# Armstrong Williams: A Quarter Million Dollar Bush Spokesman **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602 "2005-01-07T17:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/1 "2005-01-07T17:33:40Z")
Apparently, the Bush administration, through the Department of Education, paid Armstrong Williams to pimp the No Child Left Behind Act during his show. > [@](#): > > 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. > > 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. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse\_x.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse_x.htm) I want my money back. I also wonder how much they have been doing this? Have they paid Rush Limbaugh to keep on message? Bill O’Reilly? These people are just plain unethical. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/2 "2005-01-07T18:25:11Z")
I think I’m suffering from Outrage Fatigue. I really should stop being surprised at anything this administration does. This is the same Ketchum PR firm who have brought us the fake news releases promoting the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. That got them a smackdown from the GAO, I wonder what this will bring? And Armstrong Williams should be fired. Period. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/3 "2005-01-07T18:39:21Z")
I kinda miss Harry and Louise, don’t you? It was a simpler, gentler, time … ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/4 "2005-01-07T19:33:53Z")
[And they are at it again…](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54651-2005Jan6.html) Free registration required. Here is a quote: 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.” \* Emphasis added. Sigh… Mike Morris Reporting… ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/5 "2005-01-07T20:23:50Z")
Oooh, even better, from the CNN coverage of this: “The Bush administration has promoted No Child Left Behind with a video that comes across as a news story but fails to make clear the reporter involved was paid with taxpayer money. **It has also has paid for rankings of newspaper coverage of the law, with points awarded for stories that say Bush and the Republican Party are strong on education.** The Government Accountability Office, Congress’ auditing arm, is investigating those spending decisions.” (bolding mine, of course) Yay! Let’s bribe the media! I wonder if you get a free cruise if you intentionally don’t report anything bad about the current administration? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/6 "2005-01-07T20:37:39Z")
Well, at least no laws or regulations were broken or violated, right? I mean, there are not any rules against bribing the media or campaigning with public money, are there? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/7 "2005-01-07T20:45:29Z")
Well, not _laws_, really, more like _guidelines_. Flexible guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/8 "2005-01-07T21:00:36Z")
Sorry I didn’t see this thread sooner - I pulled up a recent [thread about media in GD](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=292551&page=1&pp=50) to mention it. The legality of using public funds for something like this is one question (IMO, illegal, but who’s gonna do something about it?). My question is: Would it be illegal or unethical to use _private_ funds to influence punditry in similar fashion? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/9 "2005-01-07T22:15:13Z")
I’ve heard that business schools teach the maxim, “A good idea doesn’t need to be sold,” as a rule of thumb for identifying good ideas from bad. Makes me wonder if George W. Bush, the “CEO President”, doesn’t have this in mind when he pulls stunts like this… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/10 "2005-01-07T22:25:33Z")
The earlier videos with “reporters” were not terribly different from the sort of P.R. materials put out by government agencies/administrations in the past. The current scandal goes _way_ beyond that, is disgustingly unethical on the part of all involved, and heads should roll. First and foremost, there is Armstrong Williams, whose credibility should be shot to hell at this point. I can’t imagine what justification any of his employers would have in keeping him on. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/11 "2005-01-07T23:02:36Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > My question is: Would it be illegal or unethical to use _private_ funds to influence punditry in similar fashion? Illegal: no, not as long as the pundit was employed by a private corporation (i.e. not an elected official or Presidential appointee being interviewed). Fox News, for example, would probably fire Hannity in a New York Post minute if he became anti-Bush- essentially he’s paid to tow the conservative line. Unethical: If it is not disclosed that the person’s decisions are in full or part based on financial gain directly linked to their endorsement, then it’s totally unethical. (If, for example, it was discovered that Kerry paid $1 million to the making of _Fahrenheit 911_ and Moore never disclosed this, it would be unethical but not illegal.) What disgusts me the most about this not surprising revelation is that Williams, the champion of locking up the Federal treasury where Medicaid and welfare and other non-defense related issues were concerned, _KNEW PERFECTLY WELL THAT THE $240,000 HE RECEIVED WAS **PUBLIC MONEY** _. Ultimately, _We the People_ paid Williams to lick Dubya’s ankles. Fucking toadying whore. I love Williams’s comment: “I didn’t do anything wrong, but I won’t do it again.” This might be an interesting reality show: how much money would it take to get Williams to endorse the Aryan Nations as a Faith Based Charity? Or how much would you have to pay Paul & Jan Crouch to yell “Hail Satan!” on air? Or to make Hannity say “Bush is full of shit”. I’m guessing they would all do it for the right monetary incentive. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/12 "2005-01-07T23:13:25Z")
The majority of American voters don’t care what Bushco does. Hell they accept torture! Bushco can do anything they wish. God help us. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/13 "2005-01-08T00:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > This might be an interesting reality show: how much money would it take to get Williams to endorse the Aryan Nations as a Faith Based Charity? He’d have to check with Bush’s opinion before he could make a decision. I bet Williams would sell out to the Aryan Nation in a minute as long as someone (preferably white) pets him on the head and tells him how good a negro he is. Oh, and provides him with the latest cowboy boots so that he looks real nifty when he tap dances on camera. He’s such an embarrassing fool. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/14 "2005-01-08T00:17:48Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > The majority of American voters don’t care what Bushco does. Hell they accept torture! > > Bushco can do anything they wish. > > God help us. **Reeder** , I know you’re trying to project a tone of wise world-weariness and pitying condescension, but going on about “Bushco” makes you sound about 11 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/15 "2005-01-08T01:28:24Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **Reeder** , I know you’re trying to project a tone of wise world-weariness and pitying condescension, but going on about “Bushco” makes you sound about 11 years old. Another case of having nothing to say but an insult. It looks good on you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/16 "2005-01-08T01:33:40Z")
Makes his butt look big, though. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/17 "2005-01-08T01:43:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Makes his butt look big, though. Nah…It’s the stripes. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/18 "2005-01-08T03:01:56Z")
Didn’t someone start a thread a week or two ago about how Al Sharpton got paid money by the Democrats? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/19 "2005-01-08T03:11:21Z")
> [@bizzwire](#): > > Didn’t someone start a thread a week or two ago about how Al Sharpton got paid money by the Democrats? The point of the OP is that it was **tax monies** that was paid. ASFAIK the dems didn’t use tax money. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/20 "2005-01-08T03:32:06Z")
Well, they _would_ have! If they had been voted in, then they would have _had_ the tax money, and would have done the same thing! So they’re just as bad! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602.md?page=2)