Bill Press Denied Pass To Congressional Galleries

Uncredentialed?

FOX NEWS isn't the only media entity running into resistance from the insiders in WASHINGTON: DIAL GLOBAL morning talker and longtime political analyst and former Democratic Party figure BILL PRESS has been rejected for a credential for the Congressional Radio-Television Galleries. POLITICO's MICHAEL CALDERONE reports that PRESS was sent a letter denying his application due to a passage on his website that was deemed to constitute "advocacy language," urging readers to call Sen. JOE LIEBERMAN (I-CT) to tell him "he's WRONG on health care."

PRESS told CALDERONE that he found the decision "bizarre." "I have to say, being rejected because I express an opinion, in addition to doing my reporting, is unprecedented," PRESS said, noting that the executive committee board that rejected him includes representatives from AL-JAZEERA and SALEM RADIO NETWORK. "I think being called biased by AL-JAZEERA is like being called ugly by a frog," PRESS said. "And SALEM is all right-wing."

PRESS can repply for credentials, and three new board members -- from CNN, PACIFICA, and NPR -- have replaced members from SALEM, BONNEVILLE News WTOP/WASHINGTON, and PBS' "NewsHour" on the panel.

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