Are these conservative values?

To The Editor:

It's bad enough that the Bush White House puts a leash on real reporters trying to do their job. Now we learn that Jeff Gannon, a fake "reporter" who's been covering the White House for a conservative website for the last two years, and who recently asked President Bush how he could work with Democrats "who seem to have divorced themselves from reality," is actually a prostitute and pornographer who owes $20,000 in back taxes.

The Washington Post quotes a California web designer who says he "designed a gay escort site for Gannon and had posted naked pictures of Gannon at the client's request."

Gannon, who's real name is James Guckert, is affiliated with web sites like Hotmilitarystud.com, Workingboys.net, Militaryescorts.com, MilitaryescortsM4M.com and Meetlocalmen.com. Yet the White House researched Gannon/ Guckert, approved his use of an alias, offered him press credentials, and allowed him to interact with the President of the United States. What's going on here? Are these the same "conservative values" that we heard so much about last fall?

Todd Tanner

Yaak