Non-partisan agency boosted Republicans(they're talking about the DEA)
Non-partisan my ass. :roll: :roll:
By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in New York
Published: July 18 2007 03:00 | Last updated: July 18 2007 03:00
John Walters, head of the Bush administration's non-partisan drug agency, and his deputies engaged in a campaign blitz on behalf of vulnerable Republican members of Congress ahead of last year's mid-term elections, according to documents released yesterday.
Karl Rove, the chief political strategist for President George W. Bush, singled out the efforts of officials at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which shapes US drug policy, at a White House meeting after the congressional election last November.
In documents and e-mails released by Henry Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the chief House oversight committee who is investigating the matter, Douglas Simon, the agency's White House liaison, congratulated officials at the ONDCP for having their "hard work" noticed by Mr Rove.
"The director and deputies deserve the most recognition because they actually had to give up time with their families for the God-awful places we sent them," Mr Simon said in a November 21 e-mail.
Other documents show that at the suggestion of Sara Taylor, the former White House political affairs director, Mr Walters and his deputies attended 20 events in the months leading up to the election for Republicans who were in danger of losing their seats.
Mr Waxman's probe is part of a broader investigation of allegations that federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the General Services Administration and the Office of the Surgeon General, have been improperly politicised under the Bush administration.
Mr Waxman said in a letter to Ms Taylor that it was not uncommon for political appointees such as Mr Walters to travel to events with lawmakers, but that the "degree of White House control, the number of trips, and the agency involved" were "striking" because it appeared to be inconsistent with the agency's tradition of non-partisanship.
A spokesman for the anti-drug agency yesterday denied it engaged in partisan political activity.
"It is not surprising that more Republicans than Democrats would want to stand with senior officials talking about the administration's success stories [during the campaign season]," a spokesman said.
"We do plenty of events with Democrats and would be happy to do events with Congressman Waxman,"
(I wish they'd ask LEAP to attend.http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php) he added. He declined to comment on a suggestion in Mr Simon's e-mail that the agency was working in concert with the White House ahead of the election.
Mr Waxman's probe is not the first time the ONDCP has come under scrutiny for its political activities. In 2005, the agency was rebuked by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, for producing illegal "covert propaganda" when it distributed fake news reports on the Bush administration's drug policies.
http://www.nospank.net/rehab.htmDFAF also worked with then-governor Bush on anti-drug programs in Texas, and today claims to have his ear on national drug policy as well. Indeed, Arizona prosecutor and Sembler favorite Rick Romley was on Bush's short list for drug czar. Though Romley wasn't nominated, Bush did tap staunch drug warrior John Walters. The nomination caused Betty Sembler to remark, ".... we have lacked the leadership and support of the White House ... until now." http://www.dfaf.org/press/detail.php?id=95(Falls Church, Virginia) – Drug Free America Foundation commends the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for sponsoring four student drug testing regional summits this year. On March 15, 2006 ONDCP will host their third summit in Falls Church, Virginia at the Fairview Park Marriott, informing community leaders and school officials about the benefits of drug testing.
“These summits are extremely informative to communities considering the implementation of random student drug testing. The benefit of early detection of at-risk students should cut down addiction and ultimately save lives,” commented Calvina Fay, executive director of Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.http://cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22183.shtmlDenver -- The group opposing Amendment 44, which seeks to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, said Wednesday that a series of lectures will serve as the primary weapon in the campaign.
The lectures by various experts on drugs and addiction will focus on the dangers of marijuana and the effects on the state of legalizing cannabis, said Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society from Drugs.
“Marijuana is much more powerful and much more addictive than it was a generation ago,” Fay said. “The change proposed in Amendment 44 has terrible consequences for our state, particularly for our children.”
Fay’s group, which goes by S.O.S., is based in Florida but is helping lead the charge against Amendment 44.
Members of the coalition include Lt. Gov. Jane Norton and Andrew Barthwell, a Chicago-based doctor and former deputy director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
In addition to lectures, S.O.S. said it hopes to have money for radio ads, direct mail and computerized phone calls during the campaign.
Fay said the group has raised about $40,000 so far.
