Lobbying

Tobacco Lobbyist Talks Turkey, Shoots Messengers

by John Stauber — January 17, 2002 - 9:52am

A food industry website reports that lobbyist Rick Berman addressed Tuesday's annual meeting of the National Turkey Association. "What many of you don't understand is just how many different ways this industry is being attacked by groups. They are coming at you all from the animal rights side, as well as biotechnology, antibiotics hysteria, anti-corporate, labor and the factory farms angle. ...

Main Source: 
www.meatingplace.com

Afghan Warlord General Dostum Hires Washington Representation

by Laura Miller — January 17, 2002 - 12:00am

"Afghanistan's Northern Alliance Junbish Party is using Philip S. Smith & Associates, Washington, D.C., to make sure it plays a leading role in the post-Taliban government," O'Dwyer's PR Daily writes. "Smith is a former Asia policy advisor for the House Republican Research Committee and senior legislative assistant to Rep. Don Ritter (R-Pa). He reports to Gen. Rashid Dostum, a former Communist who switched sides and fought the Soviet Union after it invaded Afghanistan. Dostum is the former warlord who controlled the key Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, January 17, 2002

Oil PR/Lobby Campaign Seeks to Un-Demonize Libya

by John Stauber — January 14, 2002 - 4:09pm

The Wall Street Journal reports that, " Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi, is attempting a rehabilitation. Top U.S. and Libyan officials have held several unpublicized meetings in England and Switzerland in recent years to discuss improving ties. Public-relations campaigns and lobbying efforts on Libya's behalf are under way, funded in part by oil money and driven by a desire to cash in on future deals or resume business interrupted by sanctions. ... The four American oil companies that were forced by U.S. sanctions to suspend operations in Libya ... are eager to return to Libya.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal

Enron Scandal Has Andersen Recruiting PR, Lobbyists

by Laura Miller — January 14, 2002 - 12:00am

PR trade publication The Holmes Report writes: "Accounting giant Andersen--the former Arthur Andersen--is reportedly looking to recruit crisis management and other communications experts as it faces mounting criticism for its role in the collapse of Enron." Anderson has already hired the Virginia-based firm Hartz Consulting and retains Ketchum as its PR agency of record. But the company is expected to enlist more PR consultants as it faces Congressional investigations, a federal criminal inquiry and lawsuits from shareholders.

Main Source: 
The Holmes Report, January 14, 2002; PR Week, January 14, 2002

More on Carlyle Group

by Sheldon Rampton — January 8, 2002 - 12:00am

Major media have been remarkably quiet about the Carlyle Group, "one of the most powerful, well-connected, and secretive companies in the world," which brought together high-powered former politicians including George Bush seniors with Saudi financial moguls and even members of the Bin Laden family. "The Bush administration isn't afraid to mix business and politics, and no other firm embodies that penchant better than the Carlyle Group," reports Red Herring magazine. "Walking that fine line is what Carlyle does best.

Main Source: 
Red Herring, January 8, 2002

PR Scandal in Hong Kong, But Not So In Washington

by Sheldon Rampton — December 24, 2001 - 12:00am

In Hong Kong, ex-legislator Gary Cheng Kai-nam has been convicted of corruption after he was caught double-dipping. While acting as a government official, Cheng set up his own PR firm and worked as a paid lobbyist. "It was bad enough that Cheng should have found it proper to set up a public affairs consultancy after becoming a legislator," observes the South China Morning Post.

Main Source: 
The Public-I, December 20, 2001; South China Morning Post, December 24, 2001

Lobbyist Tells of Graham's War on Health & Safety Regs

by John Stauber — December 4, 2001 - 10:45pm

John D. Graham founded the industry-funded Harvard Center for Risk Analysis that last week issued a whitewash report on mad cow risks in the US. Now Graham has a new government post at the Office of Management and Budget where he is leading the Bush administration's assault on environmental, health and safety regulations. The secret plotting between business lobbyists and Graham has even angered a lobbyist who leaked information to the Washington Post. The documents "provide another glimpse of behind-the-scenes strategy-setting by business lobbyists" such as the U.S.

Main Source: 
Washington Post

Meet the Carlyle Group

by Sheldon Rampton — November 19, 2001 - 3:30pm

How will the President of the United States make millions, if not billions, from the war on terrorism? He'll probably inherit it, according to this collection of reports on the Carlyle Group, a secretive $12 billion private equity firm based in Washington that has parlayed a roster of former top-level government officials, largely from the Bush and Reagan administrations, into a moneymaking machine. Its members include prominent world leaders such as George Bush, Sr.

Main Source: 
http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

Lollypop Lobby for the Northern Alliance

by Sheldon Rampton — November 14, 2001 - 12:00am

The Northern Alliance is using Otilie English, the sister of Republican Congressman Phil English, to head "Operation Ragtag," a low-rent, high-profile public relations offensive to boost financial and military aid for her clients. The Alliance's marketing team works out of English's crowded apartment. Tom Lauria, formerly a publicist for tobacco companies, manages press inquiries for the Alliance's made-for-TV spokesperson Haron Amin, who pops by between interviews.

Main Source: 
Australian Financial Review, November 14, 2001

Back to Business, As Usual

by Sheldon Rampton — October 27, 2001 - 11:00pm

The U.S. Congress has passed a Republican-drafted stimulus bill, ostensibly designed to speed the recovery from the damage done to an already wobbly economy by the terrorist attacks and the more recent anthrax scare. However, the bill consists mostly of a $70 billion tax cut to corporations, while offering only token support for the unemployed. At latest count, 7 million Americans are without work, the highest number in 4 1/2 years.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, October 28, 2001
Syndicate content