Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch…
Payola now comes with a sprig of mint and a little paper umbrella (via Reuters via TPM):
At least 10 Florida journalists received regular payments from a U.S. government program aimed at undermining the Cuban government of Fidel Castro, The Miami Herald reported on Friday.
Total payments since 2001 ranged from $1,550 to $174,753 per journalist, according to the newspaper, which said it found no instance in which those involved had disclosed that they were being paid by the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
Presumably, these people weren’t taking the money and then turning around and writing things that were so clearly unlike their previous work that it would be obvious they were suddenly on the take. Maybe they felt like they were just accepting a little extra gratitude for writing something they would have written anyway. As young reporters, they probably busted their asses for years barely scraping by, and it was probably their turn to get a little something for all the sweat equity they’ve put in. Besides, Castro’s a dictator, an enemy of this country and all the people he threw out of Cuba. Where’s the harm? Really, what’s $175,000 between friends?
