if they managed REALITY better, they wouldn't need PUBLIC RELATIONS

[Syrinx]

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Henry A. Waxman, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressmen George Miller and Elijah E. Cummings, and other senior Democrats released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report today finding that the Bush Administration spent more than $1.6 billion in public relations and media contracts in a two and a half year span. "The government is spending over a billion dollars per year on PR and advertising," said Congressman Waxman. "Careful oversight of this spending is essential given the track record of the Bush Administration, which has used taxpayer dollars to fund covert propaganda within the United States."

"No amount of money will successfully sell the Bush Administration's failed policies, from the war in Iraq, to its disastrous energy policy, to its confusing Medicare prescription drug benefits," said House Democratic Leader Pelosi. "The American people know the Bush Administration is on the wrong track and the White House PR machine won't change that fact."

"The extent of the Bush Administration's propaganda effort is unprecedented and disturbing," said Congressman Miller. "The fact is that after all the spin, the American people are stuck with high prescription drug prices, high gas prices, and high college costs. This report raises serious questions about this Administration's priorities for the country and I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would agree that changes need to be made to reign in the President's propaganda machine."

"It is unbelievable that the Administration, on several occasions, has used limited taxpayer dollars to secretly promote initiatives such as No Child Left Behind, while underfunding money for our schools, books, technology, and after school programs," said Congressman Cummings.

http://www.wnymedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1050

http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/

[babylonsister]

1. Be still my heart. Do you mean, on top of the 75MIL the blivet

committed to Iran today, for the purpose of propaganda, he has other bills to pay?:sarcasm:

[chalky]

2. Keep this PDF handy.

http://www.freepress.net/docs/pr_spending_doubles_under_bush.pdf

If you've got my luck, when you share that tidbit with one of the sheeple you'll be hit with the old, "I'll bet Clinton spent just as much!" argument.

In this document you'll find dandy facts, such as:

"In 2000, the last year of the Clinton Administration, the federal government spent $39 million on contracts with major public relations agencies. By 2004, the value of these PR contracts had grown by almost $50 million, an increase of 128%."

And--

"An increasing number of PR contracts are being awarded without full and open competition. During the last year of the Clinton Administration, less than 20% of PR contracts were awarded without full and open competition. By 2004, over 40% of PR contracts, worth $37 million in total, were awarded on a noncompetitive basis."

[laheina]

4. Awesome info!

Thanks. :hi:

[laheina]

3. And Condi and Rumsfeld have been asking for MORE.

It seems that their theory is that it doesn't matter what they do, just how they spin it on faux news. I don't think that they will get away with it forever.

[Syrinx]

5. you nailed it

You'd think the Wolf's of the world would get pissed. But it hasn't happened yet.

[Wordie]

6. Since some of this seems partisan, couldn't the Dems ask for equal time?

(of course, I really wouldn't want them to ask, as I think the money is being wasted - but it's the principle).