Americablog

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AMERICAblog is a liberal American blog founded by John Aravosis in April, 2004, with several co-bloggers. The blog helped expose Jeff Gannon in 2005, and in 2006 helped make cell phone privacy an issue by obtaining Gen. Wesley Clark's call records. The blog focuses on U.S. politics, including gay rights, the Iraq war, and Bush administration scandals.

[edit] Members

John in DC - John Aravosis, Democratic activist and political consultant, served five years as the senior foreign policy adviser [1] to United States Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Joe in DC - Joe Sudbay, former gun control activist, held staff positions with Violence Policy Center [2] and Handgun Control, Inc.[3]
AJ in DC - A.J. Rossmiller, a former Department of Defense civilian intelligence office who had decorated duty in Iraq. Author of "Still Broken: A Recruit's Inside Account of Intelligence Failures, From Baghdad to the Pentagon," published by Presidio Press.
Chris in Paris - a who lives in Paris, France
Cliff Schecter - political consultant, TV analyst, Huffington Post blogger[4]

[edit] History

AMERICAblog first received widespread media attention after it revealed that Jeff Gannon, a member of the White House press corps with a reputation for asking 'softball' questions at opportune moments for Press Secretary Scott McClellan, was actually James Guckert and had advertised his services as a gay male escort.^[1]^[2]

In 2006, Aravosis learned that anyone could buy someone else's cell phone records, as advertised by several websites. He purchased the call records of former Presidential candidate and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO General Wesley Clark for $89.95, bringing the issue widespread attention.^[3] In September 2006, California passed a state law banning the practice of pretexting, or pretending to be someone else, used by the websites, with the bill's sponsor specifically citing the AMERICAblog coverage.^[4] Clark became an advocate of cell record privacy bills in Congress.^[5] Within months, Congress passed a law restricting these records.

AMERICAblog has courted controversy within the gay community for its support of 'outing' gay Republican Party workers who are seen as supporting anti-gay legislation and attempts to prevent same-sex marriage in particular. The blog had an adversarial relationship with the former editor of the Washington Blade, Chris Crain.^{[citation needed]}

AMERICAblog has also spearheaded a successful campaign to divide the democratic party to help the GOP and also is against reductions of gay rights, protections and community support from companies placating religious right organizations. Notable incidents include Microsoft's withdrawal of its support for state and federal gay civil rights legislation^{[citation needed]}, and Ford's decision to stop advertising in gay oriented publications^{[citation needed]}. After AMERICAblog launched campaigns criticizing both companies, management at the companies reversed their earlier anti-gay policy decisions. In January 2007, during Super Bowl XLI, AMERICAblog joined TowleRoad.com in calling homophobic a Snickers candy ad that aired during the game. The ad showed two men repulsed by an accidental "gay" kiss, then showed the men violently attacking each other. The candymaker pulled the ad, one of a series they had intended to run again.^[6]

67.42.162.197 (talk) 22:42, 3 June 2008 (UTC)==References==

^ Howard Kurtz. "Online Nude Photos Are Latest Chapter In Jeff Gannon Saga", The Washington Post, February 16, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. "The latest developments were first reported by John Aravosis, a liberal political consultant and gay activist who has a Web site called americablog.org. 'What struck me initially was the hypocrisy angle,' Aravosis said. He said he was offended by what he called Gannon's 'antigay' writing."
^ Dan Froomkin. "Guckert Watch", The Washington Post, February 16, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. "Joe Strupp wrote in Editor & Publisher ... 'In addition, evidence emerged on the site Americablog yesterday suggesting that Guckert not only set up sex sites but also offered his services as a male prostitute. When asked by E&P today about such accusations, Gannon declined to confirm or deny. "I am not going to talk about that," he said.'"
^ Frank Main. "Blogger Buys Presidential Candidate's Call List", Chicago Sun-Times, January 13, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. Republished on the Common Dreams NewsCenter.
^ Don Thompson. "New law will ban 'pretexting' to obtain phone records", Associated Press, September 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. Published by the San Francisco Chronicle.
^ Kristina Dell. "The Spy in Your Pocket", TIME magazine, March 19, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
^ Dyana Bagby. "Many Not Snickering Over Super Bowl Ad", New York Blade Online, February 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.