Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

February 17, 2005

Williams Says It Was His Idea

Commentator Armstrong Williams, the first involved in the pundit payola scandal, told the New York Times "it was his own idea to seek a contract with the administration" to promote President Bush's policies.

Williams "said he submitted proposals early in the administration to both the Education Department and the Department of Health and Human Services offering to play a role promoting programs aimed at African-Americans."

"He said he had viewed the advertising on his own program as both a public service and good business, never imagining it would someday erupt in an episode that has made his name a metaphor for government efforts to pay off journalists."

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Taegan D. Goddard is the creator of Political Wire, a political column updated around the clock with the most interesting news, buzz and commentary.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Christian Science Monitor.

This is a personal site and does not necessarily reflect the views of any company, political campaign or advocacy group.

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