FEMA Faces Firestorm for Phony Presser

It's certainly one way to avoid the tough questions.


The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is getting serious flak after it let staffers pose as journalists and lob softball questions at one of its top officials at a hastily organized "press briefing" on the California wildfires.

Deputy administrator Harvey Johnson took "questions" from four people identified by the Washington Post as three directors and a press aide, who then didn't allow any questions from the actual journos in the room.

The White House strongly criticized FEMA, and the agency apologized for its "error in judgment." FEMA, of course, was once run by Michael Brown, whose qualification for the job was his experience in running the International Arabian Horse Association. He later resigned.

Tags: FEMA

Reader Comments

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46. I am frightened! None of us know the truth anymore. Is England any better cause I am really thinking about leaving the USA

Posted at 5:39PM on Oct 27th 2007 by victoria

47. Just think - we are paying for these idiots.

Posted at 6:04PM on Oct 27th 2007 by why

48. My God! When will this country wake up?This is the most corrupt administration ever! They are no better than the worst of the worst in foreign countries. Iraq, Katrina, Afghanistan now he's working on more madness by possibly invading (or worse yet-bombing) Iran. Everyone is so fixated on Britney and Lindsay they can't see how close Bush is pushing us to World War III and nuclear bombings. (Hell,he can't even pronounce 'nuclear'! We used to be the greatest country in the world, loved and respected. Now we are a joke and hated! Thanks George. Great job Georgie! Impeach now before it is too late!!

Posted at 6:23PM on Oct 27th 2007 by just me

49. I've read that the illuminati are a group of people running the entire world. They control the World bank; decide who's going to run each country; ( and have people murdered if they don't want that one); and control things like what oil is going to sell for. The people who believe this, are the ones who believe in all those other conspiracy theories. I'm not one of them.

Posted at 6:24PM on Oct 27th 2007 by GRANDMOM DIANE

50. THANKS TMZ! this is a good post!!I know its not "celeb" related, but it is a good scandal. want more crazy info on FEMA? check out....http://www.heartsongs.org/FEMA/ or google "FEMA-- secret government"

Posted at 7:57PM on Oct 27th 2007 by DRae

51. 14. You mean to tell me you guys can't find a way to blame this on black people too? Wow usually when I read the comment section on ANY article, its the Black people's fault. I'm sure you guys will find something ignorant to say before its over.

Posted at 9:45AM on Oct 27th 2007 by LaWanda


LaWanda, seems that you are the ignorant one tonight. BTW, if the shoe fits, wear it.

Posted at 7:58PM on Oct 27th 2007 by FEMAhater

52. Google.............Bohemian Grove

This is OUR Government!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 8:32PM on Oct 27th 2007 by AttitudeDude

53. unbelievable!!! after all this organization been though this is what they come up with, in a natural desaster???they werent even being critizise...all involve should get the ax...

Posted at 9:54PM on Oct 27th 2007 by roughdaddy

54. I suspected they were softball questions when that one dude asked for the spelling of Smokey Bear.

Posted at 9:55PM on Oct 27th 2007 by wasted days and wasted nights

55. LaWanda---see posts 28 and 29

Posted at 10:04PM on Oct 27th 2007 by whoever

56. FEMA has a fake news conference. The fake American president actually represents Mexico and Israel.

Posted at 10:52PM on Oct 27th 2007 by daviesrambler

57. and WHAT is new about this? The last 6 years have been nothing but fake press conferences and LIES......

Posted at 1:00AM on Oct 28th 2007 by 6 years of fake press conferences

58. BUSH Getting elected was the very first of ALL the lies, now there are WAY too many to even write down.

Posted at 1:24AM on Oct 28th 2007 by lies

59. King George says he is going to FIRE anyone that leaked the CIA agent.....and what he gets off scott free....The lies begin at the top.....the cokehead pres and his cronies losers......have run our country into shame and corruption.... that it will take many generations to repair what 2 stupid humans did.....Dumb and dumber running the WH.

Posted at 1:29AM on Oct 28th 2007 by remember Scotter Libby

60.
Blaming this admin for all of the corruption is just stupid, blind and ignorant.
Your so eager to have YOUR chosen administration take over you scare more people away with your thinking then align them to your side.
This red or blue crap is out dated, narrow visioned and disfunctional.
The Clinton admin had it's share of corruption and shares the blame for our boarders wide open today.

Posted at 2:06AM on Oct 28th 2007 by CMarks

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