[Drango]

The term "state-run media" is normally associated with nations that control and censor its media outlets such as China and North Korea.

And NPR/PBS.

[OldFriend]

Any comments about Dan Rather's producer coordinating their fake doc story with the Kerry campaign?

[madfly]

ping

[7.62 x 51mm]

I sent them a letter about their error in omitting the bit about the PR Firm hiring Williams, not the Ed Dept:

"Last week, it was revealed that the Education Department paid commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote its education policies to black audiences."

It'll never see the light of day, as it corrects their lib-dem agenda. But it felt good to say it.

[ken21]

hey! for decades the democrats have owned abccbscnnnbcnprpbs and almost all newspapers.

so, i don't care. deal with the above issue, and then i'll get upset about this one problema.

[onevoter]

The fact is that President Bush can count on the MSM to dissect and condemn any move he makes. It has reached the sad point where a decent person can only get fair press by paying for it. Only the John Kerrys and Bill Clintons of the world can count on a press that smiles on them and refuses to comdemn even the most reprehensible actions on their part. The press has no right to complain about a problem that they, themselves, have created. This is just an example of throwing a temper tantrum because they aren't in complete control of what the public is exposed to.

[steplock]

What I initially read in the reports is that the govt paid for ADVERTISING. And it was all above board as advertising.

Am I right? If so, So WHAT!?!?

[montag813]

Government Media Bribes Must Stop

The Bushies just love to spend our money. $250,000 to Armstrong Williams. $350 million in "aid" to the Tsunami Shakedown. Pretty soon you're talking about real money.

[madfly]

ping

[eno_]

At the very least, Williams should be made to repay the $240,000. We hope pressure continues to stop what's becoming a pattern of covert propaganda by the Bush administration.

OK, then, let's have all the ONDCP money back, too. At least Williams's money came from a department that is not authorized to LIE to the American people.

[philman_36]

The Bush administration has been rapped at least twice by the Government Accountability Office for producing "video news releases" designed to look like news reports to promote its Medicare prescription drug plan and segments about the effects of drug use among young people.
Oh man, have I got an article for everyone to read here!
Dig where it's from...the World Socialist Web Site. And if anyone should be able to readily recognize propaganda it's them.
How the White House and the media package government propaganda as entertainment
Over the past two years an agency of the Clinton White House, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), has secretly worked with all of the commercial television networks to broadcast anti-drug propaganda as part of the story lines of popular, prime time programs.
The networks agreed to weave the government's anti-drug message into TV scripts, in lieu of their legal obligation to broadcast, free of charge, government-sponsored public service ads against drug use.

LOL...too ironic!

[Mr. K]

QUICK! CANCEL BRIBES .. I MEAN FUNDING FOR PBS

[Libertarianize the GOP]

The real threat to a free press is censorship not bribery. Hate speech laws and Political Correctness can eliminate the free expression of ideas. Bribery just assures that the Government's message is heard which is hardly a problem for the government even without bribes. The real concern is whether Armstrong can now be trusted since he was not completely honest with his listeners and readers.

[Still Thinking]

Government Media Bribes Must Stop

Yes, they should get positive media coverage for free like the Marxists do. The present system isn't fair. ;-)

[CyberAnt]

In the first place, it wasn't the "Bush administration". The Dept of Ed hired a marketing firm to help the dept produce commercials in support of the NCLB Act - the marketing firm in turn hired Williams to help promote the issue.

Williams should have disclosed that - he didn't. He didn't disclose that because he already favored the NCLB Act and was willing to help promote it.

This is nothing more than another opportunity for the SLIMY media to diss the President and his admin.

[Waco]

Where do I get my NPR/PBS lollipop? Taxpayer $$$$$$$$ for the NEA? Yep

[F.J. Mitchell]

If 99% of the progrossive media had not been freely putting out propaganda against NCLB, the paid ads explaining it would not have been nessessary.

[Major Matt Mason]

I don't condone this Williams-DOE arrangement, but the libs have quickly forgotten that made-for-TV movie, "A Child's Wish", which was made specifically to shame lawmakers into signing the Family Leave Act. Bill Clinton was featured in the final segment of the movie to give it that extra added oomph for the soccer moms. This movie is certainly as close to propoganda as this current situation.

[oldbrowser]

Last week, it was revealed that the Education Department paid commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote its education policies to black audience

I hate it when they say "it was revealed". How ? By who ?
Where is the documentation ? I'm sure the dems will use the magic words "serious questions have been raised".
First they will run with inflammatory headlines for about a week and then the whole thing just fades away without any retraction.