For years, we’ve been vaguely aware of Republican Talking Points, a set of officially sanctioned statements sent out to a mailing list of conservatives with the intent of keeping their message, and lies, consistent. Everyone from congressmen to Fox News anchors were on the list, and dutifully recited their talking points at every opportunity, ad nauseum. Yet, we’ve had few glimpses into this shadowy world of partisan spin until now.

Recently the Justice Department accidently pubished their talking points. Here you can read actual talking points from the memo sent to all Justice employees. It lists the exact statements partisan hacks are required to make in response to news stories which have yet to break in the mainstream media.

The invention of the talking point was brilliant, from a political point of view. They insure that the party leaders have control over the message, and thus the media. By creating a unified front, they frustrate investigative journalists and control the truth. Talking points in the past have urged wars in the middle east, spread propaganda about the administration’s enemies, attacked the integrity of their opponents like Joe Wilson, covered up mismanagement, nepotism, and fraud, deliberately confused the issues and generally misled the public.

If the current US administration has made mistakes, even committed crimes, then every person on their talking points mailing list is an accomplice and should meet the same judgement.