WTF?
Dan Rather reports on an issue using memos of undetermined origin, and he gets raked over the coals. On top of CBS employees geting sacked (today) and Rather being forced to resign, the media world explodes (remember that "crying eye" Newsweek cover) - and all we know (at most) is that the memos might not be authentic.
Armstrong Williams gets PAID $250,000 to shill for the administration, promoting its policies, and give its officials air time. And he has admitted
it. Let me say that again: he has ADMITTED to getting a quarter of a million dollars to be a secret mouthpiece of BushCo and to give its officials a mouthpiece -- all while acting like an unbiased commentator.
So, with Memo-gate months removed (hell, it's a 2004 issue) and with Payola-gate being exposed last week, which is dominating the e-front pages today?
You guessed it.
It's time for some outrage from the blogosphere. And some outrage about the lack of outrage from the SCLM.
I mean REAL outrage.
The fire and brimstone kind. Email campaigns demanding some answers and media coverage. LTEs. www.payolagate.com. Moveon.org petitions. The whole works. Blast 'em all, from the White House to the Fox News corporate HQ.
When are taxpayers getting their money back from Armstrong back? Who authorized this payment plan? Who are the others on the payroll? What did they write and say? Any other fake "news reporters" out there? What the hell is going on??? We must demand congressional hearings, special prosecutors, and frogmarching officials down Pennsylvania Ave.
OUTRAGE, KOSSACKS!
Update [2005-1-10 16:22:31 by VirginiaDem]: Of course, some outrage ammo:
Corn: "Armstrong Williams: I Am Not Alone"
Kossack troutfishing on the history of payola
An essential one from Bowers: "Payolagate" (and how this is BushCo's fourth such scandal in 8 months!)
Willis is showing outrage all over his homepage, and tells us (among other things) which federal law this breaks.
Update [2005-1-10 17:35:27 by VirginiaDem]: More ammo:
Dubner asks conservative to take the oath of honesty - flood the media and demand the oath!
GAO FraudNet:
"The purpose of the Government Accountability Office's FraudNET is to facilitate the reporting of allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds."
Uh, yeah, sounds about right (if you add "illegal"). Email them at fraudnet@gao.gov and demand an investigation.