Unions to Lehane: You Down with AMPTP?

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Concerned that public opinion is firmly on the side of striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) members, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) hired a bipartisan stable of new PR consultants. The studio owners' group "retained Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, who have served as senior aides and advisors to President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore," among other Democrats. AMPTP also hired Steve Schmidt, "a close advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger," reports the Los Angeles Times. On the Firedoglake blog, Jane Hamsher writes about the fallout. Education workers with SEIU Local 99 in Los Angeles have fired Lehane "from a consulting contract in support of the WGA." SEIU President Andy Stern said, "By the end of the week, I believe Chris Lehane will have no union clients because of his work for the AMPTP."