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Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News

by TChris

The president should be embarrassed by his administration's efforts to disguise political propaganda as news. Instead, he's proud, and he doesn't intend to change the practice.

President Bush says that one of the Justice Department lawyers has produced a legal opinion that supports his view (are you surprised?): the law permits the administration to package information as a news story, complete with fake journalists, ready to be aired on local news broadcasts. People who don't work for the president disagree.

David Walker, the comptroller general who heads the GAO, said he disagreed with Bush's stance and was "disappointed by the administration's actions."

"This is not just a legal issue, it's also an ethical matter," Walker said. "The taxpayers have a right to know when the government is trying to influence them with their own money."

Sen. Daniel Inouye agrees.

"Not only does this lack of disclosure represent a serious breach of journalistic ethics, but it also seems to violate FCC rules requiring attribution of 'any political broadcast matter' or 'the discussion of a controversial issue of public importance,'" Inouye said.

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    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:29:27 PM EST
    And just who do you think is going to stop them? They own the media and most all of the supreme court.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:35:35 PM EST
    AND he just nominated Paul Wolfowitz to be head of the World Bank. E-f*ckin'-gad! The man who got everything wrong about Iraq, put our troops in excess danger with his rosy predictions and assessments, and who won't ever step up and take credit, er, blame. Rag on Bono all you want, at least he's creative. Wolfowitz is all about destruction.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:56:53 PM EST
    Erm... that's propaganda ("a" instead of "o" in the middle) Pedantically yours...

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#4)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:34:00 PM EST
    This must be more of that less- government,getting-it-out-of-the- peoples-lives again Im sure. Its just in a slightly less recognizable form this time - Im withholding judgement til I hear what Rush and Ann tell me to think about it.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#7)
    by john horse on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 06:16:40 PM EST
    What makes propaganda more effective is if the people viewing it are not aware that it is propaganda. That is what is so insidious about not identifying the source of these "news reports." At least the people who lived in totalitarian societies could consider the source of the information that they were provided. These reports should be identified as government produced reports. The only reason that I can think of for Bush opposing this is because, to use the line from the movie A Few Good Men, he can't handle the truth.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 06:51:36 PM EST
    Well yes he will; "whats new"? but one thing bush will never tell you or anyone is that collaboration with fox and the mexican government is helping al qaeda, one of the Bishop by the name of romulo Emiliani, friend of the old Red Guard calls out for al qaeda to attack this nation. The good Bishop is a real old timer when it comes down to helping his friends, and bush and business can think of nothing but the bucks to be made on the backs of the poor. its not when you see that will kill you its what you can't see. and Bush\Fox\Bin Laden appear to be working for our deaths all for the same reasons. people "see it for what it is". and yes John Horse is right on the money.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 07:21:52 PM EST
    Bush is a bible thumping jerk trying to make this country a flock of his clones.

    I think that this has been going on for a while. At least as far back to Roosevelt and the WWII news reels in theaters. Maybe the press should make sure that they mention the source. Or better yet, not be so lazy and do the job themselves.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#11)
    by scarshapedstar on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 07:43:54 PM EST
    Once again, if knowing the true source of an ad would in any way change your opinion of the content, it is propaganda. Republicans know this and don't care. Funny, that.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#12)
    by rMatey on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 07:45:55 PM EST
    We can't wash your brains unless you let us use the soap ( faux news)

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#13)
    by roy on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 08:33:10 PM EST
    Once again, if knowing the true source of an ad would in any way change your opinion of the content, it is propaganda. Republicans know this and don't care. Funny, that.
    TL's search feature doesn't seem to include comments. Could you please link to your old comment criticizing Democrats for not caring during the Clinton administration?

    "the law permits the administration to package information as a news story, complete with fake journalists, ready to be aired on local news broadcasts." Hey, it worked for the Bible -- why not for Bush? Fake news from the Frog Exploder in Chief.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#15)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 10:40:52 PM EST
    Heh!

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#16)
    by soccerdad on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 03:44:37 AM EST
    you please link to your old comment criticizing Democrats for not caring during the Clinton administration?
    Could you post a link to evidence that Clinton did this in the same way and to the same extent as Bush

    Actually the Fed's passed a law in the 1950's that made government propaganda illegal because of the governments that did so before WWII and used it to generate un-truths and justify war; but as with every law the Shrub's administration doesn't care for, they simply ignore it. I've heard many a Republican state that they don't break the law, they just bend it till it cracks. As long as it's not broken they broke no laws. The press is suppose to state, according the the law, the origination of stories they receive, if their reporters do not generate it...I only know of a few news organizations that do so...and the conservatives label them as Liberal; as if it's an insult. ALL Totalitarian Regimes have had to produce and force feed propaganda to their peoples-countries like North Korea, USSR, China, Eastern Germany and now the US Government-in order to further a lie and to hide their true hidden aganda beneath it. The problem with the Liberal's in America is that they perfer to tell the truth about issues and this gives the conservatives an avenue to attack. (Another train of thought enters my mind herre, but I don't want to GET OFF on a rant.) Being able to produce propaganda allows the administration to circumvent media investigations into the truth and package their own truths as news; the propaganda is espoused as the truth generated by an inpartial media. Without stating the origination of the 'news' who is to question the relationship of truth to the report...after all, what news organization in America would actually lie to it's audiance? (sic) To this point of truth, as an example: Shrub has made no proposals of substance to revise the Social Security "problem", but has already basicly said it's the Democrates that are vacuous in this area, are wrong in their proposals and have no real answers except to say that the Republicans are wrong...and is getting away with it. He is waiting for the Democrats to propose a detailed answer to his challange to both get an idea of how to package his propaganda and in order to pronounce Liberal ideas as void of intellect. Most likely he'll do this with a propaganda news story paid for with American tax dollars...and featured proudly on the Faux Network. Faux News the center of truth and reality in news...Right? (oh the irony!)

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#18)
    by roy on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 08:05:18 AM EST
    Could you post a link to evidence that Clinton did this in the same way and to the same extent as Bush
    I didn't claim Clinton did it to the same extent. Prof. Reynolds points out a reference to it here. (Yes, I know this isn't "evidence")

    Look for the new news report Why drilling for oil in ANWR is good for endangered species! Coming to you right after Wolfowitz - World Bank Visionary!, Bush - Son of God!, Social Security - Democratic Ponzi Scheme!, and How the Bible is the basis for American government! on the only source for facts, Fox News!

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#20)
    by Sailor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:23:18 AM EST
    Roy, it doesn't matter who does/did it, it's wrong. That's the difference between principled people and right wingers. Our view doesn't change just because the party changes.

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#21)
    by roy on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:40:02 AM EST
    Roy, it doesn't matter who does/did it, it's wrong.
    Agreed. That was sort of my point, I just like making it in a contrarian way.
    Our view doesn't change just because the party changes.
    If that's true, why was there no complaint before the party changed?
    That's the difference between principled people and right wingers.
    Republicans who complained about Clinton's lying accept Bush's. Democrats who complain about Bush's media tricks accepted Clinton's. I think both major parties are equally hypocritical on issues like this. Probably minor parties too, they just don't get attention.

    We can't wash your brains unless you let us use the soap ( faux news)
    lol!
    I've heard many a Republican state that they don't break the law, they just bend it till it cracks. As long as it's not broken they broke no laws.
    is that like; no law was broken unless you get caught? from my youthful days of course.
    Posted by at March 17, 2005 01:25 PM
    i should have recognized the sacarsm earlier, my bad!

    Re: Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News (none / 0) (#23)
    by Sailor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 04:36:34 PM EST
    The DOJ, said it was OK to break international treaties; the DOJ says it is OK to torture; the DOJ says it is OK to hold anyone forever just on the sayso of the prez. None of those things are constitutional, and almost every constitutional scholar, the (non-partisan) GAO, and the Fed judges agree. Just because one political appointee writes an ignorant memo doesn't mean it is legal. So, you freakin' anonymous coward, take your illegal DOJ and shove it where the rest of us don't have to listen to it or you.

    Dear Cable Provider, Satellite, etc. It is too big a blow to the public to lose the stability we had in our news media. We aren't as free in America as we like to think; we are led by the nose or prodded to believe we are, when in fact we are corporate cattle who have been sold time and again to the highest campaign contribution. I am no longer viewed as a citizen, taxpaying constituent, but merely a consumer with no rights. There is nothing more dangerous then citizens, legislators and others, voting, making judgments and/or the passage of important legislation (i.e. recent tort reform, privatizing social security), relying on those lies, distorted facts, along with this administration's "paid for media" programming. We understand that you are not responsible for the above, however we are tired of a news media we cannot rely on. I for one felt the public had the right to know about Jeff Gannon. Please disconnect our cable- 05-01-05. I want the media to be independent from all interests and to reflect diversity- until then, I'll get my news from other sources.