Jeff Gannon is a controversial figure.

The mention of his name and everyone I know reacts in one of two ways:

1) Who?
2) OMG he is such as ______. He should take his _____ and shove it ______. I mean _____. Seriously, ______.

You get the point.

So when I approached Jeff to do an interview I knew right away it would be interesting. Interesting because of who he is and interesting because of how he thinks.

As for who Jeff Gannon is - he’s a person.

Before I met him, “JEFF GANNON” seemed such a larger than life persona - a “bad guy” and to many of my friends on the left a symbol of the corrupt nature of those on the right.

Just like many people, I read about Jeff in the Post and heard about him on NPR and saw him on CNN.

But when you meet someone in person - when you look into their eyes and shake their hand - you walk into a different world.

I’m not saying it’s a more honest world. I’m not saying it’s a more personable world. I’m not saying it’s a more understanding world.

But it is a different world.

He’s shorter than me. He dresses nice. He presents himself well. I could never get that from NPR or the New York Times.

He’s actually intelligent. He’s well spoken. He’s passionate about conservative politics. And everytime I see an interview with him the first questions are always about being an ex-escort. I don’t know how I would be able to conduct an interview after being asked about my sex life. Well, I don’t get embarrassed easily so I would probably be fine with it But that’s me - and I’m…different
Now before you berate me for being naive or pandering or whatever you may be thinking because I am not bashing Jeff Gannon, please know that I do understand why he is in the spotlight and I do understand the gravity of what is alleged to have happened and the implications of the situation.

It’s not a good thing - all around - it’s not a good thing.

It’s not a good thing for the freedom of the press (keep in mind a reporter was investigated by Congress for the first time since the McCarthy era) - it’s not a good thing for the White House (being accused of planting journalists) - it’s not a good thing for the reporter (Jeff was followed, harrassed, had his Social Security Number released on the internet, etc).

And it’s not a good thing for us as private citizens (um hello Congress…got any time to work on a better health insurance system…please?).

But when you are face to face with this one person - ONE PERSON - who so many people think of as the devil incarnate you start to wonder.

I mean - he’s shorter than me. Can he really be nouveau satan?

It made me begin to wonder how so many people struggle with the concept of “one person can make a difference” only when the difference is a positive one. When it’s a negative difference everyone is so much more willing to accept one person can be affect the whole world.

And it made me begin to wonder just how much of an effect the media has on me - on us. I didn’t know Jeff Gannon from Adam and yet I had all these pre-conceived notions about him.

Is that a good way to operate? Would I want people to make assumptions about my life and who I am in a similar way? No.

I had never met him. I had never spoken to him. I hadn’t even spent more than 30 seconds trying to understand him before I willingly accepted what I read about him and pushed him into the “probably a bad dude” column in my mind.

Now, I don’t think it’s wrong to make judgements about a situation given all the information you receive on it. But I do think it’s wrong to push away contradictary information when it doesn’t fit into the mold of what you want/expect.

And I think it’s wrong to not hear what a person has to say - in full - before making a judgement.

Nowadays it seems like so many people in the media and people in general are more concerned with one-upping the other person or tripping them up - more concerned with coming out the “winner” in an interview - than with getting to the truth or dealing with substance.

Substance is hard. “It’s hard work.”

There is a lot I don’t know about in the world. I’m not afraid to admit that. But I know that Jeff Gannon is not the devil.

He’s still not in the “good dude” column in my mind, but I don’t think he’s some sort of evil alien either.

I think he was just a small time reporter with a sorted past that got a great gig - the White House - felt the need to support the conservative ideology because he felt the liberal ideology was more than covered by the media, caught the attention of the media with a softball question to the president, got investigated, his past caught up with him, and he became a symbol for the left, a problem for the right, and caused trouble for himself.

I could be wrong - I’m willing to accept different interpretations, ideas, and information. But PLEASE let it be constructive. Calling someone an asshole is easy - explaining why they are takes more work but gains you more respect. Well, my respect at least.

As for how Jeff thinks…like I said in my past posts I’m not in total disagreement with him on all issues. Jeff seemed to me to be open minded enough to talk through issues and have his opinions affected.

But I will admit, on some level it is hard for me to take someone’s views at face value when they have such a conservative ideology and such a liberal past. It’s a contradiction in my mind.

People can change - I know that - but I don’t understand how you don’t take pieces o