Armstrong Williams was paid to influence the election.

[Kingshakabobo]

Why is everyone concentrating on the NCLB initiative as if it was the ultimate target?

Yes, the NCLB is what he was paid to tout but the goal was Chimp's re-election. If my math is correct, the initiative already passed and Williams was paid to shill for Bush via the NCLB since NCLB was a major "selling point" for Bush and his re-election.

They didn't have some altruistic education goal. This was borderline banana republic influencing of the press.

Am I missing something here?

[TacticalPeek]

1. Dead on.

Is there a prosecutor in the house?!

[Rican1]

3. I'm sure Alberto Gonzales will take this charges very seriously

[LWolf]

2. er...

NCLB is not "some altruistic educational goal" anymore than PNAC is about social and economic justice. I don't believe NCLB was a major selling point for Bush; I don't think NCLB ranks high on reasons why people cast votes for him.

It is also not the only example of using the press to influence the media's coverage of NCLB.

I don't think this was "borderline" influencing of the press; I think Bush crossed that border a long time ago. I think he's been using the press to influence perceptions of all of his policies. I want to know who else he bought in the last 4 years, and how many other propaganda pieces he spent public money on.

I wonder who he bought while he was governor of TX?

He's been caught paying mainstream media to promote pro-NCLB propaganda; let's nail him on that and go digging for other examples.

[stanwyck]

7. what do you think the chances are

that our taxes went to pay other rightwing hate-talkers? I have trouble believing that Williams is the only one...but even the Bushies wouldn't be stupid enough to pay the big guns like O'Reilly or Limbaugh. Would they? Of course, they did finance the Swiftboar Liars Club when they attacked McCain and then Kerry. Of course, that was private money....wasn't it? The Bushies wouldn't have used tax money for their Swiftboat Unemployed Need The Money Liars, would they?
Questions. Questions.

[LWolf]

8. I think it's probable.

He didn't have to pay the big guns; they've been doing the job longer than he's been on the job.

I'd say that we should be looking for more smaller time conservative pundits that don't have the big name yet.

[Starlight]

9. "He didn't have to pay the big guns"

Whose to say they haven't been receiving money from the GOP for decades? In fact, I'd be willing to bet many of them HAVE been. It would certainly explain a lot...

[spanone]

11. We have a right-wing editorialist in our Local. Who knows????

[Ilsa]

10. The funeral industry bought and paid for shrub when he was

goober of Texas. Google "funeralgate".

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. I want to know

how much rush was paid. He's a much bigger name than Williams. I'll bet he was worth at least a million $$.

And coulter. Her 'good looks' should have guaranteed her a big check.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. "How much is that darkie in the window; I do hope that darkie's for sale."

Hiding behind the cultural unwillingness to question those who're non-white, the right continually enlists point-people to do their dirty work. Should any objections crop up, they can be dismissed as racism.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Best comment I have read yet

on this whole Williams deal. Beautifully stated!!

[rehema]

16. Clarence Thomas is a perfect example of your comments

Remember during his confirmation hearing, Thomas said racism was the reasin he was being attacked.

[Kingshakabobo]

17. Dead on.

Up is down war is peace etc.

[stray cat]

5. You are right. I missed the obvious.

He didn't need help on passing no child left behind - he needed the right spin and spinner for the election

[oldtime dfl_er]

6. the only thing you're missing is that it was your money

This ruse was paid for with taxpayer money. And if as you say, it was intended to influence the election (which I believe), then it's a violation of campaign finance, among other things.



www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. You are exactly right

There is no need to promote NCLB!! It is a fucking mandate, we don't need to be persuaded to abide by it or to even approve of it.

I shut a freeper up earlier today when I told him this was as wrong as if the shrub administration paid a journalist to write columns encouraging citizens to file their tax returns.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. he was paid with taxpayers money too!!! we paid for bush*s propaganda

this makes me very fucking MAD!

[w4rma]

18. "borderline"? I'd hate to see what actually crosses the line if this

is considered "borderline" by anyone.

[Kingshakabobo]

19. Borderline Banana republic was what I said.

As in, next step: nationalize the press.

[w4rma]

20. Pointed noted and agreed with. (nt)

[Octafish]

21. Who ELSE!?!

Get them all out, now!

[mvd]

22. Not missing anything

It's the Bush crime family at work again!

[NVMojo]

23. it was just one of Bush's talking points issues for the election ...you're

right about that. If they approach it that way, can't they get the jerkhole for election violations too????