Friday, February 17, 2006
Public Dollars Fund Government's PR Campaign
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 - The Bush administration spent $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on 137 contracts with advertising agencies over the past two-and-a-half years, according to a Government Accountability Office report released by House Democrats Monday. With spending on public relations and other media included, federal agencies spent $1.6 billion on what some Democrats called "spin."
A recent TV ad , for example, sells the idea that war is good for the American economy. It shows happy people working in weapons factories, Halliburton officials boasting about the size of their contracts and workforce, and grinning medical workers keeping busy caring for severely injured soldiers. "We need a good war every few years to keep the economy humming along," says a cheerful Allan Hubbard, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council, in the ad.
Another ad extols the government for its quick and effective response to the Katrina hurricane disaster. White actors in black faces are seen singing Swanee River, eating watermelon, and thanking President Bush for providing them with tents and banjos. "We sure appreciate how the government cares for its black folk," says one of the actors.
In yet another ad, people of different races say they have no objection to the government listening to their telephone conversations. Comments such as "I am flattered," and "sounds like a fun job," and "what's wrong with a little snooping?" are heard throughout the commercial. The ad closes with a catchy jingle to the words "Call a loved one today and just watch what you say."
Perhaps the most controversial campaign is one featuring Dick Cheney saying "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." In the ad, sponsored in part by the National Rifle Association, Cheney admits that gun accidents do happen but he notes that people get killed crossing the street. "I understand that some Americans get upset when a hunter puts a few pellets into his buddy, but hey, it's all part of the experience," he says. "If I had to do it all over again I might have aimed a little higher."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said these publicly funded ads are essential to get the right message to the American people. "If we had to rely on members of Congress or the news media to explain sensitive events then we all would be in deep caca," he said.
A recent TV ad , for example, sells the idea that war is good for the American economy. It shows happy people working in weapons factories, Halliburton officials boasting about the size of their contracts and workforce, and grinning medical workers keeping busy caring for severely injured soldiers. "We need a good war every few years to keep the economy humming along," says a cheerful Allan Hubbard, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council, in the ad.
Another ad extols the government for its quick and effective response to the Katrina hurricane disaster. White actors in black faces are seen singing Swanee River, eating watermelon, and thanking President Bush for providing them with tents and banjos. "We sure appreciate how the government cares for its black folk," says one of the actors.
In yet another ad, people of different races say they have no objection to the government listening to their telephone conversations. Comments such as "I am flattered," and "sounds like a fun job," and "what's wrong with a little snooping?" are heard throughout the commercial. The ad closes with a catchy jingle to the words "Call a loved one today and just watch what you say."
Perhaps the most controversial campaign is one featuring Dick Cheney saying "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." In the ad, sponsored in part by the National Rifle Association, Cheney admits that gun accidents do happen but he notes that people get killed crossing the street. "I understand that some Americans get upset when a hunter puts a few pellets into his buddy, but hey, it's all part of the experience," he says. "If I had to do it all over again I might have aimed a little higher."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said these publicly funded ads are essential to get the right message to the American people. "If we had to rely on members of Congress or the news media to explain sensitive events then we all would be in deep caca," he said.
