FEMA gives fake news for California fires

[chomerics]

Hey, at least they didn't have any male escorts asking questions :doh: Does anyone else find it funny the party who screamed bloody murder with things like "Wag the Dog" is found doing exactly that for the umpteenth time :doh:

I have always said, if you want to know what the republicans are up to, just look at what they accuse the democrats of doing. What a frickin joke, and if it wasn't our country, I would say it is Pravda.

By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's main disaster-response agency apologized on Friday for having its employees pose as reporters in a hastily called news conference on California's wildfires that no news organizations attended.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore its image after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, issued the apology after The Washington Post published details of the Tuesday briefing.

"We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment," FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing, said in a statement. "Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received."

No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency spokesman Aaron Walker said.

A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and offensive to the secretary."

"We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. She said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding those responsible.

The agency had called the briefing with about 15 minutes notice as federal officials headed for southern California to oversee and assist in firefighting and rescue efforts. Reporters were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could not ask questions.

But with no reporters on hand and an agency video camera providing a feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA press employees posed the questions for Johnson that included: "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"

According to Friday's Post account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson replied that he was "very happy with FEMA's response so far."

He also said the agency had the benefit of "good leadership" and other factors, "none of which were present at Katrina." Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security Department during Katrina.

FEMA's administrator during Katrina, Michael Brown, resigned amid widespread criticism over his handling of the disaster, despite U.S. President George W. Bush's initial declaration that he was doing a "heck of a job."

E-mails between Brown and his colleagues over the course of the storm revealed a preoccupation with his media image, including his declaration, "I am a fashion god."

FEMA is reviewing its press procedures and will make changes to ensure they are "straightforward and transparent," Johnson said on Friday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN26366100

[chomerics]

Hey, at least they didn't have any male escorts asking questions :doh: Does anyone else find it funny the party who screamed bloody murder with things like "Wag the Dog" is found doing exactly that for the umpteenth time :doh:

I have always said, if you want to know what the republicans are up to, just look at what they accuse the democrats of doing. What a frickin joke, and if it wasn't our country, I would say it is Pravda.

By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's main disaster-response agency apologized on Friday for having its employees pose as reporters in a hastily called news conference on California's wildfires that no news organizations attended.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore its image after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, issued the apology after The Washington Post published details of the Tuesday briefing.

"We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment," FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing, said in a statement. "Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received."

No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency spokesman Aaron Walker said.

A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and offensive to the secretary."

"We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. She said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding those responsible.

The agency had called the briefing with about 15 minutes notice as federal officials headed for southern California to oversee and assist in firefighting and rescue efforts. Reporters were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could not ask questions.

But with no reporters on hand and an agency video camera providing a feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA press employees posed the questions for Johnson that included: "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"

According to Friday's Post account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson replied that he was "very happy with FEMA's response so far."

He also said the agency had the benefit of "good leadership" and other factors, "none of which were present at Katrina." Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security Department during Katrina.

FEMA's administrator during Katrina, Michael Brown, resigned amid widespread criticism over his handling of the disaster, despite U.S. President George W. Bush's initial declaration that he was doing a "heck of a job."

E-mails between Brown and his colleagues over the course of the storm revealed a preoccupation with his media image, including his declaration, "I am a fashion god."

FEMA is reviewing its press procedures and will make changes to ensure they are "straightforward and transparent," Johnson said on Friday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN26366100

[Stophovr6]

Those responsible should be fired.

Fema did a good job it seems, I'm not sure why they felt the need to do something like this.

[Stophovr6]

Those responsible should be fired.

Fema did a good job it seems, I'm not sure why they felt the need to do something like this.

[Larry]

Um, I get the impression that at least one possible spin on this was "we needed to get some information out, there wasn't time to assemble a press breifing, so we had some of our people "ask" the FAQs"

(Not saying I believe it. But I suppose it could be possible. Why the "interviewee" couldn't have simply said "here are some questions that people have been asking me", I don't know.)

[Larry]

Um, I get the impression that at least one possible spin on this was "we needed to get some information out, there wasn't time to assemble a press breifing, so we had some of our people "ask" the FAQs"

(Not saying I believe it. But I suppose it could be possible. Why the "interviewee" couldn't have simply said "here are some questions that people have been asking me", I don't know.)

[Corcaigh]

Um, I get the impression that at least one possible spin on this was "we needed to get some information out, there wasn't time to assemble a press breifing, so we had some of our people "ask" the FAQs"

(Not saying I believe it. But I suppose it could be possible. Why the "interviewee" couldn't have simply said "here are some questions that people have been asking me", I don't know.)

I work with press and analysts a lot. We hand out the FAQ, not role play it. :laugh:

[Corcaigh]

Um, I get the impression that at least one possible spin on this was "we needed to get some information out, there wasn't time to assemble a press breifing, so we had some of our people "ask" the FAQs"

(Not saying I believe it. But I suppose it could be possible. Why the "interviewee" couldn't have simply said "here are some questions that people have been asking me", I don't know.)

I work with press and analysts a lot. We hand out the FAQ, not role play it. :laugh:

[TrumanB]

I say they bring Michael Brown back to fix this problem.

[TrumanB]

I say they bring Michael Brown back to fix this problem.

[Sarge]

And yet, people think the government will run health care perfectly

[Sarge]

And yet, people think the government will run health care perfectly

[ACW]

And yet, people think the government will run health care perfectly

Or, for that matter, effectively manage a war with Iraq.

[ACW]

And yet, people think the government will run health care perfectly

Or, for that matter, effectively manage a war with Iraq.

[Oldskool]

Or, for that matter, effectively manage a war with Iraq.

or effectively pass out preventive birth control.

[Oldskool]

Or, for that matter, effectively manage a war with Iraq.

or effectively pass out preventive birth control.

[VBHOGG]

fake news conference? Very strange. How could they think this wouldn't get out?

[VBHOGG]

fake news conference? Very strange. How could they think this wouldn't get out?

[twa]

Hey, at least they didn't have any male escorts asking questions :doh: Does anyone else find it funny the party who screamed bloody murder with things like "Wag the Dog" is found doing exactly that for the umpteenth time :doh:

I have always said, if you want to know what the republicans are up to, just look at what they accuse the democrats of doing. What a frickin joke, and if it wasn't our country, I would say it is Pravda.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN26366100

:2cents:

I guess I should add they should fire anyone that knowingly participated in this idiocy

[twa]

Hey, at least they didn't have any male escorts asking questions :doh: Does anyone else find it funny the party who screamed bloody murder with things like "Wag the Dog" is found doing exactly that for the umpteenth time :doh:

I have always said, if you want to know what the republicans are up to, just look at what they accuse the democrats of doing. What a frickin joke, and if it wasn't our country, I would say it is Pravda.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN26366100

:2cents:

I guess I should add they should fire anyone that knowingly participated in this idiocy

[Ancalagon the Black]

I feel dirty defending the government, but I do have to point out that the thread title is awfully misleading. The news wasn't fake, just the conference.

[Ancalagon the Black]

I feel dirty defending the government, but I do have to point out that the thread title is awfully misleading. The news wasn't fake, just the conference.

[Head]

Why are people finding away to blame this on the republicans? Just curious, seriously.

I also like the poeple ****ing at the government for not doing certain things, and blaming Bush, when he can't order help that isn't asked for, because states, especially California, would complain that the feds were overstepping their boundaries.

[Head]

Why are people finding away to blame this on the republicans? Just curious, seriously.

I also like the poeple ****ing at the government for not doing certain things, and blaming Bush, when he can't order help that isn't asked for, because states, especially California, would complain that the feds were overstepping their boundaries.

[Johnny Punani]

Talk about trying to make something out of nothing...

It's one thing to pull something like this trying to give misinformation, but since everyone already knows the jist of what happened the excuse (while being stupid in itself) is understandable.

Sounds like FEMA was mad they didn't have anyone show up to their news conf...