There's a damning article in Friday's
New York Times about the White House paying for favourable news coverage.
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.
Does this actually surprise anybody? A real surprise would be some actual consequences. "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" among other things. So what happens next? "The ruling comes with no penalty, but under federal law the department is supposed to report the violations to the White House and Congress." Oooooo, I bet Evil George is shaking in his snake-skin cowboy boots.
Now, I don't think this is unique to the Bush administration. Everyone has their spin doctors. It just pisses me off that people are so easily swayed by a little propaganda. Darth Bush just has to wave a magical hand and say things like, "We will not be paying commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ough to be able to stand on its own two feet," and half the United States just believes him by default.
We're turning into a world where it doesn't actually matter what you do or what you say, but rather how your are perceived by people who really aren't paying any attention to world events and are willing to accept a fabricated fascade because it takes less energy. Oh, wait, that sounds suspiciously like junior high. And high school. And university. And business... **sigh**
