Commentary: Propaganda and the media

Joseph L. Galloway | McClatchy Newspapers
last updated: May 15, 2008 02:42:32 PM

Once upon a time, it was widely believed that one of the greatest sins the U.S. government or its temporary political masters could commit was to turn a propaganda machine loose on the American people.

Congress viewed this so seriously that every appropriations bill passed since 1951 has contained language that says no public money “shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States” without the lawmakers' prior approval.