Via CNN’s Political Ticker: FEMA under fire for ‘faking’ news conference
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.
Ok, who in their right mind thought a) that this was a good idea, and b) that they wouldn’t get caught?
And the explanation is plain lame:
On Thursday, FEMA employees had played the part of reporters. Johnson issued a statement Friday, saying that FEMA’s goal was “to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment.”
“Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received,” he said. “We can and must do better.”
Gee whiz, have they never heard of a press release? How about an opening statement at the press conference? And, of course, there is always the real reporters who have been known to ask questions at times like this.
And, here’s a lovely parting thought: 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.
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October 27th, 2007 at 7:54 am
[...] Incredibly dumb. Dr. Steven Taylor sums things up very well. Ok, who in their right mind thought a) that this was a good idea, and b) that they wouldn’t get caught? [...]
October 27th, 2007 at 7:55 am
[...] Incredibly dumb. Dr. Steven Taylor sums things up very well. Ok, who in their right mind thought a) that this was a good idea, and b) that they wouldn’t get caught? [...]
October 27th, 2007 at 9:14 am
And, of course, there is always the real reporters who have been known to ask questions at times like this.
Real reporters were actually invited to listen in on a conference line–however, they were forbidden to ask questions.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Even better.
Yeesh.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
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 …
October 28th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
What does he get for this fiasco? Why three days later he has been promoted to the job of communications director at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. When will this republican idiocy end?
October 28th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
[...] A commenter noted earlier today, as did Lindsay Beyerstein, the rather remarkable news that one of the FEMA officials who oversaw the fake news conference from earlier in the week has been promoted to head public affairs at the ODNI: (via WaPo: Philbin’s last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. He has been named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI spokeswoman Vanee Vines said. [...]
October 28th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
[...] A commenter noted earlier today, as did Lindsay Beyerstein, the rather remarkable news that one of the FEMA officials who oversaw the fake news conference from earlier in the week has been promoted to head public affairs at the ODNI: (via WaPo: Philbin’s last scheduled day at FEMA was Thursday. He has been named as the new head of public affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI spokeswoman Vanee Vines said. [...]