No Child Left Behind....for $240,000
First, the particulars:
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.
Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."
The top Democrat on the House Education Committee, Representative George Miller of California, called the contract "a very questionable use of taxpayers' money" that is "probably illegal." He said he will ask his Republican counterpart to join him in requesting an investigation.
Here's what I don't understand. Isn't Armstrong Williams a conservative? Doesn't that mean that, broadly speaking, he's already predisposed to be sympathetic toward President Bush's policies? And, given that he's also both black and a professional television pundit, that he would be likely to tout Bush initiatives like NCLB anyway?
So for what possible purpose did the White House pay him almost a quarter of a million dollars in public funds? I mean, in ruthlessly pragmatic terms, I can understand rewarding somebody to act against their philosophical leanings, but compensating somebody to reinforce them? Isn't that like stomping on the accelerator when you're already speeding down a steep hill?
And at what cost? Not only is this a gift to disgruntled Hill Democrats, but think of the damage to the credibility of already-embattled black conservatives across the country, who are already slimed as "Uncle Toms" every day, and now here's Armstrong Williams, among their most prominent brethren, turning out to have been on "Uncle George's" payroll. Thanks to this little caper, they're all going to be made to stink that much worse by libs of all colors who, in truth, aren't worthy to shine their shoes.
Senate Dems are completely engrossed in using Alberto Gonzalez for a piñata at the moment, and Condolezza Rice's turn in the barrel will follow soon thereafter. But something tells me that the Donks will not be long in taking advantage of a rare example of the Bushies "stepping in it" with both feet.
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.
Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."
The top Democrat on the House Education Committee, Representative George Miller of California, called the contract "a very questionable use of taxpayers' money" that is "probably illegal." He said he will ask his Republican counterpart to join him in requesting an investigation.
Here's what I don't understand. Isn't Armstrong Williams a conservative? Doesn't that mean that, broadly speaking, he's already predisposed to be sympathetic toward President Bush's policies? And, given that he's also both black and a professional television pundit, that he would be likely to tout Bush initiatives like NCLB anyway?
So for what possible purpose did the White House pay him almost a quarter of a million dollars in public funds? I mean, in ruthlessly pragmatic terms, I can understand rewarding somebody to act against their philosophical leanings, but compensating somebody to reinforce them? Isn't that like stomping on the accelerator when you're already speeding down a steep hill?
And at what cost? Not only is this a gift to disgruntled Hill Democrats, but think of the damage to the credibility of already-embattled black conservatives across the country, who are already slimed as "Uncle Toms" every day, and now here's Armstrong Williams, among their most prominent brethren, turning out to have been on "Uncle George's" payroll. Thanks to this little caper, they're all going to be made to stink that much worse by libs of all colors who, in truth, aren't worthy to shine their shoes.
Senate Dems are completely engrossed in using Alberto Gonzalez for a piñata at the moment, and Condolezza Rice's turn in the barrel will follow soon thereafter. But something tells me that the Donks will not be long in taking advantage of a rare example of the Bushies "stepping in it" with both feet.
posted by JASmius at 9:34 PM
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