Uncategorized • June 24th, 2008

The Christian candidate?

by Greg Batiansila

“I’ve never been invited to meet with a Democratic presidential candidate. So I was surprised when I received an invitation a couple of weeks ago to join “a small group of religious leaders, academics and faith-based organizations” to meet with Senator Barack Obama in Chicago on June 11. Since I am opposed to the leftist political stands of the Democratic Party and of Obama specifically, I didn’t really want to attend…”

So the blog post from Stephen Strang began. In it, the founder of a massive Christian communications company and the editor of Charisma magazine relates his interaction with the Democratic nominee for President. Strang discusses his reservations about Obama, explains the probing question he asked the junior Senator about abortion and gives a rough idea (it was an off the record meeting) of Obama’s response.

Strang concluded: “I returned from the meeting very concerned. Here is a liberal—Obama–reaching out to the Christian community at a time the conservative–Sen. John McCain–seems to be distancing himself from the so-called “Christian Right.” I think McCain has a lot of work to do to get the support of the Christian community. Obama seemed to have the support of at least half of the 43 leaders who attended the Chicago meeting. And in my opinion, he “made points” with the rest. The tone of the meeting was respectful and generally upbeat.”

If McCain thinks that the Christian Right are going to blindly follow a party, he’s going to be embarrassed this November.

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Views on News • June 20th, 2008

Forget Mortgages: Where’s The Student Loan Bailout?

by Greg Batiansila

The truth is “The Mortgage Crisis” wasn’t a “crisis” until banks started to have trouble. Prior to that time, delinquency rates on subprime mortgages were high (meaning people were suffering) but the Federal Government offered no solutions. In 2004, Governor Edward Gramlich (who was a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve at that time) noted some potential problems:

“While the basic developments in the subprime mortgage market seem positive, the relatively high delinquency rates in the subprime market do raise issues. For mortgage lenders the real challenge is to figure out how far to go. If lenders do make new loans, can conditions be designed to prevent new delinquencies and foreclosures?”

His questions and observations weren’t heard until the big banks and investment houses started to flounder. When their stocks were downgraded and their losses began to litter the market, the Feds realized a call to step in.

For years, college graduates have struggled to repay their student loans - while the numbers have declined of late, 10 years ago, default rates were close to 20 %.

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Messaging, Views on News, public relations • May 5th, 2008

Opportunity Missed

by Greg Batiansila

Some of the best public affairs centers around timing. If something you represent or advocate is getting assailed publicly, you must act quickly, succinctly and directly. Did I say quickly?

So when the head of a major corporation in Milwaukee comments on Milwaukee’s “anti-business” attitude…if you work for City of Milwaukee, you must act quickly, succinctly and directly.

From a public affairs perspective, my first call wouldn’t be to the Journal Sentinel or any media outlet. Why bother getting into a media contest? My first call would be to John Shiely. I want him to know we’re listening. I want him to know my cell number. I want him to realize that we’re humans, that we can work together. I want Shiely to think he has advocates working for the City of Milwaukee.

Then I’d call the media. I’d let them know exactly what we’re doing to make Milwaukee a haven to business. Let them know that I’ve had an open and honest conversation with John and that he’d be included as we move forward.

Instead, according to JSOnline, I see the City of Milwaukee has responded with a yawn.

Now, some of these suggestions may already have been implemented behind the scenes to no avail. But bringing opinion leaders together as part of the solution is a great first step if it has not happened yet.

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Uncategorized • May 2nd, 2008

The Crisis of Crises

by Greg Batiansila

One of the best methods of public affairs - and something you’ll see overwhelmingly in an election year - is inundation. If you inundate the media and populace with a thought or idea, even if everyone furiously tries to wipe away your inundation, there’s bound to be some residue.

Case in point: the mortgage crisis. It’s a crisis, right? Based on the inundation of reports you’ve seen, heard and read, the mortgage industry is facing a crisis that is applying blunt-force trauma to the economy. Sooo. What’s the foreclosure rate? According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, it’s at 2.04 percent of all outstanding loans.

Granted, the number is higher than the previous quarter. But if 98% of loans are not in foreclosure, is there a foreclosure crisis? In an election year - and with some really great public affairs saying all the right things - there sure is.

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New Media, public relations, wispundits • April 29th, 2008

TXT Release

by Greg Batiansila

A creative public affairs pro will constantly be testing and exploring new platforms for their releases. So this and this were inevitable. And, if you ask me, it’s not going to go away. So remember to come up with a brief version of that three-paragraph release for those who have a trigger reflex for cell vibrations.

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Branding Politix, Fundraising, Messaging, New Media, Report from the Field, Research & Ideas • April 8th, 2008

It’s a millennium thing. Get used to it.

by Greg Batiansila

For years, American culture – from politics to entertainment to our interpretation of law – has been under the influence of the Baby Boom generation. Boomers will continue to enjoy considerable power and sway even while they gray and retire. But Americans will now have to reckon with a new force – the Millennial Generation.

Millennials – the name given to those born between 1978 and 1996 – boast Boomer-like numbers, education and clout. Researchers are finding this new generation is very different from previous generations in their view of the world and how they vote. For example, almost 50% of Millennials identify themselves with the Democrat party while only 35% align themselves with Republicans.

Laying claim to the media platforms where Millennials communicate, shop and visit is an essential part of today’s and all future campaigns. McCain’s may be the last of the dinosaur campaigns that ascend almost solely through traditional fundraising and media. Look for all campaigns in the future to use the web – perhaps exclusively – create and enhance community, and raise money.

In 2008, close to 50 million Millenials will be eligible to vote. How many actually vote, and how they vote, and what moves them remains to be seen. But you’re already seeing the beginning salvos…like here and here and here…in a battle for the heart, soul and vote of the Millennial generation.

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Creative, Messaging, wispundits • March 18th, 2008

Who are you?

by Greg Batiansila

It’s a question the electorate asks of a candidate, a question campaigns work to answer. It’s a question Romney and Hillary haven’t answered clearly - and it’s cost them.

One local adman, Steve Eichenbaum, has shown proven excellence in showing his candidates as a man of the people. It was Eichenbaum who showed Democratic Senator Russ Feingold as a suburban underdog with little money but a lot of honesty and integrity. This election year, he’s developing similar folksy charm for Steve Novick, a Democratic underdog in Oregon.

Should every candidate be cast as a man or woman of the people? Hillary’s handlers have tried it with sometimes damaging consequences. Clearly Barack’s people are comfortable with depicting him as something beyond “everyday.”

In John McCain’s latest advertisement, his campaign has positioned him as a timeless figure – quite the opposite of the everyday man. In the ad, McCain’s words are intercut with images and speeches of some of the greatest leaders in Western history.

The advertisement is brilliantly crafted. Who is John McCain? The ad answers: McCain is Churchill of this era. Where Obama’s strengths focus on his oratory, this advertisement says much without words. Time flies by, the cosmos undulate, it says. Greatness transcends these things. The wonderful shots at the close of the advertisement shot - in lush, cinematic saturated glory, and then melting to what looks like the cosmos - are brilliant.

I give the ad tremendous props for swinging for the fence and answering the age-old political question with gusto. Sometimes when you swing for the fences, however, you just miss.
more »

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Creative, Grass Roots Organization, New Media • March 17th, 2008

MoveOn beckons Web 2.0 to race

by Greg Batiansila

MoveOn.org, the outspoken left-leaning political website, is showing just how much the political grassroots landscape has changed in just one election cycle.

The site is calling on filmmakers, writers, directors, actors, editors, composers, graphic artists, and animators to use their creativity and create an ad supporting Barack Obama. MoveOn has even YouTubed their call to creative arms.

What you’re seeing and will continue to see is a move on the Internet toward social media, one where the audience creates content and essentially contributes in a conversation with itself and a website. The result is powerful – you give contributors their minutes of fame and priceless exposure, get free content, and engage the audience to share and contribute.

Politically, this is the first major step toward audience-created media that skirts campaign rules and campaign-driven “talking points.” If MoveOn.org posts its top 100 videos, and one or more are risky or take avant garde stabs at the opponent, both MoveOn and Obama can simply disassociate itself from the ad as something made by a novice and not from their campaign – even while displaying the ad under the context of a contest. But if something is truly moving and great, Obama or MoveOn can snatch the ad up and give it national play.

Locally, politicians could use the same platform to engage the electorate. more »

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Fundraising, Grass Roots Organization, Messaging • March 10th, 2008

I’ve seen the future & it will be… (part 2)

by Greg Batiansila

Barack Obama’s fundraising is making considerable waves - and not just because of the incredible amount of money he’s brought in (Obama reports raising 55 million dollars in February alone) - but how he’s raising the money - on the internet.

“Obama’s staggering sum is made all the more frightening for Republicans because much of it came over the Internet in small sums — support that not only underscores Obama’s organic appeal but that also signals an ability to raise more money from a donor pool that now totals more than 1 million individuals.” (read more here)

Running for office? Regardless of whether its local, regional or national - how’s your website? Today’s campaigns are using the web for more than some show ‘n’ tell. The web platform is quickly becoming the focus for practically every aspect of a campaign.

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Branding Politix, Messaging, New Media, Views on News • March 6th, 2008

I’ve Seen The Future & It Will Be…

by Greg Batiansila

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has made some headlines for creating his first web-specific video ads. As commented earlier on this blog, Mr. Walker has undoubtedly turned to the future of local and regional politics – messaging using the web platform.

In today’s world, no other platform matches the web’s ability to get your message out instantly and cheaply. Even in the smallest, least-funded races, candidates will continue to warm to web communications – from Utterz voice messages to web video – over almost every other medium.

The danger is that while candidates are employing “cheap” methods of messaging, their message shouldn’t be cheap. Or cheapened. Walker’s web videos reflect some of his intrinsic characteristics – frugality, self-reliance, an everyday man quality. But the videos also have bad audio, bad shot composition, and some ad-lib issues that might not reflect Walker’s oratory abilities.

It pays to understand social media. Candidates should know that YouTube lists its videos as “thumbnails” using the middle frame of the uploaded video. Our video editor here makes certain our video’s middle frame has a great shot so that the thumbnail is a little ad in itself. Even in the world of shoestring budgets and “do-it-yourself” media, leaning on experts will elevate you and your message.

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