Park Superintendents Told to Stick to Script Praising Bush Admin

[displacedtexan]

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE GAGGING ON ITS OWN TALKING POINTS
Park Superintendents Told to Stick to Script Praising Bush Administration

Washington, DC — Doing damage control on recent embarrassing disclosures, the National Park Service has directed its superintendents to obtain prior approval before they depart from "talking points" provided to them on controversial issues, according to internal emails released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

Following revelations that park superintendents were supposed to mask budget cutbacks by calling them "service level adjustments," the National Park Service Headquarters (Washington Office or WASO) and regional offices have been issuing scripts or "talking points" that park superintendents must follow in communicating with the media. As one directive issued last month states:

"Interviews with media regarding budget are to be consistent with WASO talking points on 'service level adjustments' issued several weeks ago. Anything more in depth needs to be 'blessed' at region or WASO level."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the official talking points paint a rosy picture of bad news or laud Bush Administration accomplishments. Recent talking point samples include —

· "Despite the challenges, NPS has fared well under President Bush…"

· "The Bush Administration is committed to dramatically improving air quality"; and

· "This Administration is very committed to preserving the resources of the National Park System…"


more...
http://www.ems.org/rls/2004/05/12/national_park_se.html


How low can BushCo go? Remains to be seen!

[rfranklin]

1. Gee, doesn't this sound like Communist China?

Or maybe the late, great Soviet Union? Total propaganda control. As they said at Tianamen Square, "There are limits to free speech!"

[displacedtexan]

2. At least this is being reported more and more...

Leaks are our only hope.

[Killarney]

3. I wish the mainstream media would pick this up

[rvgwinn]

4. staged

Why o why is everything so staged by this bunch?? I'm begining to think we live in lala land. Keep expecting the tinman to show up. Where's my red shoes?

[displacedtexan]

6. Let's alert the media!

http://congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

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http://congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=state_search&state=nm

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Er...those are lies, not talking points.

They're instructing our park service people to lie to the public? This administration has lost its moral compass.