White House's Medicare Videos Are Ruled Illegal

[Hamlette]

The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said on Wednesday that the Bush administration had violated federal law by producing and disseminating television news segments that portray the new Medicare law as a boon to the elderly.

The agency said the videos were a form of "covert propaganda" because the government was not identified as the source of the materials, broadcast by at least 40 television stations in 33 markets. The agency also expressed some concern about the content of the videos, but based its ruling on the lack of disclosure.

. . . The General Accounting Office said that a specific part of the videos, a made-for-television "story package," violated the prohibition on using taxpayer money for propaganda.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/20/politics/20medicare.html

Sorry if this is a dupe. I'm surprised it isn't bigger news today, or did I just miss all the talk about it. Seems pretty strong to have the non partisan GAO saying Bush is spreading propaganda.

[IkeWarnedUs]

1. I think it's big news

Big enough to deserve a :kick:

[VolcanoJen]

2. Big news, important news.

I thought this story had long disappeared into the Great Sinkhole.

Now... I wonder if they'll actually stop playing these cutesy games with our tax dollars, or if they'll just devise a sneakier method...

[jorno67]

3. What happens next?

Are charges going to be filed? And if so, against who? Or is this going to be another one swept under the rug?