political : BUSH DEFENDS GOVERNMENT PACKAGED NEWS STORIES ... [+] serious ballot by OJD created Fri Mar 18, 05 BUSH DEFENDS GOVERNMENT PACKAGED NEWS STORIES President Bush said on Wednesday that the U.S. government's practice of sending packaged news stories to local television stations was legal and he had no plans to cease it. His defense of the packages, which are designed to look like television news segments, came after they were deemed a form of covert propaganda by the Government Accountability Office watchdog agency. Among the packages the GAO looked at was one produced by the Health and Human Services Department to promote the Medicare prescription drug law. The story included a paid actor who narrated the piece in a similar style to the way a television reporter would. "The entire story package was developed with appropriated funds but appears to be an independent news story," the agency said It was not the first time the Bush administration has been criticized for blurring the line between media and government. Earlier this year, the Education Department acknowledged that it paid conservative commentator Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote the No Child Left Behind Act. How the hell can this be allowed to happen? How can anyone defend the practice of a government planting news stories? And remeber, this is just the stuff we're finding out about. Does this make you angry? This must be stopped No, its ok It can't be stopped Ballot #69958 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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