Ethics, schmethics, as long as Bill Moyers is kept in line

Bush's watchdog at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, who was charged with making sure Bill Moyers and David Brancaccio didn't say too many mean things about Bush, is on the hot seat for what else? misuse of federal funds:

Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, the head of the federal agency that oversees most government broadcasts to foreign countries, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, is the subject of an inquiry into accusations of misuse of federal money and the use of phantom or unqualified employees, officials involved in that examination said on Friday.

Mr. Tomlinson was ousted from the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on Thursday after its inspector general concluded an investigation that was critical of him. That examination looked at his efforts as chairman of the corporation to seek more conservative programs on public radio and television.

[snip]

People involved in the inquiry said that investigators had already interviewed a significant number of officials at the agency and that, if the accusations were substantiated, they could involve criminal violations.

Last July, the inspector general at the State Department opened an inquiry into Mr. Tomlinson's work at the board of governors after Representative Howard L. Berman, Democrat of California, and Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, forwarded accusations of misuse of money.

The lawmakers requested the inquiry after Mr. Berman received complaints about Mr. Tomlinson from at least one employee at the board, officials said. People involved in the inquiry said it involved accusations that Mr. Tomlinson was spending federal money for personal purposes, using board money for corporation activities, using board employees to do corporation work and hiring ghost employees or improperly qualified employees.

Just like "Brownie", however, Tomlinson is still on the federal payroll, as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

But hey! Misuse of federal funds is perfectly OK if you're a Republican.

Now watch Congressional Republicans use this as a reason to dismantle funding for public television...which may have been the point all along.