Did Pat Buchanan REALLY just defend a gay male prostitute on National TV?

[IdaBriggs]

Hardball with Chris Matthews -- Pat said he's okay with Gannon because at least he's asking the questions!!!

On Edit: (A Rough Transcript by Me)

Chris: "Did you have any ringers in the Nixon White House or Reagan White House -- anybody you planted in the White House press room?"

Pat: "No - there were people, reporters and columnists and others who were deeply devoted to Nixon and people who we would go to and say look, the president's got something to say on this issue..."

Chris: "Sure, but they represented a news organization."

Pat: "They were legitimate columnists and commentators."

Chris: "How does that compare to this?"

Pat: "They've got a new world of journalism, Chris. You've got websites, like you've got Andrew Sullivan who does a website and Salon.com and all these new things."

Chris: "But why is this guy operating on an alias?"

Pat: "I don't know." (laughs)

Chris: "And why would you defend it?"

Pat: "Well, the point is --"

Chris: "I mean, a byline (Pat tries to interrupt with "I'm saying"), Pat, a byline is a byline. You put your name on the article -- your street Creed on that article, and your good name. If its somebody else's name on the article, what does it possibly mean?"

Pat: "Look, I think as long as the Secret Service knows who this guy is, it doesn't bother me that he's using a different name -- that he writes under a different name."

Chris: "Does it bother you that the White House is playing ball with what looks like a ringer?"

Pat: "uh --"

Chris: "A guy asking phony questions that are softballs and teeing up stupid questions for the White House press secretary?"

Pat: "So what? McClellan's answering the questions and the President's answering the questions. You get the same -- I mean, you are going to get an answer from the President of the United States and legitimate reporters decide --

Chris: "What would you do if the other side was doing this?"

Pat: "Well, my guess is -- look -- "

Chris: "Would you say -- if you could break this story in a column of yours, and you dug this thing up that they had a ringer in there in say, the Clinton White House wouldn't you think that a good story?"

(then some talk about how when folks are campaigning, each side tries to make the other one look stupid)

Later: Pat says "Its harmless!"

[jasmeel]

1. WTF!!??

[AlCzervik]

2. he defended another rightwing shill, thats all, they closed ranks.

[mwb970]

3. I was disappointed in Pat this time n/t

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

4. I don't think Pat knows what an 'escort' service really is...LOL nt

[charlie]

5. That's a twofer

Pat not only thinks gays are animals, the mere thought of pornography makes him apoplectic --- FILTH! SEWAGE!! PTUI!

He's reeeally being a good soldier today.

[indianablue]

6. Even Tweety said Pat defended the indefensible. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. But he got shut down in the end.

Bottomline, the White House press briefs are already weak on information, so it's too tempting to turn the cameras on the characters in the press room to make them the story. Which defeats the purpose of the White House press briefings.

[slor]

8. Hey, maybe Pat likes a good...

mandate too, from time to time.

[IdaBriggs]

9. I'm kicking for the editing I did with the transcript. Woo, me! nt

[deacon]

10. yep, LOL-- he is now a defender of male prostitution! n/t

[IdaBriggs]

11. Pat: "It's Harmless!"