Spellings: 'Errors of judgment' made in paying Williams

[LWolf]

This article is several days late, but I haven't had time to clean out my inbox this week:

By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY

<snip>

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings for the first time acknowledged "errors of judgment" by the Bush administration in paying a prominent black pundit to promote its education policies, saying she has halted work on the contract.

The admission, in a letter to lawmakers, came as Congress' investigative arm on Friday opened a probe into the $240,000 contract with commentator Armstrong Williams, who has admitted that the deal was a mistake.

Even more interesting is this little tidbit from further down in the article:

<snip>

Also on Friday, House Democrats wrote to Bush requesting that all agencies and departments disclose public relations and advertising contracts signed since 2001.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged it paid two other syndicated columnists, Maggie Gallagher and Mike McManus, to promote Bush's efforts to strengthen marriage.

More:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-30-spellings-williams_x.htm

[moggie12]

1. Great article - did you sign Rep. Slaughter's petition yet?

Trying to capitalize on this payola scandal, a NY Dem has introduced legislation to bring back the Fairness Doctrine:

http://www.fairnessdoctrine.com/

More info in this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1563669

[LWolf]

2. Yes, I signed it.

Rebalancing the mainstream media is the first step we have to take to rebalance the nation, imo. None of our efforts on any issue will go forward if the media continues to "ignore" them or corrupt the message to suit the right wing.