attention initially led by David Brock, the former right-wing investigative journalist who now operates a left-wing media watchdog group, Media Matters for America.

'''We didn't think it was appropriate for a conservative partisan with no journalism experience asking loaded questions to be included in those briefings,' Brock said.

"The scrutiny was later picked up by the bloggers on sites such as DailyKos and Atrios, which began using public records to look into his private life. Gannon said that he had been 'stalked' by the bloggers.

"Kelly McBride, who teaches media ethics at the Poynter Institute, said the investigation of Gannon's personal life crossed traditional boundaries and was characterized by 'mean-spiritedness and snarkiness.'"

Indeed, Media Matters provides a breakdown on how the fake TalonNews organization has been cited as a credible source by the likes of conservative icons Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

News! On the March!