Thursday 6 October 2005

Spellings, DOE To Have Williams Endorse President, Miers Pro Bono

Hopes to "Satisfy" Blistering GAO Report, To Return Propaganda Funds; Much of Monies Spent in Branson

Coming on the heels of a stern rebuke and blistering Government Accountability Office report citing violations of laws and ethics, Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced this morning that she will direct conservative journalist Armstrong Williams to "publicly back President Bush's decision and to publicly endorse the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court."

Williams endorsement will be "pro bono", as a gesture to pay back some of the nearly quarter-of-a-million-dollars he received for promoting the Bush Administrations controversial 'No Child Left Behind' legislation, on his nationally syndicated television show, in nationally syndicated columns, as well as endorsing NCLB in public appearances. During the time Williams was under contract to the DOE, he urged other black journalists to do the same.

"We're not going to do anything under the radar here," said a somber Spellings. "No deals, no back rooms … It's all out in the open and above board."

The contract, a $1-Million deal with the public relations firm Ketchum, which the GAO reports says violated the "publicity and propaganda" law, called for Ketchum to produce prepackaged new reports (also known as video news releases, or VNRs in the industry) that were designed to look like news reports and were used to promote No Child Left Behind.

The Bush administration used similar releases last year to promote its Medicare prescription drug plan, prompting a scolding from the Government Accountability Office, which called them an illegal use of taxpayers" dollars.

For both violations, the GAO directed the Department of Education to invoke the Federal "Anti-Deficiency Act" to begin the process of recovering the misspent taxpayer dollars.

Since the President announced Miers as his choice for the Supreme Court, he's come under a hailstorm of criticism, mostly from conservatives and the Right, and the Administration has been lobbying Cabinet members and Republican congressmen and senators to speak up and defend the move.

Williams, speaking through a spokesperson, confirmed that he will endorse the President and Harriet Miers. He said that he said. "I thought this contract was a blessing at the time."

Williams stated that he did provide Spellings with a "accounting of the monies received". Some of it went to his business expenses and a significant amount was used for "travel and entertainment". Armstrong indicated that he often "entertained" clients with trips to Branson, Missouri, for shows and relaxation.

William's mea culpa and payback will come with guests booked on his show that will also endorse the President and Ms. Miers, as well as writings of endorsement in his columns. Ketchum will contribute in this effort with producing television spots, featuring Williams and other prominent conservatives offering their endorsements of Miers and the President.

Spelling made clear in her announcement today that "No Williams funds were used" in her efforts, earlier this year, to kill off the PBS program ""Postcards From Buster,"

Spellings sent a strongly-worded letter to PBS CEO Pat Mitchell, expressing her "concern" over an episode in which Buster, the animated rabbit, visits a Vermont maple sugar farm run by gay parents. Spellings ominously reminded Mitchell that "the show is being funded in part by the Education Department."

PBS ended up pulling the show, but not before some of its' affiliate stations broadcast the program.

Williams indicated that "he's never seen the Buster show."

In a related matter, Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavit reached out to Armstrong Williams, and other African-American journalists and commentators to gage their interest in promoting and defending Former Education Secretary William Bennett, who has been under fire since last week, when on his radio program, Bennett made controversial remarks, associating black Americans with crime.

"That's what I said David, we've got one endorsement for the President's Supreme Court Justice nonimation so far ... Just one and I'm not goint to answer the rest of your question ..."