Bush Says Won't Pay Commentators to Promote Agenda

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=3&u=/nm/20050126/pl_nm/bush_education_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Wednesday ordered his Cabinet secretaries not to pay media commentators to promote his legislative agenda, saying payments by the Education Department were improper and new leadership was now in place.

In his most direct criticism to date, Bush leveled blame at officials at the Education Department for paying conservative commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to tout his landmark education plan, "No Child Left Behind."

Bush said it was an improper use of government funds, and told a news conference: "I expect my Cabinet secretaries to make sure that that practice doesn't go forward. There needs to be independence."

Federal communications regulators earlier this month opened an investigation into whether Williams violated a ban on "payola" in promoting the education law.
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Bush goes on to say "We didn't know about this in the White House."

He is a perpetual liar.

pay commentators. (Since we got caught.)

Why should we believe a word this man says?

making EXTRA sure nothing happens to the chickens.

Funny how the second bribed columnist just came out of the woodwork and admitted she was paid by the US government (Dept of HHS) to promote Bush's pathetic, useless, and borderline unconstitutional marriage initiatives forced on welfare participants.

now happening and won't happen in the future. Thank you Mr. President!

Like hell I am!

Let's hear what Ron Paige has to say, since Chimpy was blaming him for this "mistake."

rimshot.

payola. Wonder why. Couldn't be because she is syndicated in the flagship right wing magazine, National Review.

Armstrong is outed, Michael Powell resigns, Gallagher comes clean and King Chimpy finally "orders" his secretaries not to pay for propaganda. I firmly believe there are many more "journalists" reports getting ready to hit the fan and this is a preemptive strike. When more come out, Chimpy, Cheney, etc. will say, "We didn't know anything about it and we told them to stop. End of story."

Has there ever been an administration more clueless? WMD's, cost of war, social security, journalists, the list goes on and on - and the worse part of it - Chimpy and the head honchos "KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT." You listen to their excuses and you would think that the inmates are running the asylum.

They can't have it both ways - either they have condoned illegal behavior or they do not have control of their administration. No one ever has to give an accounting for their mistakes - and ALL republicans are evidently comfortable with that. Arg-g-g-g-gh!

"suggested" his son resign so he doesn't get caught up in the middle of it all? :shrug:

They can't have it both ways - either they have condoned illegal behavior or they do not have control of their administration. No one ever has to give an accounting for their mistakes - and ALL republicans are evidently comfortable with that.

No, they're not comfortable with it...they're apparently all "bought and paid for" in one way or another is all.

bush life story. he screws up, someone else pays.

like the old chinese emporer. if he did something that required punishment they would beat a surrogate. everything old is new again in the age of bush.

work just as well, and produce the same results as payoffs? Just wondering? :shrug:

The corporations own the media that pushes the agenda the corporations want Americans to get in line for. Gee, I wonder what individual journalists will push?

Damned few are honest enough to bite the hand that feeds them. Hats off to those brave few. They are truly patriots.

Yeah, in today's media, just receiving a paycheck is being on the take

....but you're absolutely correct! *damn*damn*damn*

I, more than ever, respect those brave few who will stand with integrity!

it doesn't happen again. Meanwhile has anyone seen the Three Little Pigs?

paid "bribery money"...oops, I mean made a donation to the Black congregations/churches because they share the same values last week. So you see it all legal "donations"--hmmm?

You can't tell me that they aren't being paid. Wouldn't that be wonderful -- Al Gore and his media friends can buy the network when it goes belly-up.

anymore journalists.

He can just lean on them now, he doesn't have to pay them anymore. :grr:

He'll give cushy jobs to their relatives or big fat government contracts to the corporations they work for.

Where is the list?

I wish out leaders were a bit more visible and vocal on the subject. We know the media won't exactly be on a crusade to get at the truth.

Faux , cnn and msnbc will continue to do the WH’s bidding because of tax incentives for Corp. office…..and then there is the faith-based funds for tolling-the-line pastors….payments will still go out…just maybe not the direct Armstrong types…

"I take care of my kids!"

You're suppose to do that you moron! You don't get extra credit for that!

"I won't support torture (anymore)."

It's not very damn reassuring that you even have to MAKE that statement.

that it is criminal.

Or that he would be seeking to charge those who violated the LAW.

My God! If this were Clinton, we'd have half the fucking lawyers in the country filing complaints and suing everyone in the White House from the butler, to the fucking carpet cleaner, and Tim Russert would be up "big dogs" ass with a fucking microscope.

Plus 24/7 on AM radio you'd hear that even if it wasn't illegal, it sure as hell is INCOMPETENT! Who hired these cabinet members anyway?

Liberal media my ass!

Sorry, but this admin has caused me to use the "F" word three times in one sentence.

How pissed are you?

exactly why Mr Bush?

You have lied from day one, why stop now?

and I approved this Reuters article.

and I am a fucking idiot.

I'll give the shrub one thing -- he's got the biggest set of balls in the world.

"Since you guys caught us, I have ordered my staff to not do it again."

The sad thing is, that is all he has to say...no one will challenge him.

Exit Rod "Whoremaster" Paige, enter Margaret "Hysteriamonger" Spellings:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1183576

This is just ridiculous. "I am shocked...SHOCKED!...to find out that pimping is going on in this administration. And misuse of taxpayer funds. And skulduggery and intrigue. And...SHOCKED! SHOCKED I TELL YOU! Don't you see me pounding on the podium? SHOCKED!"

Whatever,

The Plaid Adder

That doesn't mean Rove won't get someone else to fork over the dough.

If you listen really carefully, you can actually hear the chimp saying what he really means:

"I'm sorry we got caught, and from now on we'll make sure we do it more covertly so you won't be able to trace it."

???

And wasn't he under an oath when it happened BEFORE last week?

and I won't take a crap on the porch of his ranch. At some point, accountability HAS to be an issue. Sure, it is with us, but we're the real people. 9/11? The CIA screwed up. WMD's? Intelligence outside of the oval office screwed up. Cost of war? Thats the price of spreading democracy and liberty and freedom and freedom and freedom and freedom...oh sorry, turned Republican for a second.

I wasn't even the biggest fan of Clinton during his term, but can you imagine if this allegation came out while he was in office. Tarred and Feathered!

Listen to your parents. "Don't believe everything you hear." Of course that is before you grew up and they began to watch Faux News.

www.blackeyedsundays.com

I wasn't even the biggest fan of Clinton during his term, but can you imagine if this allegation came out while he was in office. Tarred and Feathered!

No doubt. I'm amazed this story has gotten as little coverage as it has.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050126/ap_on_el_ge/gop_media_





Republican National Committee (news - web sites) Chairman Ken Mehlman sent a fund-raising e-mail Wednesday telling supporters donations are needed to help Bush advance his second-term agenda.

"The president has great goals for our country: a growing economy, strong homeland and national defense, tort and Social Security (news - web sites) reform and affordable health care.


But we need your help to get the president's message past the liberal media filter and directly to the American people," wrote Mehlman, Bush's 2004 campaign manager. Mehlman asked donors to give $25 or more.

We're supposed to believe this, why?
The Professor

what he meant was that cash will not be used anymore. from now on any media whore willing to bend over and shill for bushco will simply be given a cabinet position when they are caught.

Did the federal communications regulators stumble onto something here? Like shrub could ever tell the truth.

countless cities stuck with the security bills whenever he campaigned. Why is SS website changed to promote privitazation?

no matter if he pays them or not. They know which side their bread is buttered on.

One of those "only sorry we got caught" moments...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050126/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_paid_columnists_4

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Wednesday ordered his Cabinet secretaries not to hire columnists to promote their agendas after disclosure that a second writer was paid to tout an administration initiative.

The president said he expects his agency heads will "make sure that that practice doesn't go forward."

"All our Cabinet secretaries must realize that we will not be paying commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet," Bush said at a news conference.

Bush's remarks came a day after syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher apologized to readers for not disclosing a $21,500 contract with the Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Department to help create materials promoting the agency's $300 million initiative to encourage marriage.

... prescription drug bill was passed.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&e=12&u=/ap/gop_media

:wtf:

not for him...what disgusting pig!

I'm sure he'd work for nothing.

We still need to know how many media whores were involved and if you're planning to divert money indirectly, like to their spouses. For example, if their spouses have a charitable organization, and you donate to them, does that leave the government off the hook?

Inaugural Address! Aren't these two affiliated with Fox News? I know Kristol writes for the Weekly Standard and Krauthammer has articles in The Post! If this is true...you think these guys wrote this speech out of the kindness of their hearts? I heard Shrub say this morning that the WH was "unaware" of these practices. What's true in the zoo?
These two also shamelessly plugged his address on any network that would have them! GEEEEZ!

On the right, 3rd lizard down:

too much education isn't necessarily a good thing.

That way, you get to mold the entire news organization. Saves money! no messy FOIA requests! Plausible deniability! Waiter! Another double scotch, please!

Watch for the unemployment numbers to soar...

:eyes:

starting NOW!

or ordering an end to the Patriot act?

good ol' Texas. Perry was the guy who had some awfully deep pockets for the swift boat swifties.

What He Said - What He Meant

or a variation

What He Said - What He Really Was Thinking


He = *

(Those that are currently on the payroll are AOK.)

to not get caught. If not a check they will just be rewarded in some other way.

will never "stand on its own two feet" because it's crap. It has always been crap. The kids don't like it and the teachers don't like it. When's
Bush going to figure out that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?

You know, like he is?

Meanwhile, the new Education Secretary, Spellings is on the rampage against PBS kids' cartoons that express showing tolerance for others?

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3186848

Another sow's ear. Has W ever made a decent pick for any office???!!

This unfunded NCLB bullshit is intended to utterly destroy public education in America forever. And it's working.

As long as you look at the bush administration's various policies with the expectation that they're intended to improve existing structures, they seem like dismal failures, they make no sense. But remember the core ideology the neocons are coming from: the federal government should be spending everything it has on weapons systems, imperialism enforced by those weapons systems, and paying interest on debt. Everything else should be dismantled and dispersed. From that point of view, bushco has been a rousing success.

The bushistas are the living incarnation of Norquist's "starve the beast" vision.

I have a very personal interest in public education and stand to be
hurt by NCLB and/or Ahnold's aversion to "special interests." Too
bad children are not really of much interest to either of those
two RWingnuts.

...or is it the other way around?

Nevertheless, the Mesquite Mafia will make them a deal they can't refuse...

What a cesspool.

They're really not needed anymore.

Bush has big majorities in every branch, there is no need to propagandize now.

"We're not gonna allow them anymore. It would be very bad if anyone else got to use 'em."

Translation: When I finally go home to Crawford I'm taking ALL My Toys with me.

has better digs in the big city.

Crawford is just his home while looting the White House.

He's gonna leave the "movie set" for the jes' folks cowboy image behind for the (cough) glamour of big city Texas. (gag)

they can drop all pretense of giving a shit about anything except enriching themselves and their cronies.

What about all the other people who work for Bush?

I wanna know exactly which ones are on the payroll (even though I'm pretty sure who is already)...

You got it??

LOL!! Wink wink, nudge, nudge, you know what I mean?

One imagines him with his "resolute face" on, declaring this with a straight face. What a blivet**!

What he really wants stopped is further probing into the government-funded propaganda machine!!!

Oh, well. Now the RNC can pick up the tab. At least the mo-fo corporatists will have to put up their own dough to advertise their policies.

He said that Armstrong Williams made a mistake just before that. A reporter had to ask him if the Dept. of Education had made a mistake. He said yes, and quickly moved on.

I agree with him on one thing - the agenda should be able to stand on it's own two feet. Too bad that it doesn't.

Coulda fooled me. I thought slugs and snails only had one foot. I didn't think snakes had any feet. :silly:

Bush: Pundit payments will stop

Democrats push bill to end practice, question rise in PR funds

Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Posted: 11:06 PM EST (0406 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After the revelation that another columnist who supported his administration's policies received government money, President Bush said Wednesday that he disapproved of the practice and wanted it to stop.

"I expect my Cabinet secretaries to make sure that that practice doesn't go forward. There needs to be independence," Bush said at a press conference.

"All our Cabinet secretaries must realize that we will not be paying ... commentators to advance our agenda.

"Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet."


more
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/26/paid.pundits



Timberrrrrrr!

They need to come clean on the payola they have done. (And I'm sure they'll come clean when a Pig lands in Seahawks Stadium)

a FELONY. Shouldn't these office holders be impeached and then tried!?

that make them want to give our money to pay off the media to support *'s causes?

The same sort of question has been asked about our troops under *'s command at Abu Ghraid and Guantanamo Bay.

Where does that buck stop again? Which party is the party of responsibility?

Fucking asshats....

eom

I thought he just denied the WH was making any payments?

the reporter even finished his sentence. He's the most evil man that ever was born in America.

...beet red. It was the only bright spot of that absurd charade!

Left is right, up is down, freedom is BushCo. God save us all!

believes him? i don't. he will find a way to continue practice. the man has no morals, no ethics, no principles.

That's a good start. Now we just have to get them to stop with the:

- strait up lies (wmd, election lies, soc. sec, sept. 11, et. al.)
- fake news reports (medicare drug cards and no child left behind)
- fox news in general

RIGHT-WING PUNDITS: WE'RE NOT ON THE BUSH PAYROLL

Revelations that another columnist received money from the Bush administration to promote an initiative has conservative writers and broadcasters on the defensive.

(Salon.com - - Free Day Pass Required)

http://mediacitizen.blogspot.com/2005/01/payola-pundit-returns.html

for another four years. Maybe that's why there's a looming crisis in Social Security that only Bush seems to know about.