Poor "W", getting in trouble with propoganda

[taxed]

Bush got a letter from the Government Accountablility Office. Surprise, surprise - here is some of the excerpts:



Comptroller General David M. Walker wrote that stories -- designed to resemble independently reported broadcast news stories so that TV stations can run them without editing -- violate provisions in annual appropriations laws that ban covert propaganda.

Critics have derided such video news releases as taxpayer-financed attempts by the administration to promote its policies in the guise of independent news reports.

"This is more than a legal issue. It's also an ethical issue and involves important good government principles, namely the need for openness in connection with government activities and expenditures," Walker said. "We should not just be seeking to do what's arguably legal. We should be doing what's right."

"Whether in the form of a payment to an actual journalist, or through the creation of a fake one, it is wrong to deceive the public with the creation of phony news stories," some lawmakers wrote.


_________________________________

Geez, isn't it bad enough that only special supporters are allowed to his town meetings? Considering he is paid by all taxpayers, I don't think that is right either. This president truly believes he is "The Truman Show".

Or, as Andrea Mitchell reported yesterday "for millions of viewers, the government has found the best way to spin the news is to produce the stories itself. . . .

[countrygirl]

I heard on internet talk today where shop owners in Memphis were told to take down any and all anti-bush signs/ or pictures. What happened to our democracy???
Our freedom of speech??? Oh I forgot, when one is the leader, they can say whatever they want, but the peons can't.

[Gregasauraus Rex]

I wonder would they do if the shopowners refused to take down their anti King George signs.

[countrygirl]

Posted by: Gregasauraus Rex Posted on: Today at 8:16pm
I wonder would they do if the shopowners refused to take down their anti King George signs.

Maybe consider them enemy combatants and send them to Gitmo?

[Gregasauraus Rex]

Personally I would tell King George's stormtroopers that they can go straight to h*ll.

[jaykay]

body fights king george greg... rofl

[jaykay]

oops nobody lol

[wittzo]

Vote from the rooftops! It's what the second amendment is for, to protect our other rights.

I'm starting to feel betrayed by our federal leaders as much as I am by our state leaders..Things were supposed to get better...

I hope it would have been worse if the other guys had won...

[countrygirl]

Before these next four years are up, we may not have a constitution left.

[taxed]

Mayor Herenton of Memphis wanted to greet Pres. Bush at the airport, but Bush wouldn't let him. Instead heads of the local GOP were there to greet him. Mayor Herenton felt like he was pushed aside and let it be known that Memphis was a majority black city and that at the Memphis town meeting there were only a handful of blacks allowed to attend. That's because Bush gave congressman Ford 50 tickets. Prior to the meeting, Ford was a democrat the White House felt could be brought to the dark side. But, after the meeting Ford went on record to say he did not agree with Bush's plan for fixing social security.

Back to the original thread. According to today's DJ, Bush rejects ruling that staged-news video is illegal. This is the quote from the Office of Legal Counsel:

"(This) office does not agree with GAO that the covert propaganda prohibition applies simply because an agency's role in producing and disseminating information is undisclosed or 'covert' regardless of whether the content of the message is 'propaganda,'" Steven Bradbury, principal deputy assistant attorney general at the Justice Department.

Say what? If anyone understands that double speak, please post what it means.

Aren't these the same people that said the United States didn't have to follow Geneva Convention guidelines on POW's? At least the guy has a nice title.

[Voodoo]

Actually, Mayor Herenton was sent invitations on three separate occasions. Two were followups due to his failure to RSVP. His staff finally told the White House he would be unable to attend any part of the President's visit due to scheduling conflicts. The Shelby Co. mayor (who is also black) was present to meet the presidential party.
Herenton is infamous for doing the snubbing. This isn't the first time dignitaries haev gone unreceived, and it won't be the last unless the people of Memphis wake up. He was probably livin large up in the city sky box of the FedEx Forum during the other less important festivities.