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Sunday, January 16, 2005

 
BARTLETT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN Have journalists other than Armstrong Williams been paid to tout the Bush agenda?

This morning on Meet The Press, counselor to the president Dan Bartlett had several things to say on the subject. None of them sounded like a denial:

MR. RUSSERT: [Armstrong] Williams said that other journalists have also received money to promote administration policies. Will there be an investigation by you or will you be willing to present to the American people any other journalists who have received money?

MR. BARTLETT: I'm sure there is a review going on within the administration to determine just that.

MR. RUSSERT: There is?

MR. BARTLETT: I believe there to be. I know the Congress has already expressed interest in knowing this issue, and we will work with Congress to see--because the president has made very clear that there ought to be a bright line between journalism and advocacy.
Earlier in the show, there was this lovely (unrelated) exchange:
MR. RUSSERT: "Bring them on." Was that too macho by the president?

MR. BARTLETT: I think the president later has realized that his words mean something.


CONTRAPOSITIVE is edited by Dan Aibel. Dan's a playwright. He lives in New York City.