Hidden Propaganda – WebMD Got $14 Million to Promote Obamacare

In an apparent attempt to have at least a few legitimate websites pointing out the “benefits” of Obamacare, new information reveals that the federal government has paid health authority WebMD nearly $14 million over the last three years to promote and inform readers about Obamacare.

The contract itself has been a matter of public record since 2011, but it’s only now that Americans are being told the true amount of money being spent on the campaign. According to documents from 2011, the total amount paid to WebMD would only be in the $4 million range. Then again, the size of the contract is only a small part of the concern many Americans have over this blurred line.

WebMD is viewed as a source of unbiased healthcare information for millions of internet users, so it’s worth making a stink when you realize they are essentially a paid arm of the federal government. The administration’s excuse is that people need “official information” sources on the law, but that can be handled through .gov websites that are clearly marked as government-owned. There’s certainly nothing wrong with going to the horse’s mouth for information, but there is something wrong with turning independent sources into propaganda machines.

For their part, WebMD denies that the government has any control over their editorial content, but that begs the question of why the feds would spend this money to begin with. If Obama’s healthcare law is up to snuff, why can’t it stand on its own? Considering the reputation WebMD has built for itself over the last decade, one would assume they would point out the benefits of Obamacare in the absence of a financial incentive.

Another Example of Liberal Propaganda

In the end, this is just another example of liberal propaganda working its way into unsuspecting American life. For years, Democrats have seen their message successfully disseminated through a number of non-official sources. The biggest propaganda arm is, of course, the news media. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Liberal propaganda comes to us through Hollywood, schools, TV commercials, the glorification of celebrity culture, and historical revisionism. Now, it seems, we must be wary of the internet as well.

Again, the point must be raised – why, if Obama’s policies are so good for the country, must his administration pay “unbiased” sources to propagate the benefits to Americans? And it’s a question they’ll never be able to answer to anyone’s satisfaction, because the only true answer is: the policy ain’t that good.

It’s a shame because WebMD provides a popular, valuable service to millions of Americans. To find out that everything written on the site must be viewed through a lens of suspicion certainly weakens their reputation. Next time you’re searching for the best way to treat your headache, you’ll have to consciously filter out the propaganda to make sure you’re not being encouraged to fall in line with Comrade Obama’s national socialism.