Bush Administration Spent $1.6B on ‘Propaganda’ Efforts

The study, requested by the House of Representatives Democratic leadership, found that from 2003 to mid-2005, the administration racked up some $1.4 billion in contracts with advertising agencies to broadcast positive messages about its policies and initiatives. Another $200 million went to public-relations companies, and $15 million were spent building connections with media outlets. Individual members of the press received a total of $100,000 in promotional contracts.

While the amounts mentioned are small change relative to the size of the federal budget, in absolute terms this is a media campaign of a considerable scope. I don't know how that compares to the equivalent outlays of other US administrations but one thing can be said fro sure: those who claim that the present government is powerless against the media - liberally slanted media, of course - most certainly don't have much of a point.

tags: bush  propaganda