Bush Says Won't Pay Commentators to Promote Agenda

[SillyGoose]

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.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Bush goes on to say "We didn't know about this in the White House."

[cthrumatrix]

2. Just becuase AWOL says something doesn't mean it's so.....!

He is a perpetual liar.

[DFWJock]

3. We will not

pay commentators. (Since we got caught.)

[shaolinmonkey]

4. A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat.

Why should we believe a word this man says?

[Cocoa]

5. Fox says he's keeping an eye on the henhouse

making EXTRA sure nothing happens to the chickens.

[liberal43110]

6. Lying Bastard

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.

[Mountainman]

7. Well then I'm certainly comforted and secure in the belief that isn't

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

Like hell I am!

[Demit]

8. This admin's plausible deniability stopped being plausible a long time ago

[SodoffBush]

9. He won't? He already did!

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

[aden_nak]

10. I'll pretend not to do that again, since I got caught.

[Lerkfish]

11. ...anymore!

rimshot.

[Mojambo]

18. That is exactly what I was going to say... nt

[Robbien]

12. Note that the MSM is carefully not reporting on Maggie Gallagher's

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

[Democrat 4 Ever]

17. Think the timing was just coinkydink?

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!

[tlcandie]

44. Think Colon knows something is coming down the pike and

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

[DustMolecule]

47. No, not a coincidence....

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.

[jswordy]

Uh, that horse has already left the barn, George n/t

[bullimiami]

13. always blame it on someone else

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.

[DustMolecule]

14. Couldn't techniques like blackmail and threats

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

[havocmom]

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

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.

[DustMolecule]

49. You know, I never really thought of it quite that way before ....

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!

[sniffa]

15. there oughtta be a Law 'gainst that

[yellowcanine]

16. Wolf says it was wrong for Fox to kill those hens and he will make sure

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

[Kikosexy2]

19. He just...

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?

[annabanana]

20. I guess Rove is lying to him....................n/t

[1gobluedem]

21. Does this mean the entire FOX news channel will go dark?

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.

[billyoc]

22. I believe he *doesn't* plan on paying

anymore journalists.

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

[Ganja Ninja]

23. He means he won't pay them directly.

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

[pa28]

24. That's great George. I want to know who already has been paid.

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.

[peterh]

25. Oh bullshit….

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…

[sonicx]

26. This is just like Chris Rock use to say...

"I take care of my kids!"

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

[GiovanniC]

75. Same With the Attorney General Nominee Saying

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

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

[Supersedeas]

27. POST election ban on payola--how conveeeenient...odd, * didn't mention

that it is criminal.

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

[maxrandb]

28. Once Again. WHERE DOES THE BUCK STOP?

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?

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Really, and we are suposed to take your word for it

exactly why Mr Bush?

You have lied from day one, why stop now?

[Zebulon]

30. I'm George W. Bush

and I approved this Reuters article.

[driver8]

42. I'm George W. Bush...

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.

[Plaid Adder]

31. His 'new leadership' just launched a crusade against a cartoon bunny.

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

[NYC Liberal]

33. He said Cabinet secretaries won't pay...

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

[ktowntennesseedem]

78. Exactly!

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."

[Occulus]

34. kgfnally says * is a proven liar n/t

[Dr Fate]

35. Did he promise this under oath?

???

[T Bone]

37. He just took an oath last week, right?

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

[Ashamed_American]

36. They can pay me $10 dollars

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

[Zebulon]

46. No doubt

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.

[bluedog]

38. RNC asking for MONEY Now....no shi**

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.

[ProfessorGAC]

39. And He's Been So Honest About Everything So Far!

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

[fooj]

40. funny...they know about everything else!

[ucmike]

41. Stop Paying, Start appointing....

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.

[gademocrat7]

43. commentators to be left off the payroll?

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

[FloridaPat]

45. Pure BS. Why was DC stuck with the security bill? Why are

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

[KissMeKate]

48. mediawhores roll over for his corporate agenda

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

[Shakespeare]

50. Bush Orders an End to Hiring Columnists

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.

[leesa]

That's rich.

[Bozita]

I still think the AARP guy was bought before the Medicare ...

... prescription drug bill was passed.

[d_b]

Yeah. That whole 'buying off columnists thing' is so first-term.

[Stevious]

RNC Seeks Donations to Push Bush Agenda

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

:wtf:

[ally_sc]

yeah situation ethics..good for everyone else

not for him...what disgusting pig!

[oasis]

Juan Williams may be willing to take over for the PAID right wing shills.

I'm sure he'd work for nothing.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Don't shut that door yet, buddy!

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?

[fooj]

I understand that Kristol and Krauthammer helped write Shrub's

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!

[rockedthevoteinMA]

Kristol's in PNAC isn't he? n/t

[rodeodance]

one of the big bosses

[Swamp Rat]

Yes

On the right, 3rd lizard down:

[fooj]

Yikes! How creepy!

[orpupilofnature57]

Shrubs got a real aversion, to informed Americans. eom

[calimary]

So does kkkarl rove. He's even quoted as saying

too much education isn't necessarily a good thing.

[Canuckistanian]

It's so much easier to buy off the executive editor!

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

[KansDem]

So Bush won't hire any more columnists?

Watch for the unemployment numbers to soar...

[pinto]

begs the question: who ordered the "beginning" and when?...n/t

[earth mom]

Today=Damage Control. Tomorrow=SSDD

:eyes:

[Lefty48197]

DO NOT HIRE ANY MORE "JOURNALISTS" TO SELL OUR BS

starting NOW!

[Betty]

How about ordering an end to torturing people

or ordering an end to the Patriot act?

[Logansquare]

Launder the money through the AEI--no direct payments n/t

[calimary]

Or through Richard Mellon Scaife. Or the Perry Homes company in

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

[fooj]

Those bastards!

[global1]

We Really Should Have A Regular Feature Here At DU .......

What He Said - What He Meant

or a variation

What He Said - What He Really Was Thinking


He = *

[NewYorkerfromMass]

Ahhh.... So on top of things. What an ethical admin. he's got there! eom

[sakabatou]

That means Maux Snooze must be liquitadated

[tanyev]

Don't hire any *more* columnists.

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

[Nite Owl]

He's just telling them

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

[Patchuli]

No Child Left Behind

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???!!

[0rganism]

Don't confuse bush's intentions for an attempt to improve public education

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.

[Patchuli]

I know

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.

[KansDem]

"Strong arm" the media, and if that fails, "Armstrong" them...

...or is it the other way around?

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

[Ivan Sputnik]

So now "independent" RW groups will pay them.

What a cesspool.

[Mojambo]

The election is over

They're really not needed anymore.

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

[mcscajun]

Exactly! "You know all those things that worked so well for us?"

"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.

[LiberalFighter]

Didn't you hear... he won't be going back to Crawford...

has better digs in the big city.

Crawford is just his home while looting the White House.

[mcscajun]

Oh, that's right! I forgot! (smacks head)

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

[central scrutinizer]

exactly

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

[flyingfysh]

This only applies to the cabinet secretaries?

What about all the other people who work for Bush?

[aquart]

51. That means use untraceable money.

[lancdem]

54. LOL

[shoelace414]

52. They can still hire pundits

[Cooley Hurd]

53. Chimp, show the list!

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

[Gman]

55. Wink, nod.... Wink, nod

You got it??

[MARALE]

59. That is exactly what I was going to post.

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

[Nothing Without Hope]

56. Now THAT'S a funny thread title!!!

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

[Just Me]

1. Did he actually say "stop",...because, that would be an admission.

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.

[Not_Giving_Up]

57. I saw this...

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.

[TahitiNut]

58. Their 'agenda' has two feet?

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

[uppityperson]

60. Pay them under the table instead.

[Darknyte7]

61. wow!!!

[TacticalPeek]

62. Bush: Pundit payments will stop

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!

[RobertSeattle]

63. Note the "practice doesn't go forward"

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)

[burrowowl]

64. Isn't misuse of Federal Funds

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

[SodoffBush]

65. What is it about *'s cabinent members

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.

[kurtyboy]

72. Bush is saying that the White House "was unaware"

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

Fucking asshats....

[tuvor]

66. bush is shocked. Shocked!

[Occulus]

67. kgfnally: bush is a LIAR

[mhr]

68. Begs The Question Of How Many Paid Shills Were On The Take

eom

[wabeewoman]

69. But...but...but

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

[roguevalley]

70. Did you see his pissy face turn sour and he barked "no!" before

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

[MADem]

74. Not just sour, he turned

...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!

[Al-CIAda]

71. You just KNOW there are more -eom

[flordehinojos]

73. yeah, practice to stop after bush gets caught --tsk, tsk, tsk...and who

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

[Flammable Materials]

76. He won't pay them anymore ... now he'll BLACKMAIL them. n/t

[mpendragon]

77. that's a relief

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

[paineinthearse]

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

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

[TOOLZ]

80. He doesn't have to pay them anymore, their contracts are paid in full

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