cannabisnews.com: Drug Control Office Faulted For Issuing Fake Tapes Drug Control Office Faulted For Issuing Fake Tapes Posted by CN Staff on January 07, 2005 at 09:38:45 PT By Ceci Connolly, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post Shortly before last year's Super Bowl, local news stations across the country aired a story by Mike Morris describing plans for a new White House ad campaign on the dangers of drug abuse.What viewers did not know was that Morris is not a journalist and his "report" was produced by the government, actions that constituted illegal "covert propaganda," according to an investigation by the Government Accountability Office. In the second ruling of its kind, the investigative arm of Congress this week scolded the Bush administration for distributing phony prepackaged news reports that include a "suggested live intro" for anchors to read, interviews with Washington officials and a closing that mimics a typical broadcast news sign off.Although television stations knew the materials were produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, there was nothing in the two-minute, prepackaged reports that would indicate to viewers that they came from the government or that Morris, a former journalist, was working under contract for the government."You think you are getting a news story, but what you are getting is a paid announcement," said Susan A. Poling, managing associate general counsel at the GAO. "What is objectionable about these is the fact the viewer has no idea their tax dollars are being used to write and produce this video segment."In May, the GAO concluded that the Department of Health and Human Services violated two federal laws with similar fake news reports touting the administration's new Medicare drug benefit. When that opinion was released, officials at the drug control office decided to stop the practice, spokesman Thomas A. Riley said."Our lawyers disagree with the GAO interpretation," he said. Nevertheless, if the video releases were going to be "controversial or create an appearance of a problem," the agency decided it was not worth pursuing, he said.The prepackaged news pieces represent a fraction of the anti-drug messages distributed by the office, Riley said. Production and distribution of the video news releases cost about $155,000.Riley said broadcast stations were fully aware they were receiving materials akin to printed news releases that producers could "slice and dice it however they want."In one video, titled "Urging Parents to Get the Facts Straight on Teen Marijuana Use," news stations were provided a script for the news anchor. It reads: "Despite the fact that marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among today's youth, many parents admit they're still not taking the drug seriously. Now, the nation's experts in health, education and safety have joined the Drug Czar to speak directly to parents about the very real risks of teen marijuana use. Mike Morris has more." After interview snippets with John Walters, who heads the drug control policy office, and other experts, the story closes with the voiceover: "This is Mike Morris reporting."In another, the announcer appears to be "reporting" on a news conference by drug control officials, when "in reality, they are just paid to say a script," Poling said. "In essence, they're actors."The drug control agency distributed at least seven prepackaged news reports to 770 TV stations. At least 300 news shows used some portion of the materials, though it was impossible to determine how many aired the full prepackaged story or just portions such as "sound bites," Riley said.If the videos had been identified as coming from the federal agency, that would have been legal, Poling said. But the television package looks like authentic independent journalism."The critical element of covert propaganda is the concealment of the agency's role in sponsoring the materials," GAO wrote to Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), who requested the Jan. 4 report."It is illegal to use taxpayer dollars to influence public opinion surreptitiously," Waxman said yesterday. "Unfortunately, this is the second time in less than a year that GAO has caught the Bush administration violating a fundamental principle of open government."Complete Title: Drug Control Office Faulted For Issuing Fake News Tapes Source: Washington Post (DC)Author: Ceci Connolly, Washington Post Staff WriterPublished: Friday, January 7, 2005; Page A17 Copyright: 2005 Washington Post Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Related Articles:Bush's Drug Videos Broke Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20098.shtmlONDCP: Ads Drive Drop in Drug Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20052.shtmlONDCP Links Drugs, Drinking in New Ads http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18222.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #49 posted by Hope on January 09, 2005 at 20:27:01 PT Schmeff Your scenario is one of those that makes one's skin crawl. [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by FoM on January 09, 2005 at 19:46:30 PT goneposthole I'm sorry I know this is very serious but you said swimmingly and it made me laugh! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by goneposthole on January 09, 2005 at 19:43:02 PT twilight zone reality based twilight zone. If it is true what you purport, Schmeff, things are going swimmingly in Iraq then. The string-pullers don't want democracy in Iraq, just war all of the time to bring about democracy in Iraq. Huge government costs to put government in its grave.A Twilight Zone episode starring Dr. Strangelove.Wowza [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by schmeff on January 09, 2005 at 11:42:10 PT No Governmental Credibility - The Bigger Picture I believe the current administration is actually TRYING to destroy any credibility the government may have.Consider this: the goal of Conservatives (although you couldn't prove it by Bush) is to reduce the size of government. Grover Norquist, Conservative darling and self-appointed head of Taxpayers United has said (paraphrasing):"I don't want to destroy government, I just want to make it small enough to drown it in a bathtub."It is easier to reach a consensus about making government smaller if you can create a negative image of government in the minds of as many people as possible. I think the Bush Administration is enormously successful in this regard.The Bushies WANT their lies to be discovered and publicized. The lies about Iraq, WMD's, cannabis, Medicaid benefits, the deficit, etc., etc. They WANT to be caught in their dirty tricks, their illegal and unconstitutional antics. They WANT to promote unacceptable judges and torture-friendly Attourney's General. They WANT to have people not trusting what they say and not knowing whether or not journalists can be believed. This is their plan!It is their mission to create a mass consiousness that democracy doesn't work and government is corrupt. This reduces the overall amount of public participation. People quit voting because they feel that the system is too broken for thier participation to make any difference. This is their goal.They WANT to be regarded as sleazy and corrupt. Witness Tom DeLay. He's a veritable poster-child for corruption and dirty-dealing.There will be no accountability...no heads will roll. If anyone is actually punished for any of this crap, it might cause someone, somewhere to conclude that there is some small speck of good faith and integrity in the system. They don't WANT that!I can't overemphasize this. The more indignation and disgust that can be generated concerning the public opinion of the government, the better.THIS IS THE PLAN. (and the plan is working.) [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by kaptinemo on January 09, 2005 at 07:04:07 PT: John Tyler, I've always assumed I was lied to by corporate media, but when it was disclosed in 1995 that many 'journos' were on the CIA payroll and had been for years, that did it for me. I had known of the so-called "Mighty Wurlitzer" (see the search string http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cia+mighty+wurlitzer&btnG=Google+Search ) of government subborning of news media for propaganda purposes, but to have such a ho-hum acknowledgement of it - as if nothing was wrong with that - by the very same media was proof enough of it's culpability, I get my news from the Internet instead of the (now more aptly named than ever) Boob Tube. I only watch The Tube now for entertainment...and have no trouble telling the difference between that and the supposed 'news'. [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by John Tyler on January 09, 2005 at 06:47:27 PT Phony news stories The Bush folks have been doing this is in a lot of areas. There is a big stink on the news now about some journalist who was paid $240,000 for doing phony glowing news reports about the "No child Left behind" law. Then there was the Medicaid drug benifit fiasco, and there are probably a lot of others if there was an investigation. So you have to ask yourself is the news real or is it a phony news plant. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by kaptinemo on January 09, 2005 at 05:18:22 PT: Hope, it's just symptomatic Symptomatic of what happens in any society, anywhere, when power is so concentrated as it is right now. Those in power, no matter what party (as if in America it makes much difference) or how slim their margin of approval (which in this case, is a legitimately questionable one given the problems with the election) believe thay have a Heaven sent mandate. For a while, they beleive they can get away with anything. The proper term for this is hubris.These days, I am reminded of Yeshua and his little fracas with the Moneylenders at the Temple. Said moneylenders thought there was nothing wrong in serving Mammon in what was supposed to be God's house. Just like the present crew believes that anything goes to achieve their agenda...and line their own pockets at the same time. The Dems have nothing to gloat over, either, as they have been guilty of more subtle but no less illegal and immoral actions. We are witnessing, replete with rising warts, burtsing pustules, running sores, gangrenous stench and all, Lord Acton's warning about the corrupting influences of absolute power on those who hold the reins of government. This never ends well, for any people or any nation. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 10:38:07 PT about that thread The people that post the posts that I find "stupid" have arrived. First the "twisters" now the "bashers" and "bullies".Not interesting anymore. [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 09:51:41 PT The best thread I ever saw at Yahoo News Usually the posts are so stupid I can barely read a few. I've been reading these from Message 1 and am at http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=m&board=37138445&tid=washposta563302005jan7&sid=37138445&mid=38which, so far is 38 out of 41.I never thought I'd recommend a yahoo news comment thread to anyone.Worth a glance if you're surfing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 09:41:55 PT I can identify with this poster at http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=m&board=37138445&tid=washposta563302005jan7&sid=37138445&mid=32"I am getting as bad as "them." I used to be a fair minded, decent person. I have been backed into a corner by the rabid partisans and am left with no alternative but to fight fire with fire.It isn't about me. It is about all of us." [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 08:49:19 PT from article posted below "worthy of Pravda." [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 08:31:47 PT related reading that mentions this http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&u=/washpost/20050108/ts_washpost/a56330_2005jan7&printer=1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 07:35:55 PT Political cartoons I've often wished I could draw good political cartoons. The one I imagine right now would show Walters in a suit with snakes peeping out every pocket and coming down his sleeves and him saying, "Snake? What snake?" [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Hope on January 08, 2005 at 07:32:37 PT Observer You're an expert about propaganda, recogniziing it, and how and why they do it. I know you're happy that finally someone besides we have noticed their skullduggery. The greatest thing about this "exposure"...is that they actually use the word "propaganda". Likely no one will be accountable...again, but at least they used the right word instead of all the pussyfooting around it...some of which some of them are doing anyway...but there it is...spelled right and everything..PROPAGANDA. Somebody is finally calling the snake a snake. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by afterburner on January 08, 2005 at 04:41:02 PT Molehills & Mountains "A spokesman for the White House drug office said GAO was 'making a mountain out of a molehill,'" If anyone is "making a mountain out of a molehill," it's the ONDCP, the DEA, and the FDA. Their continued harassment of medical cannabis is evidence that the "molehill" of a few minor side effects has been trumpeted into a "mountain" of lies, politically-motivated enforcement and obstruction, all based on junk science and political superstition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by observer on January 07, 2005 at 22:32:25 PT Prohibition = Deception After interview snippets with John Walters, who heads the drug control policy office, and other experts, the story closes with the voiceover: "This is Mike Morris reporting."Prohibition won't float unless the government lies, and lies continually. "If the lying stops, the system will collapse." -- Alexander Solzhenitsyn http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 21:35:16 PT Here's an Article Thanks Hope. I wasn't paying much attention until they mention about Vancouver Island and I watched it from then on. I did a search and found this article. I didn't know about any of this happening. I learn something new everyday.***Tsunami Last Hit U.S. in 1700, Scientists Say By DAVID KOHN, The Baltimore SunJanuary 8, 2005 It came ashore without warning. Driven by a mammoth undersea earthquake, a speeding wall of water rushed inland, decimating everything in its path. The date: Jan. 26, 1700. The place: the west coast of North America. The tsunami devastated a stretch of coastline from California to northern British Columbia and was so powerful that it wreaked havoc on the other side of the Pacific as well. Complete Article: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-05/01-08-05/a02wn314.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 21:19:22 PT Map It looks like, from the statistics... the island is 62 miles deep...so that would have the Island's leading edge...or beach...62 miles from any tidal wave that might hit to the coast where Vancouver sits. I think that's what it looks like. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 21:15:19 PT It looks like from this web site that Vancouver Island stretches in front of Vancouver, the city. All are British Columbia...it looks like.http://visit-vancouverisland.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 21:09:33 PT Oh my gosh! That's terrible news! [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 20:37:00 PT Off Topic Question I'm watching the Discovery Times Channel and they said that Vancouver Island is at high risk for a tsunami as bad as the one in South East Asia. Is Vancouver BC near Vancouver Island? [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 20:07:38 PT The GCW , comment 26 That's the truth! [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 20:05:15 PT Iraqi and Saudi oil If there are any Karma type effects connected to the oil and gasoline made from it...it just makes driving and riding that much more dangerous...fueling it with blood tainted oil.Better to be "afoot" than with "wheels" powered by blood bought fuel.Wise leaders? Indeed?There's a dearth of them. Once again, I thank God for Ron Paul...and I thank Ron Paul for being the man he is, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by The GCW on January 07, 2005 at 19:54:33 PT The responsible get promotions. The responsible are more likely to get promotions which include protection from having to testify etc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 19:53:48 PT I Sound Harsh That's how I feel it is. I don't dislike Muslims or their countries. I know there are good God Fearing Muslims and I don't blame them and I wanted to say that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 19:40:19 PT We Take What We Want That's the american way. Follow the money. Who benefits from oil in Iraq?We should be developing alternative fuels. Why are we friends with Saudia Arabia? Could it be because they are good and treat their people well or could it be oil? [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:38:58 PT I wonder how many children the heathen's will sacrifice to their "oil" god? [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:35:26 PT I was told by someone, with an apparently clear consience, that we had, besides humanitarian, other interests...important interests in Iraq. Whereas we didn't get involved in Rwanda because of no extenuating personal (as a nation) interests."Like oil"...I asked and they said , "Yes...we have to have it." [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 19:30:12 PT War They are black in Rwanda. No one cares. We only care if the country has something we want like oil. I can't see that our leaders look at it any other way.I care! [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:26:12 PT The drug war and Rwanda Even when people see it...they are momentarily horrified...then they forget all about it, mostly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:24:02 PT Drug War and Waco They didn't even think about raiding or attacking those people, if you'll remember, until they were able to come up with a drug connection...however lame. The rumored drug connection gave them free license to treat them like something less than humans. No falsified drug connection and they wouldn't have been able to do what they did the way they did. That's horrible.Courtesy of the war on drugs. What a stench! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:07:23 PT Blame the palsy ridden old lady with one foot in the grave. That's the ticket.Apparently it was. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 19:03:37 PT Cannabliss I've noticed the same thing. Reno apparently was "accountable" in that she took all the blame...and there was plenty to go around...and threw it to the four winds. They had "mercy" on themselves but not on the wretched souls in that house outside Waco.They take the so called blame in words from their lips...under the guise of some sort of so called "accountability"...then forgive themselves and wash their hands of it instantly.Hmmm. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 18:55:15 PT Beautiful, GW "Understand Mercy, for that is the gift from the Christ, that is the gift from God." [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by cannabliss on January 07, 2005 at 17:05:28 PT Accountability? Whom does this Accountability Office hold accountable?Remember Waco? Janet Reno "took responsibility" and everybody was oh-so-impressed. Of course, she completed 8 years as Attorney General, never suffered a salary cut, was credibly considered as a candidate in Flordia, etc. I don't know just what the negative repercussions for that fiasco were, but rest assured, she "took responsbility".I have a feeling the Bush administration will be "accountable" in the same fashion. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by global_warming on January 07, 2005 at 15:54:55 PT Some Minor Thoughts "Actually Pete, you’ve got the question exactly backwards. Marijuana is a much bigger part of the American addiction problem than most people – teens or adults – realize. There are now more teens going into treatment for marijuana dependency than for all other drugs combined."This is so unpardonable, John, you and your irresponsible group that is trapped in your dimentia, can all come together and shake hands, for you all belong in the same bin of iniquity, you shake hands with the dust of this planet.While you enjoy your comfortable suit, and the comforts that you perceive as heaven sent, you will come to terms with your misjudgement, for in the end, you will be seated at a table, and your dinner guests, will be those that you do not recognize, they will be those that you ignored all through your cofortable life, they will be your children, they will be all of us.Join us, those that have no voice, even Joyce, we will have a grand ole time, as we gather and embrace the new sunrise, as we huddle, and conspire about our children.We, can change this world, we can become decent human beings, we can become civilized, we can make this blue pearl a paradise, we can do this.If you believe that God, has, through so many corrupted writings of man, given us a direction, then you are being fooled, for God does not subscribe to human terms, God is beyond our primitve use of sounds and words, God baffles the best experts, God is without our understanding.If you believe that God made this universe, than abandon those old writings, accepts a view, that God is beyond our feeble attepts to describe, beyond our feeble belief systems, beyond any further discussion.We are here, and we are torturing and brutalising each other, can we see beyond this page, can we rise to our betrothed nature, can we evolve, can we accept our place in this universe, can we prove the that the gifts from this universe, will become flesh and blood, can we take our gifts and carry them to next level, that level that will secure a place by the footstool, of the the merciful God, who has not failed us, and given us infintie time to come to understanding.Understand Mercy, for that is the gift from the Christ, that is the gift from God.Peace,-gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 15:14:35 PT Sukoi Thank you. John Walters actually thinks that marijuana is like crack. Crack can kill a person. Marijuana has never killed anyone. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Sukoi on January 07, 2005 at 15:09:13 PT John Walters hosts "Ask the White House" The transcript for today’s “Ask the White House” can be read here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20050107.html I especially liked this one:Pete, from Bloomington, Illinois writes: Isn't there a problem with giving kids misleading information regarding marijuana that overstates the actual dangers? I worry that when they find out we've been lying to them about marijuana that they'll stop believing us when it comes to more dangerous drugs. After all, when you call Canadian pot the "crack cocaine of marijuana," the message kids may hear is that crack must not be too bad. John WaltersActually Pete, you’ve got the question exactly backwards. Marijuana is a much bigger part of the American addiction problem than most people – teens or adults – realize. There are now more teens going into treatment for marijuana dependency than for all other drugs combined. And there are more teens now seeking treatment for marijuana than for alcohol. Today’s marijuana is also twice as strong as it was in the mid 80’s. One of the reasons we have such a serious problem with marijuana in our country is because of the misinformation that has been spread about it over the past 30 years – that marijuana is “harmless” or a “soft drug” or a “rite of passage.” These are all myths – and for too many Americans they are costly myths. We need to educate Americans about the real harms of marijuana if we want to sustain the gains we’ve made over the past three years. We’ve recently released a report entitled “Marijuana Myths & Facts: The Truth Behind 10 Popular Misperceptions” to help get the facts out about marijuana. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/marijuana_myths_facts/index.htmlMore lies eh? What drivel! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 14:52:26 PT In case they haven't noticed There's been a lot of "alarming"...truly "alarming" things going on in the so called "War on Drugs". It's a huge business of mutual self promoters who are sucking the lifeblood (and other body fluids) out of America.The Bureaucracy, which is to be kept small...is overfed...apparently waaaaay over fed. That's not right...to literally rob and squander and waste money virtually "robbed" from citizens.We've found things such as this poo poo put out as facts at the expense of the taxpayer...us..."alarming" for rather some time now. Everyday the truth we saw so many years ago is becoming blatantly exposed and called to task. It's about time.I wonder how "mainstream" this real "news" is?Lies and deception. "They dwell in darkness and they are blinded by the darkness." [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 14:40:07 PT "alarming use of illegal covert propaganda " Frankly, they've been a little slow in mentioning that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by global_warming on January 07, 2005 at 14:29:42 PT Now What These few articles about the ONDCP's infractions, just don't cut it, from the above "ONDCP's estimates show that the video footage reached more than 22 million households, GAO noted, "without disclosing to any of those viewers - the real audience - that the products they were watching, which 'reported' on the activities of a government agency, were actually prepared by that government agency, not by a seemingly independent third party. This is the essence of the 'covert propaganda' violation."These few news articles are not propagating into those 22 million homes and viewers, the damage cannot be rectified by some few news articles, there needs to be an appropriate penalty.Maybe this guy Joe White can come up with some ads, or NJ Weedman, to counter the damage that these illegal ads have caused.If we are ever going to have a sane discussion on the merits of prohibition and the damage caused by this prohibition, we need to start forming valid forums, respectable platforms, that will be recognized world wide.Things can change, if Russia can abandon communism and try to rebuild into capitalism, then this outdated system based on unfounded fears can also be buried.It has been said by a few here, that the American pocket is getting tapped out, we are running out of money, we cannot continue to support this behemoth of legal interdiction, against people who will put anything into their mouths.When will we realize that the number people that have substance abuse problems, is smaller than the number of people that are employed to find, arrest, imprison those people.You can believe in creation or evolution, but it seems to me, that we, as people are moving too slow, we must get going, we must raise our eyesight, for surely, have not all those previous generations of people given us their blessings, and surely, can we move toward a more humane civilization.I hope so,... gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 13:44:51 PT Related Article from Common Dreams Lawmakers Call on President To Stop Covert Propaganda WASHINGTON -- January 7 -- Democratic leaders in Congress today called on President Bush to stop the alarming use of illegal covert propaganda to promote government policy after two new accounts of such activity surfaced today. In a letter to the President, they pointed out that the use of covert propaganda has been revealed through independent investigations by at least three separate federal agencies. "We are concerned that these three incidents, while serious and disturbing on their own, may not be isolated incidents," the lawmakers wrote to the President. "It would be abhorrent to our system of government if these incidents were part of a deliberate pattern of behavior by your Administration to deceive the public and the media in an effort to further your policy objectives." Complete Article: http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0107-09.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 13:29:10 PT Don... "Use our tax dollars to covertly pay off "independent" journalists"....I think they already do...they tell them they're CIA and order them to do the stories. I read that somewhere as an apparent fact...like on AP or something. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 13:19:12 PT Related Article from GovExec.com White House Anti-Drug Videos Violate Propaganda Ban, GAO Says By Shane HarrisJanuary 6, 2005 Videotape footage of people using drugs and interviews with federal officials discouraging their use that was produced by the White House drug control policy office, violate a legal ban on official propaganda because they were presented to the public without any indication they were produced by the government, according to a decision released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office. GAO, in response to a request from Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., examined a series of "video news releases" prepared by the Office of National Drug Control Policy from 2002 to 2004 to determine whether they violated a legal prohibition on "covert propaganda." The ban was included in the appropriations legislation that funded ONDCP's media campaign to lower drug use among American youth. The videotapes were complete, prepackaged new stories, GAO found. They were sent to media outlets to be used "as news reports, without the need for any production effort," the agency wrote in its 17-page decision. The video packages were narrated by unseen people who acted as reporters covering a press conference or other ONDCP activity, as well as officials involved in the anti-drug campaign, according to GAO. "Each story is accompanied by proposed 'lead-in' and 'closing' remarks to be spoken by television station news anchors," the agency found. Some of the tapes included references by name to the narrators, one of whom was called Mike Morris. "Many of the suggested anchor remarks include a phrase like, 'Mike Morris has the story,' or 'Mike Morris has more,' " GAO found. The narrators were hired to read scripts prepared and approved by ONDCP. They weren't affiliated with any news organizations. ONDCP's estimates show that the video footage reached more than 22 million households, GAO noted, "without disclosing to any of those viewers - the real audience - that the products they were watching, which 'reported' on the activities of a government agency, were actually prepared by that government agency, not by a seemingly independent third party. This is the essence of the 'covert propaganda' violation." A spokesman for the White House drug office said GAO was "making a mountain out of a molehill," adding the video releases contain footage that is commonly used in media campaigns. Congress authorized the drug policy office to spend funds on a national media campaign that would target young viewers not only through television news, but also through radio, the Internet and entertainment programming on film and television, said ONDCP spokesman Tom Riley. Providing news organizations with video news releases, including interviews with officials as well as ancillary footage, known as B-roll, is standard media campaign practice, Riley said. The tapes average about four minutes in length and feature several components, including the interviews and some B-roll footage of people using illicit drugs, Riley said. Television stations typically "slice and dice" in the editing process and use the pieces that best fit their stories, he said, adding they usually don't use the entire tape. GAO acknowledged that the news organizations receiving the videotapes would certainly know they came from ONDCP, because they bore identifying information. But, GAO questioned whether audiences realized the tapes were coming from the government. In this case, GAO said, viewers couldn't have known ONDCP had produced what they were watching. Referring to a decision in a similar case, the production and distribution of video news releases by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, GAO said, "CMS did not indicate that its stories about the government were, in fact, prepared by the government." In May 2004, GAO found those tapes violated a propaganda prohibition. ONDCP's general counsel, Edward Jurith, argued that video news releases are commonly used in television media. "They are produced in the same manner as if produced by a television news organization" and are "a popular means of conducting news media outreach [that is] widespread and widely known," Jurith wrote in a letter to GAO. GAO responded that "our analysis of the proper use of funds is not based upon the norms in the public relations and media industries." Riley said the organization informed Congress of its activities, and officials believed they were acting as Congress wanted when they produced and distributed the news releases. Following GAO's decision last May that the CMS tapes violated the propaganda ban, however, the drug office elected to stop producing its video news releases, Riley said. ONDCP spent more than $154,000 to produce and distribute five of seven videos GAO examined. The office hired three public relations and communications firms to produce and distribute the tapes. Fleishman-Hillard Inc. was the lead contractor, and Gourvitz Communications and Harbour Media were subcontractors. GAO noted that other federal agencies have violated bans on using appropriated funds for propaganda or publicity purposes. In 1987, the State Department paid consultants to prepare and publish newspaper articles and opinion pieces supporting the Reagan administration's policies in Central America. The pieces were presented as the position of persons not associated with the government. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/010605h1.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 07, 2005 at 13:10:32 PT dongenero We bought OUTFOXED a few months ago and it sure tells a person how it is and it isn't pretty! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dongenero on January 07, 2005 at 13:06:21 PT so...here's what they do next... Use our tax dollars to covertly pay off "independent" journalists to do all of this work for them. Heck, isn't that how it works with Fox News now?They probably don't even need our tax dollars to do it. Just go through the Karl Rove channels right to the Sinclairs and Murdochs that control much of the media and say..."We have another favor to ask in return for the preferential access we give you to the White House."For being so covert, corrupt and shifty they sure can be dumb! Oh yea, and how about some mandatory minimum Federal sentencing for these law breakers!?? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on January 07, 2005 at 11:40:15 PT Got this yesterday from Kay Lee on DPFT list Office of National Drug Control Policy- -Video News Release January 6, 2005Appropriations Decisions:- Office of National Drug Control Policy--Video News Release, B-303495, January 4, 2005 http://www.gao.gov/decisions/appro/303495.htm 1. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) produced and distributed prepackaged news stories as part of some video news releases it issued under the Drug-Free Media Campaign Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-277, div. D, title I, subtitleA, 112 Stat. 2681-752 (Oct. 21, 1998), codified in 21U.S.C. ch. 23. Because ONDCP did not identify itself to the viewing audience as the producer and distributor of those prepackaged news stories, ONDCP's news stories constituted covert propaganda and violated publicity or propaganda prohibitions contained in its 2002, 2003, and 2004 appropriations acts. 2. The use by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) of the term "Drug Czar" to describe the Director of ONDCP in some video news releases it issued under the Drug-Free Media Campaign Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-277, div. D, title I, subtitleA, 112 Stat. 2681-752 (Oct. 21, 1998), codified in 21U.S.C. ch. 23, does not constitute unlawful self-aggrandizement because ONDCP does not use the term to promote some sense of importance, accomplishment, respect, or authority for the Director, whether as an individual or as an officer of the government. 3. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) must report violations of the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341, pursuant to 31U.S.C. 1351, because ONDCP had no appropriation available to produce and distribute materials in violation of publicity or propaganda prohibitions contained in its 2002, 2003, and 2004 appropriations acts. WWW.FEDCURE.ORG [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Shishaldin on January 07, 2005 at 11:35:56 PT but what happens? So, the GAO says that the ONDCP broke the law. What happens now? Does anybody do time or lose their job for this infraction? Nope.When do these clowns get what's coming to them? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on January 07, 2005 at 10:23:33 PT Bush really stepped into it this time This is going to annoy and frighten journalists like nothing else he has ever done before. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment