Last Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency faked a news briefing about their response to the California wildfires. Really. There was a script and questions came from FEMA employees. Turns out no actual reporters were present. So sure, it was the week before Halloween, but I just don't think this is the right venue for make believe.
I'd prefer our government stick with reality TV, but maybe readers have your own answer to this question from the 'conference'...
'Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?'
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By David Michaels
It's the big news, at a FEMA press briefing FEMA employees threw softball questions to give the appearance of answering questions from the press.
Welcome to the world of Potemkin press conferences. FEMA held a press conference...with itself (italics mine):
Very Steven Colbert-ish. "FEMA -- great federal agency or the greatest federal agency?"
Even Chertoff has denounced this in no uncertain terms.
This seems like some underling's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea. (Children's book enthusiasts will catch the reference to a book by Judith Viorst.)
As EJ Dionne put it, "it's a visual lie". So what else is new...
Didn't seem to hurt the FEMA PR guy's career.
Actually, maybe I spoke too soon.
To be this dishonest is pretty bad. But to be this stoopid, is really kinda worse.