Secrecy

Tortured Reasoning for Destroying Evidence of Torture

by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 2, 2008 - 3:32pm

Steve Benen writes that "As it turns out, the reasoning behind the CIA's decision to record interrogations on video, stop recording interrogations on video, and destroy the interrogation videos was all exactly the same: officials were hoping to avoid a public-relations nightmare." They were unsuccessful, of course, since the media reported widely on the destruction of the tapes and

Main Source: 
The Carpetbagger Report, December 30, 2007

Huckabee Plays Religion Card, Hides Hand

by Anne Landman — December 26, 2007 - 5:45pm

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee defended his controversial "Floating Cross" Christmas ad against charges that he is leveraging religion to boost his campaign, but jou

Main Source: 
Washington Post, December 23, 2007

Anonymously Defending Guantanamo from Criticism

by Diane Farsetta — December 17, 2007 - 6:16pm

"US military personnel at Guantanamo Bay called Fidel Castro a transsexual and defended the prison for terrorism suspects in anonymous web postings," according to a new report.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, December 13, 2007

The Abramoff Files

by Sheldon Rampton — November 1, 2007 - 4:05pm

Disgraced lobbyist Jack AbramoffWhen lobbyist Jack Abramoff pled guilty last year to multiple counts of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy, White House officials and George W.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, November 1, 2007

Only the Convenient Facts, Ma'am

by Diane Farsetta — October 25, 2007 - 5:06pm

Congressional testimony that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Julie Gerberding gave "about the impact of climate change and health was significantly edited by the White House," reports AP. "A CDC official familiar with both versions said Gerberding's draft 'was eviscerated,' cut from 14 pages to four," by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, October 24, 2007

Journalists Jailed

by Sheldon Rampton — October 19, 2007 - 2:10pm

The executive editor and CEO of Village Voice Media were arrested Thursday night after publishing details of what they call "breathtaking abuse of the constitution" in a grand jury subpoena against their Arizona newspaper, the New Times.

Main Source: 
Arizona Republic, October 19, 2007

McDeaths

by Bob Burton — October 10, 2007 - 7:41am
  • Topics: Food Safety, Crisis Management, Cause-Related Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility, Journalism, Corporations, Ethics, Health, International, Lobbying, Public Relations, Secrecy

    • An extract from Bob Burton's Inside Spin: The Dark Underbelly of the PR Industry.

    Brian Page, a 42-year-old railway worker, had been busy before Easter 1992 buying furniture for a house he had just moved into at Mt Pritchard, a south-western Sydney suburb. On their way home, his daughter Melissa wanted to stop at McDonald's in Fairfield for lunch. Shortly after returning home, Brian Page began vomiting and had diarrhoea. As Page's symptoms were initially indistinguishable from a bout of the flu, his doctor gave him a medical certificate and sent him home. Page took to bed for the next three days but on the fourth day went back to work, even though he wasn't feeling well. His boss noticed that Page was unable to write properly and seemed disoriented and confused by his work. He was so concerned about Page that he called a taxi and sent him home, but by then Page recognised something was seriously wrong and went straight to Liverpool Hospital. What was unknown to Page and his doctor was that he had been exposed to Legionella bacteria. If detected early, Legionnaires disease can be treated with antibiotics. Untreated, it can be a killer. Two days after being admitted to the intensive care unit of Liverpool Hospital, Page died. On what would have been his 43rd birthday, more than 100 family and friends attended his funeral.14

    My Own Private Idaho Poll

    by Diane Farsetta — October 3, 2007 - 2:46pm

    In Twin Falls, Idaho, an opponent of a proposed nuclear power plant is wondering who's polling local residents about nuclear energy. Last weekend, Peter Rickards was called by "a man who said he was conducting a survey about energy in Idaho. Most of the questions ... involved nuclear power and alluded to the Idaho Energy Complex, a controversial nuclear facility proposed by Virginia-based Alternate Energy Holdings" (AEH). Rickards "suspects AEH or its affiliates may have commissioned the survey to test the waters of public opinion as plans for the project move forward. ...

    Main Source: 
    The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho), October 2, 2007
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