At The Columbia Star , we are in the business of telling the good news of our citizens. So when we got a press release about Dr. Gail Whitman–Elia of West Columbia receiving a National Physician of the Year award from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), I was glad to honor her with a story in our paper.

But as I found out weeks later, the primary purpose of the award is to raise funds for the NRCC.

On April 6, 2005, I began to receive emails from people all over the country concerning my article posted on TheColumbiaStar.com. People from as far as Madison, WI, and Indianapolis, IN, expressed their concern my article omitted the true nature of the award. Many cited a recent investigative report on ABC TV News. The ABC News article said in order for the winners to receive their awards in person and attend a March 15 dinner in Washington, DC, with President Bush, they had to donate $1250 to the NRCC. The article also stated indirectly there was no cost to recipients to be given the award.

The press release we received from Dr. Whitman–Elia’s marketing firm said she would be attending the March 15 dinner. It said nothing about the fundraising nature of the event. This aspect of the event was also never mentioned in my personal interview with Dr. Whitman–Elia and her marketing representative.

The reception of these awards by Dr. Whitman–Elia and numerous other physicians around the country does nothing to discredit their accomplishments. However, the dinner on March 15 raised $8 million for the Republican Party, according to an AP release on CNN.com.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/15/bush.funds.ap/index.html