Rep Issa has asked the GAO to investigate the Obama administration for their covert propaganda operations using federal tax dollars. You can click on this link to read the announcement and the actual report outlining the illegal activities. Here are some of the highlights from the report from the announcement.
- Use of the National Endowment for the Arts as a de facto strategic communications firm for the Obama Administration. During an August 10, 2009 conference call, White House staff urged members of the arts and entertainment community to support the President’s United We Serve campaign and broader agenda, citing as models art and music created to support then-candidate Obama’s presidential campaign. Three days after the call, 21 arts groups signed a press release endorsing the President’s health care plan. (Pg. 9)
- Use of HHS web resources to push citizens to lobby Members of Congress in support of the President’s health care plan. A link from www.HealthReform.gov, maintained by HHS, asks visitors to sign a form letter to President Obama stating their commitment to work with him and “our Congressional leaders” to enact the President’s health care plan. (Pg. 18)
- Use of taxpayer money to post road signs touting both “stimulus” spending and www.Recovery.gov. Officials at the Federal Highway Administration “strongly encouraged” stimulus grant recipients to post Obama Administration-approved promotional signs which, in some cases, direct the viewer to www.Recovery.gov, itself chock-full of thinly veiled propaganda in support of White House claims of stimulus job creation success. (Pg. 24)
- The efforts of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) to support pro-Obama healthcare reform volunteerism and its efforts to “organically” incorporate stories about service and volunteerism into programming on all four major networks and many cable outlets. (Pg. 28)
First, let us not pretend that this only happens with Democratic administrations. It does occur as pointed out in the report. But let us not forget that Obama promised to change this culture. He promised to make his administration more transparent. How does continuing the practice of covert propaganda from the government fulfill this promise? Not only has he continued the practice, he has done so at a pace that puts his predecessors to shame. Just read the report.
Like many other areas, this is something that Obama had direct control over and made a conscious choice to play politics instead of stay true to his word. And to think, this is just what they have been busted on. They might have put a little tighter control on their loyal subjects after the NEA did not scrub their guest list well enough.
I guess we can just add this to the list. EPA controversy, violations of the Hatch Act, and the numerous other problems…some of which I mentioned in my questions for the President post. No answers yet, but I am optimistic. The longer he is in office, the more astonished I am that his approval rating is so high (Yes, I consider 40% high).
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