Views on News, public relations • May 28th, 2008

Scott squeals

by Chris Lato

Maybe that’s not a fair headline, but I have really mixed feelings about the news that Scott McClellan, a former member of the Bush inner circle, has written a highly critical tell-all about his time as the President’s press secretary. Heck, the Drudge Report had ‘Scott the Snitch’ as its giant headline today.

My objections are not necessarily what you may think at first.

For starters, will I read the book? You betcha. I’m a big fan of the modern political memoir, particularly from someone who handled communications for the president. It’s coming from a guy who made it to the top of my profession, and I also think it’s unfair to dismiss what the guy has to say without actually reading it first.

The book isn’t coming out until next week, but based on initial press reports, some of McClellan’s writing rings true. As someone who did partisan political communications in a previous life, I absolutely buy into his assertions that sometimes he was lied to and/or kept in the dark to ensure he delivered the right spin on behalf of the White House.

Yet the opportunism on display here is unseemly. It strikes me as piling onto President Bush to make a buck. And, perhaps sensing which way the political winds are blowing, this is McClellan’s attempt to stay professionally viable once the Democrats take over the world in the 2008 elections.

But who’d want to hire Scott McClellan? That’s one of my problems here – he taints it for others responsible for handling public relations for sensitive, high-profile clients. It’s a matter of trust.

Maybe McClellan’s conscience got the better of him. Fair enough. I’d have an easier time buying that line if McClellan had quit, instead of getting pushed out of the White House. Writing a critical tell-all memoir is the ultimate ‘up yours’ when you’re mad at a former boss. It may pay well, but how could anyone trust him with sensitive media relations matters in the future?

It’s not unreasonable to expect a code of honor to be adhered to when one is responsible for handling sensitive issues like, oh, I dunno, the inner workings of the White House. To not even wait until after President Bush is out of the White House is tacky and invites hard questioning, which McClellan should answer to.

I hope he’s getting paid well for this. Perhaps the DNC can have McClellan speak at their convention this summer. That would be some ‘get’ – having President Bush’s former press secretary bashing the evil Republicans! Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman would have nothing on Scott McClellan.

The McClellan flap reminds me of when David Brock, a onetime right-wing hatchet man, turned around and suddenly decided to come out as an ardent critic of the right. Christopher Hitchens dismantles Brock far better than I ever could, but suffice it to say that this sort of self-serving flip-flopping reeks of a dishonorable ability to head whichever way the political winds are blowing.

No Comments »

Branding Politix, Messaging, public relations • February 29th, 2008

5 great movies about politics

by Chris Lato

At the end of a long week, let’s have some fun, shall we? I’m taking my love of movies (and I mean LOVE – I even suffered through “Be Kind Rewind” this week) and drawing up a list of my political flick favorites. These movies all speak to the rigors of campaigns and those who participate – some of the best stuff in these movies shows how communication, PR, messaging and ‘packaging’ candidates impact politics.
more »

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Messaging, Views on News, public relations, wispundits • February 26th, 2008

Huckabee begs: Rip on me, too!

by Chris Lato

In the world of Mike Huckabee, there’s no such thing as bad PR. Huckabee is out there begging the New York Times to take a shot at him, similar to the Times’ hit on John McCain last week, which was widely derided by conservatives.

Maybe Huckabee said this with tongue in cheek — the article doesn’t make that clear. After his self-aware appearance on Saturday Night Live, who knows which angle he’s coming from. But it’s clear he recognizes his last best hope is getting as much free media coverage as he can. From any other way you slice it, it’s all over for the guy. But he’ll have an awesome clip file when all is said and done — which raises an excellent PR question about generating media coverage that matters.

It’s interesting to ponder what Huckabee hopes to gain from all this, beyond the ego boost. Does this build his credibility? Will people be impressed by all the coverage he’s received - or is he veering off into joke-of-the-campaign status? Will his relationship with the press be an asset to the GOP after 2008? Can Huckabee parlay this candidacy into a power-broker role after the elections? After all, four years ago, Howard Dean was considered a joke, too - a joke he parlayed into leading the Democrat party through an historic rout at the ballot box in 2006. Who’s laughing now?

more »

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Leadership, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, public relations • February 21st, 2008

The McCain bombshell …… behind the scenes

by Chris Lato

Here’s a fascinating peek behind the scenes of the New York Times report on John McCain. The Times piece has apparently been percolating for a number of months. The internal newsroom struggles depicted here offer an educational look at how journalistic standards and campaign coverage are mutating.

John McCain, attacked by the New York Times: he can wear this like a badge of honor when courting the conservatives. This is a PR advantage that the McCain camp should pick up and run with.

No Comments »

public relations, wispundits • February 17th, 2008

Democracy for the people, but… not for all who promote ideas?

by Karl Robe

The Center for Media and Democracy certainly does its part to ensure clarity is brought to the marketplace of ideas. But in its mission to “strengthen participatory democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda…” the group implicitly seeks to quash the free flow of information by damning a profession dedicated to helping organizations and publics adapt mutually to each other.

more »

No Comments »