Reply #114: Columnist paid to promote Bush policy

[Walt Starr]

Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published January 26, 2005


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A syndicated columnist, who has repeatedly supported the Bush administration's push for a $300 million initiative to encourage marriage, also had a $21,500 federal contract to help promote the proposal, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Maggie Gallagher had a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services. It ran from January through October 2002 and included drafting a magazine article for the department official overseeing the initiative, the Post reported.

"Did I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it?" Gallagher was quoted as saying Tuesday. "I don't know. You tell me."

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501260350jan26,1,610457.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=3&cset=true

That's two, now. I wonder how many were paid to promote the effort to go to war against Iraq? Hopefully we'll get real answers to the FOIA requests to the Pentagon.