Do all media types get 1/4 mil a year from GOP like Armstrong Williams?

[papau]

Re: Commentator Armstrong Williams pocketing $240,000 from the Administration to promote the No Child Left Behind law on his TV show, and to try to recruit other black journalists to do so as well - and you thought the GOP controlled the media via under the table things like the bosses, the paycheck, and "access" - and here it is a simple bribe! :-)

White House paid commentator to promote law
By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY
Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same. Williams on being paid to boost NCLB: "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."

The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.

"The contract, detailed in documents obtained by USA Today through a Freedom of Information Act request, also shows that the Education Department, through the Ketchum public relations firm, arranged with Williams to use contacts with America's Black Forum, a group of black broadcast journalists, 'to encourage the producers to periodically address' NCLB. He persuaded radio and TV personality Steve Harvey to invite Paige onto his show twice. Harvey's manager, Rushion McDonald, confirmed the appearances."

[Ganja Ninja]

1. He's black so I'm sure his check is way smaller than his ...

white counterparts.

[itzamirakul]

2. Not to be racist about this but...

Armstrong Williams is probably on the low end of the pay scale when it comes to the buy-out of media pundits.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. link?

[papau]

6. Sorry - link below

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse_x.htm

Education Dept. paid commentator to promote law
By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY
Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.

[xchrom]

4. i'ld like to see who else, from the last election season,

reseived pay outs like these.
race isn't an issue here for me -- bush underfunded ncb -- but are there other programs that got like treatment?
and how close to the election cycle?

[Cocoa]

7. yeah, me too

I'd also like to see who got paid to sell us Bush's prescription drug bill, and who's getting paid now to sell us Social Security privatization. :mad:

[Ready4Change]

5. Wonder if that caused him to hold his tongue regarding other issues.

Hard to criticise someone who's handed you a check for a quarter of a million dollars?

How many other "journalists" recieved this kind of contract, and on what other subjects?

[Lefty48197]

8. The 1/4 million didn't cause Armstrong to hold his tongue

His very existance caused him to hold his tongue. It's been his job since his very first moment on the job to cheerlead for the Republicans, and to criticize the Democrats.
That's also true of dozens of other talking heads who occupy the television air time that used to come into my home until I stopped watching cable news.