Bush administration propaganda efforts come under increased scrutiny

[rodeodance]

good, some agencies are going after BushCo and his propaganda at tax payer expense!!!

http://mediamatters.org/items/200501140006#3

Bush administration propaganda efforts come under increased scrutiny

The controversy over the Bush administration's use of secret government-funded propaganda to promote its policy positions raged on this week, amid new disclosures about payments to Armstrong Williams and for fake television "news reports."......



Also this week, a member of the Federal Communications Commission said the agency should investigate whether Williams broke the law by failing to disclose the $240,000 he took to promote Bush administration policy. And United States Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) wrote to President Bush urging Williams's removal from the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

Meanwhile, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed a series of Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIAs) with 22 government agencies, seeking records of contracts with public relations firms, in an effort to determine whether there are additional examples of the Bush administration secretly financing covert propaganda:

CREW has now filed FOIAs with 22 agencies requesting copies of all contracts with public relation firms, including Ketchum and Fleishman-Hillard. Both firms have contracted with the government resulting in similar controversies, and in violation of the Publicity and Propaganda clause. The Williams case is the fourth that has become public. Previously, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the Department of Health and Human Services for having Ketchum create fake news footage in support of the new Medicare Bill. GAO is also investigating another contract between Ketchum and DOE and a contract between the Office...

[frankrizzo]

1. FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS

I recently read this article on
www.thecatholicchallenge.com/768articles.htm
Any comments or opinions?





FOR THE WRONG REASONS

by Thomas W. Rezanka, Esq.



Some people voted for George Bush because he was anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. Some voted for him because they refused to believe that he lied America into the war with Iraq. Some voted for him because they couldnít quite warm-up to John Kerry. Some voted for George Bush because their prejudice would not let them vote for a Catholic. Some voted for George Bush even though they donít agree with a great many of his decisions. Some voted for George Bush because he is a Republican, and if the Republican Party ran a monkey, this voter would still vote Republican. Some voted for George Bush because we are at war, and they believe that we should not change Presidents in mid-stream. Some voted for George Bush because they believe the big lie advanced by the U.S. Catholic Bishops that voting for John Kerry, a pro-choice candidate, was a sin. Some voted for George Bush because he is more like them. Some voted for George Bush because he is adamant about his positions. Some voted for George Bush even though they recognized that a man who never admits that he is wrong can be a dangerous leader. Some voted for George Bush because the responsibilities of their jobs and family keep them from reading a daily paper or from watching the news each night. Some voted for George Bush because they are inherently selfish and would never consider what is best for their community or their nation as a whole. Some voted for George Bush because they refuse to believe that his administrative rule changes or lack of enforcement of laws or rules (which were put into place to protect all of us) is now actually endangering our health and general welfare. Some voted for George Bush because they are not concerned that 44 million Americans are without health insurance or that over the last 3.5 years between 3 to 5 million more Americans are now classified as living in poverty. Some voted for George Bush because they never heard he wanted to re-classify mercury as a non-toxic or less toxic substance. Some voted for George Bush because of pride; the pride that tells you we are Americans, we donít have to consider the views of people outside of our country who disagree with us or who despise our leader. Some voted for George Bush because he ran the most deceptive political advertising in our history, which deflected attention from his own dismal record. Some voted for George Bush because they believe he is right. Some people voted for George Bush because they are unaware of the number of political appointments that he made of people from industry who are now regulating those same industries. Unfortunately for all of us as Americans, this means that George W. Bush was re-elected mostly for all of the wrong reasons. The question now is: Are we going to actively participate in what our President and other elected representatives are doing?