FEMA faked a news conference
October 27th 2007 03:39
FEMA, the government agency that displayed its "special" skills during the Katrina debacle last year, is in the news again. This time, they are in the news for putting on a fake news conference. Yes, that's right...FEMA conducted a fake news conference:
That sounds a little fishy, right? A hastily-called press conference that no reporters had time to get to and an 800 number that was set up as "listen only". The press conference did occur, though:
So at a cursory glance, it seemed like a legitimate press conference. Yes, it had those aforementioned limitations and restrictions (quick turnaround, "listen only" line), but there were questions and answers, right? Still, something didn't seem quite right:
So there you have it. The whole press conference was fake. I suppose the answers could've been somewhat factual, but the entire setup was fabricated. FEMA, of all groups, should have known better than to do something so stupid. Who's running that shop now? What on earth are those people thinking? Someone in charge actually made the decision to pull together a fake news conference. Did anyone think for a second that it may not be a good idea? Did they really think that the truth wouldn't get out?
If you're interested, you can view the press conference over at Hotair.com. It seems like something that you would see on a Saturday Night Live skit. Sadly, it really happened. On second thought, just go ahead and pretend it is an SNL skit. The alternative explanation for how this happened is too depressing to consider.
...as the California wildfires raged Tuesday, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator, had a 1 p.m. news briefing.
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 (see the Fox News video of the news conference carried on the Think Progress Web site), MSNBC and other outlets.
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 (see the Fox News video of the news conference carried on the Think Progress Web site), MSNBC and other outlets.
That sounds a little fishy, right? A hastily-called press conference that no reporters had time to get to and an 800 number that was set up as "listen only". The press conference did occur, though:
Johnson stood behind a lectern and began with an overview before saying he would take a few questions. The first questions were about the "commodities" being shipped to Southern California and how officials are dealing with people who refuse to evacuate. He responded eloquently.
He was apparently quite familiar with the reporters -- in one case, he appears to say "Mike" and points to a reporter -- and was asked an oddly in-house question about "what it means to have an emergency declaration as opposed to a major disaster declaration" signed by the president. He once again explained smoothly.
FEMA press secretary Aaron Walker interrupted at one point to caution he'd allow just "two more questions." Later, he called for a "last question."
"Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" a reporter asked. Another asked about "lessons learned from Katrina."
He was apparently quite familiar with the reporters -- in one case, he appears to say "Mike" and points to a reporter -- and was asked an oddly in-house question about "what it means to have an emergency declaration as opposed to a major disaster declaration" signed by the president. He once again explained smoothly.
FEMA press secretary Aaron Walker interrupted at one point to caution he'd allow just "two more questions." Later, he called for a "last question."
"Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" a reporter asked. Another asked about "lessons learned from Katrina."
So at a cursory glance, it seemed like a legitimate press conference. Yes, it had those aforementioned limitations and restrictions (quick turnaround, "listen only" line), but there were questions and answers, right? Still, something didn't seem quite 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.
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.
So there you have it. The whole press conference was fake. I suppose the answers could've been somewhat factual, but the entire setup was fabricated. FEMA, of all groups, should have known better than to do something so stupid. Who's running that shop now? What on earth are those people thinking? Someone in charge actually made the decision to pull together a fake news conference. Did anyone think for a second that it may not be a good idea? Did they really think that the truth wouldn't get out?
If you're interested, you can view the press conference over at Hotair.com. It seems like something that you would see on a Saturday Night Live skit. Sadly, it really happened. On second thought, just go ahead and pretend it is an SNL skit. The alternative explanation for how this happened is too depressing to consider.
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Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Scary stuff, indeed.