The Bush Administration has come under heavy criticism for a series of television spots that defend the President's position on Medicare. Unlike typical campaign commercials, these segments are intended to look like news broadcasts. The Department of Health and Human Services is releasing the segments, complete with fake reporters and talking points for local newscasters. Home Front Communications, which produced the segments, offers guidance to news agencies:
”In one script, the administration suggests that anchors use this language: ‘In December, President Bush signed into law the first-ever prescription drug benefit for people with Medicare. Since then, there have been a lot of questions about how the law will help older Americans and people with disabilities. Reporter Karen Ryan helps sort through the details.’”
The GAO is investigating whether the videos are actually "covert propaganda." Kevin W. Keane, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, claims this is not a new practice, "The use of video news releases is a common, routine practice in government and the private sector…anyone who has questions about this practice needs to do some research on modern public information tools."
The San Francisco Chronicle disagrees with Mr Keane in no uncertain terms, however, calling the advertisements:
”...A covert effort to exploit both the press and public. Coupled with the misinformation about the bill, it paints an alarming picture of a White House unconstrained about using deceit.”
At a price of $100 million, the promotional campaign adds to a steadily growing bottom line cost for President Bush's Medicare changes. It's a cost that many Republicans were not happy with when the bill was passed by the House. Will they -- or any other American voters -- be happy with the methods used to sell the changes?
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/15/politics/15VIDE.html?hp
Re: Did anyone see this??
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The Bush Administration has come under heavy criticism for a series of television spots that defend the President's position on Medicare. Unlike typical campaign commercials, these segments are intended to look like news broadcasts. The Department of Health and Human Services is releasing the segments, complete with fake reporters and talking points for local newscasters. Home Front Communications, which produced the segments, offers guidance to news agencies:
”In one script, the administration suggests that anchors use this language: ‘In December, President Bush signed into law the first-ever prescription drug benefit for people with Medicare. Since then, there have been a lot of questions about how the law will help older Americans and people with disabilities. Reporter Karen Ryan helps sort through the details.’”
The GAO is investigating whether the videos are actually "covert propaganda." Kevin W. Keane, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, claims this is not a new practice, "The use of video news releases is a common, routine practice in government and the private sector…anyone who has questions about this practice needs to do some research on modern public information tools."
The San Francisco Chronicle disagrees with Mr Keane in no uncertain terms, however, calling the advertisements:
”...A covert effort to exploit both the press and public. Coupled with the misinformation about the bill, it paints an alarming picture of a White House unconstrained about using deceit.”
At a price of $100 million, the promotional campaign adds to a steadily growing bottom line cost for President Bush's Medicare changes. It's a cost that many Republicans were not happy with when the bill was passed by the House. Will they -- or any other American voters -- be happy with the methods used to sell the changes?
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/15/politics/15VIDE.html?hp
