American Entropy: Gov't Sponsored Propaganda

19 October 2004

Gov't Sponsored Propaganda

Just how bad does this administration want to mislead you?

First there was the Medicare propaganda. This occurred earlier this year as a "news segment" paid for by appropriated taxpayer money. The GAO said that the "Bush administration had violated federal law by producing and disseminating television news segments that portray the new Medicare law as a boon to the elderly." It (the GOA) considered the Video News Release (VNRs) a form of "covert propaganda." The GAO came to this conclusion:

Federal law prohibits the use of federal money for "publicity or propaganda purposes" not authorized by Congress. The accounting office has found that federal agencies violated this restriction when they disseminated editorials and newspaper articles written by the government without identifying the source.

The accounting office said the administration's misuse of federal money "also constitutes a violation of the Antideficiency Act," which prohibits spending in excess of appropriations.

The Bush administration "estimated the cost at $42,750, but refused to provide any documentation. . .

Now, just days ago the same administration has more VNRs promoting its education laws as reported in the AP. Recently, "video and documents emerged through a Freedom of Information Act request by People for the American Way, a liberal group that contends the department is spending public money on a political agenda. The group sought details on a $700,000 contract Ketchum received in 2003 from the Education Department."

$700,000!! Your money wasted on propping up failed, unfunded policy!!

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