# Bush has Treasury Dept shilling for his reelection on official correspondence **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 22, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372 "2004-04-22T04:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/1 "2004-04-22T04:28:36Z")
[http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1313.htm](http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1313.htm) I’m fucking speechless. I think I’m more astonished than pissed. Why not just have the IRS add it to the bottom of Form 1040 while they’re at it? ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/2 "2004-04-22T04:57:58Z")
Well, it could have been worse. It is just one name mention. Sure, it’s inappropriate, IMHO, but no worse than any senator with his/her franking privlege. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/3 "2004-04-22T05:12:59Z")
It all makes sense just as soon as you understand that they believe it. They sincerely believe that _they_ are the real Americans, that God smiles down on them, that they are the very paragons of truth and justice. Issues of taxation and economics are articles of faith for these people, they are not matters of opinion. It probably didn’t even occur to them that it even _was_ a political opinion, its just an obvious fact, so far as they are concerned. Economics, like sociology, is better studied than practiced. If the subjects of the experiment wise up, they can be very testy. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/4 "2004-04-22T05:35:49Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Well, it could have been worse. It is just one name mention. Sure, it’s inappropriate, IMHO, but no worse than any senator with his/her franking privlege. I’m not sure we’re on the same page, so to speak. I believe the OP is referring to this bit at the end: > [@](#): > > America has a choice: It can continue to grow the economy and create new jobs as the President’s policies are doing; or it can raise taxes on American families and small businesses, hurting economic recovery and future job creation. Which is so out of place my first instinct was a mild mannered hack job. ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/5 "2004-04-22T10:10:45Z")
That _has_ to be a hack. It just has to be. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/6 "2004-04-22T10:36:07Z")
> [@Gomez](#): > > That _has_ to be a hack. It just has to be. I wish. I just checked the Treasury Dept’s website, and a bunch of the press releases have the same crap at the end of the page. Shameless. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/7 "2004-04-22T10:45:35Z")
More shilling from the Treasury: [http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1315.htm](http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1315.htm) [http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1317.htm](http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1317.htm) It would appear that the Treasury Dept has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RNC. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/8 "2004-04-22T10:57:50Z")
I thought that campaigning for a candidate on government time was against the law. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that there was a whole big thing with Gore when someone sugested there were a couple of aides making phone calls on government phones. They may or may not have been on the clock at the time. Either way it was wrong if it happened. I also know that when I got a job at the post office I had to pledge an oath that I would not campaign for any candidate while working for the post office (Thankyou Jesse Helms) I was never quite sure, but they certainly seemed to be suggesting that this included off the clock. I do not find it suprising that Polititians would try to get a department like Treasury to put that kind of promotion at the end of their documents, what i do find strange, is that the bureucrats would risk their jobs in this manner. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/9 "2004-04-22T11:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > It would appear that the Treasury Dept has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RNC. I reckon it was sold to them by those paragons of virtue, the DNC: [http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr3200.htm](http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr3200.htm) [http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr2387.htm](http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr2387.htm) [http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr1582.htm](http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/rr1582.htm) [http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/pr9701091.htm](http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/pr9701091.htm) Well, heck, here’s [all 391 pages](http://ustreasury.mondosearch.com/cgi-bin/MsmFind.exe?QUERY_ENCODING=UTF-8&QUERY=clinton&MEDIA_TYPE=0&AND_ON=Y&AGE_WGT=0&EN=X&KO=X&AGE_WGT=0&CAT_KEY=2&BACK_FIRST_CAT_NUM=0) of them: ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/10 "2004-04-22T11:22:10Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Well, heck, here’s [all 391 pages](http://ustreasury.mondosearch.com/cgi-bin/MsmFind.exe?QUERY_ENCODING=UTF-8&QUERY=clinton&MEDIA_TYPE=0&AND_ON=Y&AGE_WGT=0&EN=X&KO=X&AGE_WGT=0&CAT_KEY=2&BACK_FIRST_CAT_NUM=0) of them: Do you really believe that your links are remotely comparable? The OP’s links contain blatant campaign text. Your links happen to contain the name of the then President. It is impossible for the Treasury to give news on its activities without namechecking the President. It is perfectly possible for it not to put active campaign text at the bottom of every release. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/11 "2004-04-22T11:27:52Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I reckon it was sold to them by those paragons of virtue, the DNC: … No one is surprised that an Executive Branch department would issue press releases that say “Our Administration is doing good things.” That’s par for the course, and not the least bit out of line. These latest press releases, however, contain a more disturbing element - a fairly blatant implication that, if you’re lured in by the arguments of our political opponents, terrible things will happen. I’m sure it’s happened before, and it will happen again. As **elucidator** has pointed out, however, it’s uncomfortably typical of this Administration, which seems to have a quasi-religious belief in the correctness of its world-view. Dissent is heresy. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/12 "2004-04-22T11:58:10Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Well, heck, here’s [all 391 pages](http://ustreasury.mondosearch.com/cgi-bin/MsmFind.exe?QUERY_ENCODING=UTF-8&QUERY=clinton&MEDIA_TYPE=0&AND_ON=Y&AGE_WGT=0&EN=X&KO=X&AGE_WGT=0&CAT_KEY=2&BACK_FIRST_CAT_NUM=0) of them: You’re missing a major difference here, **Lib**. You did a search of Treasury releases for “Clintion”, and though I haven’t read all 391 hits, the four you directly linked were press releases clearly labeled as discussing speeches and reports of the Treasury Secretary and Undersecretaries, policy-making political appointees. Scanning your the list of your search links, that’s what all of the hits seem to be. Press releases of political speeches and reports, clearly labeled as such, have always been common and unexceptional. The press release linked by **AHunter3** was a non-political release on better ways to file your taxes, with no direct link to any political appointee or issue. To the bottom of this apparently neutral release, after the “-30-” marking its end, was an addendum stating: > [@](#): > > America has a choice: It can continue to grow the economy and create new jobs as the President’s policies are doing; or it can raise taxes on American families and small businesses, hurting economic recovery and future job creation. Significantly, this is a sharply partisan statement and simply says “the President’s policies” and does not identify President Bush or another politician by name. (We won’t mention the fallacy of the excluded middle, or other substantive deficiencies of the statement.) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/13 "2004-04-22T12:27:40Z")
I’m amazed that’s not a hack. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/14 "2004-04-22T12:51:41Z")
Apparently the Treasury Dept.'s Inspector General has got a [probe](http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wm31_democrats/040420_rangel_praises_treasury_ig_for_broadening_probe.html) going that includes this issue: > [@](#): > > According to news reports, the IG broadened its investigation after [D-NY Rep. Charles] Rangel brought to their attention several press releases that claimed to be “April 15th Tax Day Reminders” but included clearly political rhetoric. […] > > "Nobody questions the right of Administration officials to speak for the President and explain his policies. But there is a difference between representing the Administration and using tax-payer provided resources for electioneering,’’ said Rep. Rangel. “I asked the Inspector General to investigate this matter to determine whether there is a pattern of crossing that line at the Bush Treasury Department.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/15 "2004-04-22T14:47:51Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I reckon it was sold to them by those paragons of virtue, the DNC I don’t get it… How is anything in the documents you linked to similar to this: > [@The United States of America Department of the Treasury](#): > > America has a choice: It can continue to grow the economy and create new jobs as the President’s policies are doing; or it can raise taxes on American families and small businesses, hurting economic recovery and future job creation. Please point it out to me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/16 "2004-04-22T16:55:11Z")
> [@The United States of America Department of the Treasury](#): > > Our ability to exploit the new opportunities has depended critically on President Clinton and Vice President Gore’s determination to stop a generation of public borrowing and forge a new national consensus around sound budget policy. We know that structural deficits give rise to vicious circles. They tend to lead to rising interest rates, and so to falling investment and slower growth, which reduce revenues further, increase deficits and start the cycle again. This is what we saw in the 1980s and the early 1990s. The above was printed at about the same time in the 2000 election cycle (April 21, to be exact). The obvious implication is that the Republican policies of Reagan/Bush, extended into the future, will be the death of us all. Of course, it isn’t identical wording. But something tells me that you would see even identical wording as somehow different. Cabinets have always shilled for their bosses. That’s their job. You people need to stop perpetuating foolishness like this and get serious about the issues. Talk to Americans about the loss of their civil liberties and the danger of losing the freedoms that they cherish. Get a fucking grip. Or else, prepare for four more years. This kind of crap just pisses people off. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/17 "2004-04-22T17:09:09Z")
Lib, in the real world, such actions are often seen (by me, and certainly by others, or else this thread wouldn’t exist) as an indication of a mindset that is cause for cocern when identified in a leader. You can only trivialize it by taking it out of context. Leaving it in context (hence my reference to “the real world”) makes it infuriating, if not frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/18 "2004-04-22T17:16:55Z")
Maybe I ain’t politically savvy like the rest of you, but the text from the OP’s link and the part\*\* Lib\*\* quoted seem pretty much in the same vein. I think both sides should quit it. But I don’t think they will. Cheer up. In 4 years, we’ll be seeing this stuff with Kerry’s name on it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/19 "2004-04-22T17:47:11Z")
**Lib** , if you can’t see why the release the OP linked to and the one you just quoted… well, frankly I don’t know what to say. My roommate is a hardcore conservative (organized pro-war rallies and shills for the local GOP) and even he saw the difference. We’re not seeing a difference just because we hate Bush, although frankly I doubt this is his doing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372/20 "2004-04-22T19:51:35Z")
I remember reading that the budget for this year included lots of full color photographs of the President. Something no other budget has ever had. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-has-treasury-dept-shilling-for-his-reelection-on-official-correspondence/241372.md?page=2)