White House Creates New Position to Attack Administration Critics on Taxpayer's Dime
The White House is amping up its vigilance in silencing its critics with the creation of a new communications position designed to respond to unfavorable online stories about the President.
Attacking critics is nothing new for the administration, and the creation of this position is only the latest effort to throw the considerable weight of the White House bully pulpit behind efforts to attack Obama's critics. For the president, this tactic began during the campaign and has continued to date.
Until now, though, the fight was mostly funded by the DNC or campaign teams, as is standard practice for the sort of oppositional approach this position seems poised to adopt. But as an official White House position, taxpayers are actually the ones footing the bill for Obama’s new attack dog.
Communications staffers inside taxpayer-funded agencies like the White House are supposed to be windows of transparency to bring information about the government to the public through the media. This new position, officially known as the Director of Progressive Media and Online Response, will instead provide a White House sanctioned response to any unfavorable story about Obama circulating online, working as a political spin artist on the taxpayer's dime. Apparently, transparency from the White House requires a progressive slant.
Jesse Lee, former member of the DNC’s online team during the 2008 campaign cycle and staffer of the new media department of the White House, has filled the position, and already has an official White House Twitter account with which to attack the administration’s critics.
It appears Lee’s new job will be an outgrowth of the campaign’s 2008 Fight the Smears website that worked to combat baseless attacks on then-candidate Obama, but also to silence his critics. Those efforts included campaigns against radio hosts who gave platforms to two high-profile Obama critics, the Washington Examiner's David Freddoso and National Review's Stanley Kurtz.
Freddoso released a hard-hitting book, "The Case Against Barack Obama," during the 2008 campaign season, and was immediately described by Fight the Smears as making his career "off dishonest, extreme hatemongering.” Kurtz was similarly called out for digging up the connection between Obama and his radical preacher, Jeremiah Wright, and for exposing the work Obama did with Bill Ayers in Chicago's public schools.
The problem with this new position, though, is the White House is not a campaign office, and any position it creates in the vein of Fight the Smears is paid for by taxpayers, not private donors. For a politician to be deciding what is and is not true, attacking media outlets who contradict or disagree with the official White House position on an issue, leads to the troublesome conclusion that anything the White House says is true should be accepted as true just because they say it is.
Coming on the heels of last week’s threats by the White House to revoke Boston Herald’s press access to administration events in Boston for not being favorable enough to the president, it seems Lee will continue the administration's trend of silencing critics by acting as “the White House’s liaison to the progressive media and online community,” a tax-funded propaganda machine to retort any unfavorable online press.
We won't hold our breath waiting for a "liason to the conservative media and online community."
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Comments
I'm impressed.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 5:50pm.
I only wish the GOP were half as ruthless and determined and organized and proactive. That, ladies 'n' gents is how real politics is played......to win! We put these campaign-conservatives in office and they wilt like yesterdays flowers.......pansies to be more precise!
"campaign-conservatives"
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:51pm.
That's perfect.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
I have to disagree to an
Submitted by ant on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 2:59am.
I have to disagree to an extent. This is not playing to win. This is actually very un-American and unConstitutional and is not something we should put up with, it is a very dangerous precedent. And, frankly, should be front-page news everywhere, to not only get the administration in a "progressive media correction mode" tizzy, but because it's an outrage.
They're circling the wagons and digging up dirt
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 5:54pm.
Expect a very nasty 2012 campaign from the man who promised to change Washington.
Director of Progressive Media and Online Response is gobbledy-gook for Minister of Propaganda.
Without a doubt...This will be...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:29pm.
the dirtiest, nastiest, most corrupt campaign probably in the country's history...It's all hands on deck with the Obama/Dem/MSM machine, and make no mistakes, they will do whatever it takes to make sure that their beloved, incompetent Obama remains in office.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
When is this Criminal Enterprise going to be brought down!!!
Submitted by scottyusmc on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:02pm.
America is lost if this goes on past 2012!!!
Wow...
Submitted by retrocon on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:09pm.
First, and most obvious, this is the epitome of an "Office of Propaganda."
It really saddens me to hear that the office of the POTUS has been corrupted in such a vile manner.
Best we can do is to wait until mid 2012, then inundate the whitehouse with FOIA's and have some corporate lawyers on hand to push this in federal court. Demand ALL correspondence eminating from the WH to any media, social networking, or news site pertaining to "accusations by the WH of false or misleading statements." They will never be able to fullful the request.
The only good news... they must be in trouble when folks like Peter Fonda think Obama is ruining America.
We can and must do something!!
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:40pm.
We need to start calling and writing our representatives about this. Tell them they have the power of the purse strings and they better start using it.
Do I think it'll change anything? No but we need to let them know we're watching.
I love President Obama and he's doing a great job.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:20pm.
signed, SickofLibs, 24 May 2008.
~AKA: "Most clicked on subject line in NB history"
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:27pm.
.
Bru-ha~
Submitted by GG_NB on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:33pm.
Yep. ;)
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
Very likely...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:00pm.
When I saw this, I thought that there are 3 possibilites here...#1, Either some troll is online posting this, #2, Some NB'er is quoting this from somewhere else, or, #3, Some NB'er is being deliberately provocative and funny...It turned out to be #3...But it sure did get my attention!
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
You knew who it was, Prairie
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:16pm.
There's only two choices.
Cool Arrow or SickofLibs.
The resident jokesters.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Right you are, Blonde...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:45pm.
As soon as I saw that it was SoL, I got it... lol! ;-D
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Bru, I think SoL is just looking for attention
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:52pm.
:-^)
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
LOL Dave*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:05pm.
It worked too, certainly got my attention.
I thought SoL was mocking
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:23pm.
I thought SoL was mocking Prezidunce Obama for dating his comment today at Westminster Abbey in the year 2008.
Yep, smartest POTUS evah.
Strat
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:45pm.
Actually, I thought the comment was from President Obama himself.
Funny you would say that,
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:46pm.
Funny you would say that, Rad. I've been thinking that one or more of our trolls are disguised journOlisters, staffers and/or politicians. For instance, my working theory is Hank Mud is popinjay Gore Vidal.
~Ohhhhhhh
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:32pm.
Please, please, please pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me he's back. I haven't seen him since the night Rad caught him plagiarizing Wiki. I've missed that pretentious little weasel.
Not That I Know
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 11:01pm.
Bru:
I wasn't excited to see the likes of that hambone again, but now that you put it that way... I'd enjoy watching you ladies shred him. :-)
~Strat
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 1:02pm.
I just checked his Track page, and he did come back after a 3 month embarrassatical. If you want the best laugh you've had in a while, click on this link and scroll down.
"Embarrassatical" - Awesome Word, Bru!!
Submitted by stratman on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:04pm.
I remember reading this now classic takedown of the asshat back then. Truly magnificent work by Rad and you. Still makes me laugh.
Mine too!
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:47pm.
Definitely did a double take on that one! :-)
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
SoL~
Submitted by GG_NB on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:34pm.
Almost freaked me out! ;)
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
Sorry for the scare, everyone...
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 1:17pm.
I just wanted that in my record in case I get "investigated"... ;)
And I said it all the way back in 2008!
Obama is insane.
Submitted by acaiguana on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:31pm.
If Congress doesn't hold immediate hearings on this Thug's position; I'll just give up.
That must be their plan. Wear down the people with Boeing Threats; Israel Border Speeches; and centering a Limo in Ireland?
Is there anyone left in the Administration with common sense?
I refuse to allow my taxes to go for this stupidity.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Why didn't they just name it honestly?
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 6:40pm.
"Ministry of Truth"
George Orwell is spinning in his grave, saying "I told you so," again and again.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Olberdouche must have been the second choice
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:11pm.
I hate his bleepin' guts, there is no redeeming quality to him at all.
I expect an e-mail soon from the ministry of propoganda anytime now.
I'll be back, someone is knocking at my door................................
So, Herr Goebbels, er
Submitted by UpNorth on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 7:32pm.
Jessie Lee, will now oversee the Ministry of Propaganda and Truth? It should be interesting, UJ at Blackfive and Jonn at This Ain't Hell have been all over this. Personally, I can' wait for this to play out. I'm thinking the amateurs in the WH have a few more lessons to learn.
And, I"m sure they'll laugh while taking taxpayer money to screw over taxpayers. That's the only rule in their playbook.
Er...They Aren't Amateurs In This Whitehouse
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:01pm.
These are very professionals at stealing elections
New Job for Dan Rather?
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:17pm.
I said Obama was going to be the Dems version of Nixon and he's proving to be much worse on so many levels. His administration behaves like two-bit Politburo thugs twisting arms and attacking any dissent no matter how small.
Goebbels would be proud
Submitted by deadeyedan on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 8:42pm.
The reference to Stanley Kurtz hits the target perfectly. He was scheduled to come on as a guest to "Extension 720", a regular late evening broadcast on WGN radio hosted for several decades by the University of Chicago's Milt Rosenberg. Milt, though by self admission conservative leaning, has always been known to provide virtually equal time to those with opposing views.
There was a barrage of calls, e-mails and outright threats to the station over the purported "lies" being perpetrated by Kurtz; how dare someone like that be invited to a Chicago radio show. When it became obvious that the attempts to shut down the broadcast were becoming outrageous it was natural to wonder just when the Obama campaign would step in to let their followers know that proper discourse required that there be a free exchange of ideas and that any charges leveled by Mr. Kurtz could be handled after the broadcast.
Oh, no! Instead, it turned out that it was the official campaign itself that was urging their followers to quell free speech and tell the station to halt the interview. Sign of things to come.
ClimateGate - the revelation that the pseudo-scientists at East Anglia University know just as much about the atmosphere as Harvard law professors know about the Constitution - deadeyedan
Obama To Take Campaign Money From Martians
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 9:59pm.
Obama is not going to limit his campaign in any way. I don't think most people can imagine everything that a Chicago politician will do when his back is aganst the wall.
So when Jesse Goebbels fails, care to guess what will be coming
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:36pm.
...next?
It's long past time for the American Idol zombie sheeple to wake the Hell up, else we are going to lose our country well before the first vote is cast in November of 2012.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
So in a nutshell
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:50pm.
We get to help the campaign of someone we want OUT with our tax money. How can such miss use of tax money be legal?
Obama the Dictator
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:01am.
Apparently this administration thinks there is nothing they are not allowed do. The scary thing is so far they have gotten away with breaking all kinds of laws. Who is going to stop them. Too many democRATs and RINOs in congress and the Justice Department is filled with crooks and thugs.
Obama would declare him president for life if the thought he could get away with it. (Our so-called media would cover for him).
Scary Hints
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 12:09am.
This is exactly the kind of thing we feared when during the campaign and election of 2008 we saw ominous suggestions of authoritarianism from Obama and his followers. I doubt that he'll succeed in being the elected fascist-like dictator that, potentially, these moves and appointments suggest, but the hints of what might be are chilling to contemplate if ever carried through to conclusion.
Wife's a MoveOn.org loon
Submitted by OxyCon on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 12:52am.
(UPDATED: Uh oh — Lee’s wife, Nita Chaudary, behind the “Betray Us” Ad?) Googling Jesse Lee
UPDATE: Lee is married to Nita Chaudary. Here is a CSPAN transcript from Sep. 10, 2007, wherein Chaudary represents — and ardently defends — MoveOn.org for publishing the Petraeus smear ad prior to Petraeus speaking a word before Congress.
Says Chaudary:
We want to make sure the truth gets out there in advance of this testimony.
I found the following bio for Chaudary from 2008:
Nita Chaudhary, Campaign Director at MoveOn.org Political Action: Nita leads MoveOn’s campaigns on the Iraq War, Constitutional Liberties as well as running the fundraising program for MoveOn’s 2008 electoral effort. In the past she was the Director of Online organizing for the DNC. She’s also held several positions at People for the American Way, including Media Research Analyst, Web Editor, and Online Organizer.
I think it fairly safe to hypothesize that Chaudary may own that ad: as the leader of MoveOn’s campaigns regarding the Iraq war, the ad as conceived may be her work.
http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/05/24/googling-jesse-lee/
he's gonna be busy
Submitted by jessieH on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:16am.
The only stories about obama that doesn't criticize is from the liberal media. Everything and everyone else can't stand the arrogant, nose-in-the-air, better-than-you President.
At what point...
Submitted by Patriot II on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:38am.
does this A.H. put on his nazi armband? Enough of this shyt!!!
There is a precendent to this position
Submitted by PTW on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 1:08pm.
The White House Iraq Group was taxpayer funded and sole purpose was propaganda to support the invasion of Iraq.
Extremely well documented, the group focused on threat rhetoric, questioning Democrat motives, and defense of the policy.
What's the difference?
Look at the bright side
Submitted by GW on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 1:52pm.
Now they can claim another job 'created or saved'
Censoring?
Submitted by RLA Bruce on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:56pm.
I saw this article briefly from a link on Drudge. It hung my browser and after three tries the link no longer existed on Drudge! I had to google to find this article. Has anyone else seen a disappearing link on this? Is the new "Director of Progressive Media and Online Response" already at work to eliminate unfavorable mentions on Drudge?