Kerry Measure To End Wartime Propaganda Becomes Law

[ProSense]

10/14/2008

Kerry Measure To End Wartime Propaganda Becomes Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kerry today announced that President Bush signed into law Kerry’s legislation to prohibit the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) from funding propaganda. The measure was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2009.

“With confidence in Washington at an all-time low, the American people should not have to wonder whether the ‘non-partisan, expert’ analysis they see on television might have been shaped by a government propaganda campaign,” said Sen. Kerry. “It’s essential to make sure the public’s money isn’t used for propaganda campaigns that undermine the public trust.”

In April, Sen. Kerry called for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the DOD’s covert efforts to cultivate military analysts with distinguished service records to produce favorable press coverage of the Bush Administration’s wartime policies in Iraq and elsewhere.

[MadMaddie]

1. This is a good move.

I wonder why * signed it? Propaganda has been the cornerstone for everything that he has done over the last 8 years.

[Cha]

3. That did require a doubletake from

me:wow:

[loudsue]

10. Because the PENTAGON isn't the place where all the Iraq war propaganda

originated. It was the oval office and the CIA via Cheney's office.

This doesn't do shit. Otherwise, bush wouldn't have signed it, and congress wouldn't have passed it.

[ProSense]

12. Nonsense.

Bush was forced to sign it. He wasn't going to veto a defense authorization bill, which is what Kerry's legislation was attached to.

[karynnj]

31. He had no choice, Kerry got it included in the defense appropriations bill

Bush had to sign the bill, making this law or veto it and have the chaos of not having that budget passed.

[Cha]

2. Thank you, Senator Kerry! One of the best US

Senators we have:patriot:

[wildflower]

4. Excellent.

Thank you, Senator Kerry.

[patrice]

5. Thank YOU Senator John Kerry!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[EnviroBat]

6. So, the DOD can't give any more money to FOX News?

Sounds good to me.

[ipfilter]

7. One would think

a law such as this would have already existed.

[TornadoTN]

8. I wonder if Bush used his obligatory signing statement to give Kerry and his law the finger?

I don't see Bush and the DoD following this law. Hell, why does it matter when they have the MSM to do the propaganda for them?

[pleah]

9. That is great and all, but will they actually

enforce this piece of legislation? Or, will they ignore this regimes crimes like they have been?

[uponit7771]

13. I pray Obama hits them hard if they do try this crap again. The military industrial complex is too..

...big in this country

[pleah]

19. I had this feeling this morning that

the rethugs are making a big deal about Obama and the race thing, because they are really terrified that he will take them all down when he gets elected. They think that racism is more prominent than (I think) it really is. Yes, there are plenty of racists out there, but, I think the majority of people are not racist.

[Orsino]

11. Well, damn.

Hope it sticks.

[MadrasT]

14. Well, I applaud the effort.

:applause:

[yellerpup]

15. John Kerry never stops fighting for this country.

Thank you, Senator, for preventing my tax dollars being wasted on lies!

[politicasista]

16. Yep!

Even when the DU peanut gallery throws tomatoes at him he keeps fighting and working hard to get Obama elected.


:patriot:

[yellerpup]

18. He's a bigger man than that.

He's faced real enemies. He's saved lives at the risk of his own. John Kerry has earned the title of hero. :patriot:

[politicasista]

20. Yes he is.

Excellent post.

:patriot: :hi:

[wisteria]

23. I love your comments. They are so true. n/t

[yellerpup]

29. It's easy to praise the worthy.

:hi:

[Supersedeas]

17. One shock and awe invasion and occupation too late: Bushler, we will remember

[Laelth]

21. k&r for John Kerry. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[wisteria]

22. Excellent legislation. The American public deserves "no spin" on

matters as important as war and security.
It is a damn shame though that legislation like this was necessary. The Bush administration cut new ground in ways of deceit and manipulation. Good riddance.

[Democrafty]

24. k & r for ProSense, and my favorite senator! n/t

[Starry Messenger]

25. Wow.

This seems like the sort of thing that makes it into the history books. This is so important. I hope it has far-reaching consequences. The last few years have been so Orwellian...it feels like a little sunshine is finally making its way in.

[Poseidan]

26. excellent

Cuts down on government propaganda without infringing on free speech.

[boppers]

27. WTF? Seriously?

Okay, this is just plain sad. Does Kerry not know this game, or does he not realize how we, as a country, play it?

For those of you not familiar with how this works, the bill would also have to cut funding to the CIA, NSA, HHS, VOA, CDC, EPA, Forest Service, heck, just about every government agency under federal control.

For those of you who don't follow the game, here's a brief explanation:
Our intelligence services are not morons. When they want to spread a black/white/grey message (aka propaganda), they don't just prime one pump and hope nobody notices, they perform a full court press with every, and any, outlet that they can get.

Playing whack-a-mole with federal agencies isn't a solution.

Even denying funding to federal agencies for "propaganda" isn't a solution, because the agencies would just "outsource" "public relations" to entities that don't have to follow US government internal laws. This is how the game is played.

For comparison purposes, this is a tad like a law that "forbids a single federally funded agency from using violence, torture, or rampant bloodshed to subdue a foreign populace".

Enter the "sub-contractors", like Blackwater.

Another comparison, "federal agencies shall not tap people's phones without a warrant".

Enter the "sub-contractors", like Narus.

Basically, the way the Church committee laws, and other intel/cointel laws, are being evaded is through privatization.

[ProSense]

30. Right,

who needs laws. They don't work anyway.

Dumb!

[Ian_rd]

28. I thought it was already against the law, why did we need another law?

Am I wrong? I thought it was already against the law to use taxpayer money to fund domestic propaganda.

http://www.prwatch.org/node/7261

[Aloha Spirit]

34. Exactly! Well, there are a few differences, but overseas propaganda i still legal,

and this still bugs me.

the summary of section 1075:
"Prohibits the use of any funds by DOD for propaganda purposes within the United States not otherwise specifically authorized by law. Requires the DOD Inspector General and the CG to each conduct a study, and report to Congress on, the extent to which DOD has violated the prohibition on propaganda established under prior defense appropriations Acts."

From my 3 minute read through, it seems like the bill requires more resources to be directed to oversight, accountability, and, in general, diplomacy.

[beachmom]

32. Prosense: did Obama have anything to do with that bill?

I thought he did.

[wicket]

33. So proud to have him & Uncle Teddy as my Senators!

:patriot:

[jazzjunkysue]

35. Good luck enforcing it. Try subpoenaing someone. See how far that gets you.

We have dozens of outstanding, ignored subpoenas right now.
So, now we have yet another law these bastards have broken that they'll never be held accountable for.

Congratulations.

[L. Coyote]

36. Sooooooooooooo overdue!!

[MessiahRp]

37. Kerry fucking rocks!

That is MY President!

Rp