FEMA's Nürnberg Defense & The WaPo's Page A-19 Coverage

"I was just following orders" isn't just for Nazis anymore.

FEMA Press Secretary Directed Fake News Briefing, Inquiry Finds

By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 9, 2007; Page A19

An internal investigation into a fake news conference staged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency during last month's California wildfires found that the agency's press secretary directed aides to pose as reporters, secretly coached them during the briefing and ended the event after a final, scripted question was asked, according to a senior FEMA official.

Wow! That's an important story, WaPo!

And there's more...

"Those are career people. They should have stepped up and said something, they really should have. But their bosses said 'Do this,' and they did it -- some reluctantly, but there's no excuses for that," (David) Paulison said. He called the impact on FEMA's credibility "devastating."

Naturally...

The review "found nothing that indicated malicious or preconceived intent to deceive the media or the public," said FEMA's acting director of external affairs, Russ Knocke, who conducted the inquiry.

FEMA perpetrates a big ol' whammy, and...

Page A-19, WaPo?

Disgusting.

Fireside chat radio listeners were better informed than your readers.

Truly heavy sigh.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.