More scandal for the Bush Admin - GAO says its"covert proppagand" illegal

[housewolf]

Buying of News by Bush's Aides Is Ruled Illegal

Federal auditors said on Friday that the Bush administration violated the law by buying favorable news coverage of President Bush's education policies, by making payments to the conservative commentator Armstrong Williams and by hiring a public relations company to analyze media perceptions of the Republican Party.

In a blistering report, the investigators, from the Government Accountability Office, said the administration had disseminated "covert propaganda" in the United States, in violation of a statutory ban.

The contract with Mr. Williams and the general contours of the public relations campaign had been known for months. The report Friday provided the first definitive ruling on the legality of the activities.

Lawyers from the accountability office, an independent nonpartisan arm of Congress, found that the administration systematically analyzed news articles to see if they carried the message, "The Bush administration/the G.O.P. is committed to education."

The auditors declared: "We see no use for such information except for partisan political purposes. Engaging in a purely political activity such as this is not a proper use of appropriated funds."utory ban.

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more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/01/politics/01educ.html?ex=1285819200&en=532d54ba8c3630d9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[WhiteTara]

1. Will the looting of our treasuries never end with this

criminal gang? I hope that they will be forced to make reparations for their monetary thefts.

[jwirr]

2. When it is found illegal like this WHO is supposed to pay

the taxpayers back? The Republican National Committee? bushie? rover? Someone should.

[Esse Quam Videri]

3. Just got off a LTTE

about this as this story appeared burried on page 9A of today's paper. I closed with this - For some reason the thoughts of 1939 Germany and Joseph Goebbels keep entering my mind.

[kenny blankenship]

4. Who is handling the court case if it's a crime?

Zero tolerance! Zero tolerance! Zero tolerance! (that's what I like about the new America--vehement intolerance of everything and zealous prosecution that makes the zealous prosecution of yesteryear look like a daisy chain party)
Has a trial date been set? Who's the judge? Whattaya mean 'no one's been charged?' I want enforcement! Indictments! Convictions!

[Robertwf]

5. Just as scandolous was paying a pollster

to go after Bill Moyers and then having to walk away from the poll when it did not come up with their self-serving conclusion. These guys try to pay for spin in every area and then don't get it when their pitiful tactics don't work.

[Savannah Progressive]

6. Will the fact that it's illegial stop the Fascist Repugniks?

If you think it will, you are kidding yourself. They own the media, they own the courts, and the only way we are going to hold anyone responsible is if we take back the Government.