Third columnist caught with hand in the Bush till

[Carolab]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/mcmanus/index_np.html

Third columnist caught with hand in the Bush till
Michael McManus, conservative author of the syndicated column "Ethics & Religion," received $10,000 to promote a marriage initiative.

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By Eric Boehlert



Jan. 27, 2005 | And three makes a trend.

One day after President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries to stop hiring commentators to help promote administration initiatives, and one day after the second high-profile conservative pundit was found to be on the federal payroll, a third embarrassing hire has emerged. Salon has confirmed that Michael McManus, a marriage advocate whose syndicated column, "Ethics & Religion," appears in 50 newspapers, was hired as a subcontractor by the Department of Health and Human Services to foster a Bush-approved marriage initiative. McManus championed the plan in his columns without disclosing to readers he was being paid to help it succeed.

[imenja]

1. This is already on the home page.

[murielm99]

2. How much of this stuff went on while * was campaigning

for the election?

I wonder if someone could get to him under campaign finance laws. If members of his administration paid columnists while he was running, it could be said that, by promoting his policies, they were campaigning for him.

I don't know enough about the campaign finance laws. It might be a stretch. But nobody disclosed the money being spent to support * policies. And it was taxpayer money.

[WCGreen]

4. Depending on when the articles appeared and

in what papers they ran, the FEC could make a ruling that government funds were used for campaign purposes.

That is, if I am not mistaken, a minor felony......

could this be the tipping point......

[bluestateguy]

3. Third time this has been posted

:eyes:

[liberal N proud]

5. I think this is still just a snow flake in on the mountain.

[Moderator]

6. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1190119&mesg_id=1190119