Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Report: Obama Admin Funded Obamacare Internet Propaganda Campaign
The Blaze ^ | 8-19-11 | Buck Sexton

Posted on 08/19/2011 9:15:20 PM PDT by STARWISE

In a bombshell accusation, the government watchdog group Judicial Watch announced today that the Obama administration used taxpayer money to help orchestrate an internet search engine manipulation campaign specifically promoting Obamacare.

Judicial Watch obtained 2,328 pages of records pursuant to a March 23, 2011, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit.

The FOIA information included correspondence between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Ogilvy Group, the public relations fire hired by the White House to push Obamacare on the American people.

Judicial Watch listed the following as major points of interest from the FOIA request (all bullets quoted):

•The Obama HHS launched a campaign to track Internet searches and to use online search engines such as Google and Yahoo to drive traffic to a government website promoting Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

Using “pay-per-click” advertising tools, such as Google Adwords, HHS purposely targeted for influence people searching the term “Obamacare,” a word that has been described as “disparaging” by political agents of the president.

•According to a budget summary prepared by Ogilvy, from October 2010 through February 2011, the Obama administration spent $1,435,009 on these online advertisements alone, including advertising campaigns with Google and Yahoo, almost $300,000 per month.

•A number of documents address the need to target the Obamacare propaganda campaign to Hispanics, blacks, and women. For example, according to an email from Chris Beakey, Vice President of Ogilvy PR Worldwide, to HHS officials on December 16, 2010, summarizing a conference call,

“You want to utilize the bulk of their paid media efforts (which would include expenditures for Radio One and Univision) on media that reaches African Americans and Hispanics. The money will go farther and these audiences continue to be a top priority.”

•A January 18, 2011, email from Ogilvy to HHS New Media Communications Director Julia Eisman notes with respect to a Spanish banner ad campaign, “I realize we really can’t use the blond mom and child for this audience.”

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton believes strongly that the information above amounts to dishonest tactics by the White House, and perhaps even illegal ones. Fitton wrote on the Judicial Watch site:

“The American people should be disturbed that the Obama administration is using taxpayer funds to try to brainwash people simply searching the Internet for information on health care.

This Big Brother campaign is underhanded, potentially unlawful, and it must be stopped. As the congressional ‘super-committee’ begins negotiations to cut the deficit, this wasteful Obamacare propaganda campaign is the first place they should look.”

There are even more relevant details-including the possibility that $200 million was spent on the Obamacare propaganda campaign in total, available here.

Despite all the time and (apparently taxpayer) money spent to pass the massive “Affordable Care Act” known as Obamacare, a number of Federal courts have struck down the bill on grounds that it is unconstitutional.

A Supreme Court showdown for the signature legislative action of this administration appears inevitable.

But if Judicial Watch is correct, an official inquiry into the misuse of public funds could also be coming.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bhofascism; bloodoftyrants; commiecare; communism; corruption; crushfedgov; cultureofcorruption; cwii; democrats; fraud; google; govtabuse; hatch; hhs; impeach; judicialwatch; lping; obama; obamacare; obamaganda; obamatruthfile; ogilvygroup; palin; propaganda; searchengines; socialistdemocrats; socialisthealthcare; taxes; tyranny; yahoo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last
Get these thugs out of our faces!
1 posted on 08/19/2011 9:15:26 PM PDT by STARWISE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Google loves Zeros.


2 posted on 08/19/2011 9:17:48 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (minds change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

>>>>the Obama administration is using taxpayer funds to try to brainwash people


3 posted on 08/19/2011 9:18:50 PM PDT by ken21 (ruling class dem + rino progressives -- destroying america for 150 years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Didn’t they also pay Andy “You’re Gonna Like It” Griffith to spread the propaganda too?


4 posted on 08/19/2011 9:19:45 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Americans need to wean their government off of its dependence on foreign money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Are you telling me this Obama regime manipulated and lied to the American people??

get outta here!


5 posted on 08/19/2011 9:21:51 PM PDT by max americana (FUBO NATION 2012 FK BARAK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

If you have money in your wallet, please consider donating some of it to Judicial Watch. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB and we all who read and cheer them would do well to support them with some cold cash. What they’re doing for us is not inexpensive.

And what they’re doing may well be one of the ‘little foxes’ that spoil Obama’s vine. [Song of Solomon 2:15]


6 posted on 08/19/2011 9:23:59 PM PDT by HighlyOpinionated (I am a Catholic, A US Citizen, A Patriot, A TEA Partier, An Oath Keeper, A Voter, An Auburn Fan!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Why would “Obamacare” be considered disparaging if the law itself wasn’t a piece of sh^t?


7 posted on 08/19/2011 9:24:14 PM PDT by icanhasbailout (Some people would believe Karl Marx was conservative if he had good hair and ran on the GOP ticket)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

The Admin budget should be reduced by the amount of these illegal expenditures. Then get a special prosecutor to find out WHO authorized this propaganda expenditure.


8 posted on 08/19/2011 9:31:30 PM PDT by Marty62 (Marty60)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Am I surprised that this fake President is using our own tax money to propagandize his DEATHCARE to us??? Not so much.... eat your peas.


9 posted on 08/19/2011 9:35:45 PM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Supplied the bad guys with guns as well.

Impeach this criminal.

Right now, he’s eating Lobster on his vacation while people struggle to make ends meet.

It’s like he won the lottery, but the money is coming out of our pockets.


10 posted on 08/19/2011 9:36:47 PM PDT by Rodney Dangerfield (FU BO, you Chicago thug, punk and empty suit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: onyx; penelopesire; maggief; hoosiermama; SE Mom; Liz; rodguy911; Fred Nerks; Red Steel; ...

.. Ding!


11 posted on 08/19/2011 9:41:32 PM PDT by STARWISE (The overlords are in place .. we are a nation under siege .. pray, go Galt & hunker down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
The question is simple. Is it legal for elected and appointed officials to use taxpayer money to manipulate public opinion?
Yes or no?

There is a world of difference between presenting neutral facts and presenting slanted selected questionable distortions and speculation about future results.

Facts, yes. Propaganda in the form of unsupported "projections?" No.

If it is not illegal, it should be. Where's the Congress on this?

12 posted on 08/19/2011 10:01:52 PM PDT by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

No surprise though.


13 posted on 08/19/2011 10:03:29 PM PDT by Republic_of_Secession.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE
hellthcare
14 posted on 08/19/2011 10:28:25 PM PDT by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

And the idiot Republicans stood and stand, idly by......

The thuggery and treachery that goes on in this renegade administration is astounding, thanks to the corrupt news media that covers for the demonic-rats and obama.


15 posted on 08/19/2011 10:48:10 PM PDT by onyx (If you enjoy FR, support it! If you support Sarah Palin & want on her Busy Ping List, let me know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Snipped from http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_010411/content/01125107.guest.html on January 4, 2011

Would you say it’s corrupt to use taxpayer dollars to buy search results in Google for propaganda purposes, to spread your own lies about your own health care bill, when most people think that the search engine just pulls up what’s the best answer to the question? You know, most people don’t have the slightest idea you can buy search results. They know you can buy ads. Most people don’t know you can buy search results, then you learn that your government’s using your tax dollars to do it to further their own propaganda?


16 posted on 08/19/2011 10:57:36 PM PDT by The Chief (Volunteer Fire Fighter since 1989, 20+ years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

From 2010!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2644733/posts


17 posted on 08/19/2011 11:04:40 PM PDT by The Chief (Volunteer Fire Fighter since 1989, 20+ years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Chief; onyx

Revolting!

What will ever be enough grounds for impeachment???!!!


18 posted on 08/19/2011 11:05:33 PM PDT by STARWISE (The overlords are in place .. we are a nation under siege .. pray, go Galt & hunker down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Judicial Watch might have gotten the actual amounts of OUR money spent, but it’s been common knowledge for a while now!

Lots of links to stories about this at:

http://www.google.com/search?q=obamacare+google+search+results&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a


19 posted on 08/19/2011 11:12:20 PM PDT by The Chief (Volunteer Fire Fighter since 1989, 20+ years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STARWISE

Any means used, no matter how dishonest, to promote someone as wonderful and indispensable as Obama is sooo justified. Any worldly, intelligent person knows this!/sarc


20 posted on 08/19/2011 11:34:18 PM PDT by Bellflower (Judas Iscariot, the first democrat : John 12:4-6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson