More cash down the money hole? Maybe Scottie McClellan could apply since he's apparently out of work at the moment. A position as ONDCP spokesmonkey seems tailor made for McClellan's patented brand of robotically repeating bland talking points, coupled with no real ability to affect anything.
Advertising Age When the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy launched in 1999, it had an advertising budget of $195 million. That annual figure has now declined to $99 million. The anti-drug ad program -- already under fire by critics who question whether or not it works to curb drug abuse -- is now being criticized because its budget difficulties may prevent it from wielding enough media weight to make its national advertising effective. Some in Congress want to shut the campaign down. Its director [John Walters] wants Congress to increase its funding and says there is 'no excuse' for not doing so....
The drug office claims the campaign still reaches teens between three or four times a week.But it's managed that by taking draconian steps. Not only are the Super Bowl spots it once ran gone, but the campaign has ceased running ads aimed at parents and reduced the number of messages aimed at minority groups.
Moreover, the drug office started hoarding its ad time rather than give part of it over to other public-service groups for messages related to drug prevention-an agreement originally made to mollify public-service groups worried that their ads would get bounced by paid anti-drug ads.
and of course, the ONDCP foolishly focuses on the demon weed, per instructions from the Bush White House.
The Partnership, which wasn't entirely happy about the focus on marijuana that the Bush administration brought and moved to make its own public service efforts on other drugs, now concedes it has worked [uhh, yeah. I'll believe that when GWB pardons Saddam Hussein]. “It's no secret that we had reservations about [marijuana]. We pushed for a bigger repertoire,” said Mr. Clarkin. “I have to say that the results appear to vindicate the focus on marijuana.”Others question the measuring tool for success or whether the ad campaign has had much to do with any change. And some worry that kids using illegal drugs may just have moved on from marijuana to abuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Tags: Advertising, /drugs
