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Politics

Tuesday Jun 30, 2009

Robert Gibbs On MSNBC: "Easiest Thing For This Town To Do Is The Same Old Thing"

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was interviewed by Chuck Todd, who sat in for Chris Matthews yesterday afternoon on MSNBC's Hardball. Gibbs came to the interview in a joking manner, laying out some light hearted comments about him and Todd being out of shape.

One of the hot topics covered in the interview was the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which some have said the administration have changed their stance on. They at first opposed it and are now being a bit more vague by "saying they want Congress to do it," according to the Huffington Post's Nicholas Graham.

On a more macro-level, Gibbs did re-enforce the Obama campaign message of change when he said, "the easiest thing for this town to do is the same old thing."

Friday Jun 26, 2009

Shoot Dunk the Messenger

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Press Secretary to the President (or PS2POTUS) Robert Gibbs took a bath last night due to the ace throwing arm of Bill Plante of CBS News.

The dunking tank at the White House luau is just another way the Obama administration is bringing humor and humility to its relationship with the 4th Estate.

[via Fishbowl DC, photo from Mark Knoller's Twitter feed]

Thursday Jun 25, 2009

Experts Give Failing Grade to Gov Sanford Presser, with a Chance of Book Deal

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South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford illustrated to the PR world again yesterday that politics is the wildest and wooliest area of communications, and many in it are in great need of expert council.

PRNewser solicited analysis of the elements of Sanford's press conference, including style, substance, delivery and length. Only one expert gave him a passing grade, barely. None were fans of the length, details of his state of mind, and lack of preparation, though one found him attractive.

Agency head Dorothy Crenshaw called it a study in narcissism, and that it made John Edwards' confession look like a masterpiece of self-restraint and candor. Attempting to compare the level of drama with the Real Housewives of New Jersey, Crenshaw settles on Evita, "you know, crying & Argentina".

Top crisis guru Eric Dezenhall went with nuts & bolts advice--get off the stage, achieve the goal of making the situation less bad.

Andy Plesser went the post-Blago route, and found Sanford's performance excellent...if he wants a book & movie deal.

Fraser Seitel, the man who literally wrote the book on PR, grades it an N/A in the wake of such a huge lie.

Jay Strell graded on a curve, giving the "biblical" meltown a D--no message, no clear idea of audience, an unforgivable dereliction of duty to voters

Full responses are after the jump:

continued...

Tuesday Jun 23, 2009

Rahm Emanuel: A Master of Media Relations in the White House

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[image cred]

One typically associates the role of White House media relations with the Press Secretary, and for this administration that man is Robert Gibbs. However, while Gibbs is sought after during his daily briefings and for on the record remarks, another prominent member of the administration, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, is doing his fare share of media relations work, both on and off the record.

The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz writes: "Perhaps no White House chief of staff in modern history has worked the media as aggressively and relentlessly as Emanuel. Drawing on his long-standing relationships with journalists, Emanuel serves up on-the-record quotes, background spin and the sort of capital gossip that lubricates relationships. The former Chicago congressman also seeks their take on events and floats possible administration tactics."

"A conversation with Rahm can be as little as 30 seconds...He calls, drops a few F-bombs, makes his point and hangs up," CNN commentator Paul Begala told Kurtz. Said the NY Times' David Brooks, "With some people you just get the spin; he does go beyond that."

Thursday Jun 18, 2009

John Edwards: "Not Interested in Being in a PR Campaign"

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Is John Edward's political career completely over? All signs point to yes after he admitted an affair last year with an aide from his presidential campaign. The media are still focused on the affair, in part due to his wife Elizabeth's recently released book.

An interview with Edwards was published in the Washington Post today, his first since news of the affair broke. So why is he talking now? Edwards insists it's not about PR or fixing his reputation. "The only relevance of it at all is my ability to help people. That's the only reason it matters. I'm not engaged in, or interested in, being in a PR campaign," he said. Color us skeptical.

Friday Jun 05, 2009

Hillary Strategist Kiki McLean Joins Porter Novelli

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[Kiki McLean on MSNBC, via Newsbusters]

Catherine "Kiki" McLean jumps ship from the WPP-owned Dewey Square Group this week, to join Omnicom's Porter-Novelli, as global head of public affairs, and head of the agency's Washington, DC office.

McLean was a cable news regular as an adviser to Hillary Clinton's presidential run, and then as an Obama surrogate after the nomination.

According to the press release, she replaces the retiring Carolyn Tieger and will start in mid July. Prior to working with Clinton, she was the go-to Veepstakes communicator: "In 2004, she helped develop the acclaimed vice presidential announcement strategy for the John Kerry campaign. She served as national press secretary and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign, and was spokesperson for Joe Lieberman as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2000 general election."

Wednesday Jun 03, 2009

Dana Perino: HuffPo and Other New Media the Filling Void

Beet.TV publisher Andy Plesser grabbed an interview with former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino to talk new media yesterday, and find out how a firm like her new employer Burson-Marteller can get ahead of, and "stamp out" bad news cycles before they happen through good council and having talented teams at the ready.

Perino gives a lot of credit to the blogosphere for their support and symbiotic relationship with the mainstream media in such big cycles as the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. And, she stated that HuffingtonPost is "rebuilding its reputation and doing a pretty good job."

Related: Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino Joins Burson-Marsteller

Wednesday May 27, 2009

Is Robert Gibbs America's Funniest Press Secretary?

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[image cred]

Maybe. But we do know he has elicited a lot more laughter in the White House press briefing room than his predecessors. As Politico's Patrick Gavin points out:

There have been more than 600 instances of "(Laughter.)" during his regular press briefings - an average of more than 10 laughs per day.

Dana Perino, George W. Bush's last press secretary, got all of 57 laughs in her first four months. Scott McClellan, another Bush press secretary, got just 66 laughs in his first four months.

Gibbs even bests the late Tony Snow, whose jocular performances - dubbed "The Tony Snow Show" by some - drew a relatively paltry 217 laughs during his first four months on the job.

Longtime CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller said that Gibbs is "more inclined to make a wisecrack than any press secretary" he's covered. Is this an issue, given the domestic and foreign challenges we currently face? Gavin mentioned it, but none of the sources he spoke with brought it up.

Monday May 18, 2009

Dana Perino Joins Fox News

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Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino has another title to add to her resume, the Huffington Post first reported on Friday: Fox News contributor.

Perino joined Burson-Marsteller as chief issues counselor in April. Also joining Fox News: former CNN and MSNBC host Tucker Carlson. TVNewser has more. No word yet on any specific programs on which Perino may appear.

Friday May 15, 2009

Joe Householder, Former Crisis Counselor to Roger Clemens Joins Purple Strategies

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Joe Householder, the man who advised Roger Clemens on media strategy in the winter of 2007-2008 is joining the newly-formed political consultancy Purple Strategies in D.C. according to a bcc email from Householder to his friends and colleagues.

Householder worked with Clemens while in Texas as Managing Director of Public Strategies Inc. Prior to that job, he was Communications Director to Senator Hillary Clinton in 2003-2004.

According to the email:

The bipartisan firm led by veteran Democratic strategist Steve McMahon and veteran Republican strategist Alex Castellanos offers business clients strategic counseling, positioning, communications and public affairs support. It's a perfect fit for me and the type of work I do for trade associations, corporations, senior corporate executives and other high profile individuals.

McMahon and Castellanos have a ton of campaign and advisory experience between them including work for the Howard Dean, Mitt Romney, and George W. Bush presidential runs. McMahon was also a Ted Kennedy staffer. Both are regular guests on cable talk shows.

Related: Roger Clemens in Crisis Mode; 60 Minutes + Press Conference


Previously

Robert Gibbs Confiscates Noisy Cell Phone

Ari Fleisher, Proud to Testify on Torture if Subpoenaed

Gibbs on Being White House Press Secretary "Funnest, Most Rewarding Job I've Ever Had"

Ellen Moran Leaves White House Communications Post

Obama Stategist on Use of New Media: "There Wasn't Some Big Sexy Idea Behind It"

Join the "I Knew Robert Gibbs Back When..." Facebook Group

What's Your Take on President Obama's "PR Barrage"

President Obama's Very Special Gaffe on Leno

Ari Fleischer's Bizarre Revisionist History on Hardball

Facebook Founder Chris Hughes to GMMB

Robert Gibbs vs. CNBC, Part II

New CBS SVP of Comm. Draws Attention for GOP Ties

Robert Gibbs on White House Press Briefings: "There is a Pretty Big Adrenaline Rush When You Are Out There"

Robert Gibbs Profile Coming in Tomorrow's TIME

Obama First President To Call on Blogger During Primetime Press Conference

Gibbs, Tapper and Transparency

Hillary's Press Secretary Moves to Shangri-La

Portland Mayor's Spokesman Resigns Amid Sex Scandal

Did "Hired PR Gun" Eliminate Caroline Kennedy's Chance for a Senate Seat?

Blago's Magical Media Tour Booked By Drew Peterson's Publicist

First White House Press Briefing, Today at 12:45

Twittering the Inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama, 44th President of the United States

A Day of Change

NY Times Mag: Meet Obama's Communications Team

Klores the Belle of the HuffPo Pre-Inaugural Ball

CNN.com GM: Obama Innauguration Likely To Be "Most Watched Event in Internet History"

NASCAR's King Richard Wants Veterans to Remove the Pedal from the Metal

President Bush's Final Press Conference

Dana Perino Bids Farewell on the Daily Show

Israeli Consulate's Twitter Presser, Today at 1 PM Eastern

Mark Penn's Firm Drops Pakistani Account

White House Counters NY Times Article Blaming Bush for Mortgage Meltdown

Edelman Adds "Political Heavyweights"

Obama Press Secretary: "You Could go to Cedar Rapids and Waterloo and Understand That People Aren't Reading The Washington Post"

TIME's Jay Carney Now Biden's Director of Communications

Robert Gibbs Practices for Day One

The Howard Kurtz Two-Fer With Dana Perino

Shoot the Messenger: Quinn & Gillespie To Bash Flaks Tonight

Obama on YouTube; FutureWorks CEO: "Treat us like customers"

Shoot the Messenger: Dana Perino Takes Aim at Stephen Colbert

Obama's First Presser as President-Elect

At the End of an Era, Dog Bites Man

Robert Gibbs To Be Obama's Press Secretary

What Went Wrong with Hillary's Communications Team

The Flawless, Disciplined, On -Message Barack Obama Campaign

Obama Comm. Director: "I Think We've Attempted, To the Best of Our Ability, to Have a Good Relationship With the Press"

Mark Penn Predicts Obama Landslide

As Candidates Give Final Spin, It's Time To Vote

Joe the Plumber's Publicist: "Today Was One of the Busiest Days I've Had"

Pulling Bush from the Weeds

McCain Adviser on Palin: "She Gets on Her Email and Deals Directly With Press"

Scott McClellan Endorses Barack Obama

Charging Media For Access: Bad PR Move?

Wolfson: "I Like Karl Rove. He's Smart. He's Funny."

Rubenstein Reps Pay-for-Dirt Political Site

Robert Gibbs & Nicolle Wallace on The Today Show

MCB Communications and Pitching Sarah Palin

FDA Improperly Hired Agency Through Set-aside Workaround

Howard Rubenstein Behind Bloomberg Bid for Third Term

Comm. Pros Advise on VP Debate

Robert Gibbs on Fox & Friends, "You're Making Stuff Up"

AARP: Anger Won't Fix the Economy

McCain Camp Busted for Lying About Booking Switcheroo

Former Clinton Spokesperson Given Blog, Name Already Taken

Peggy Noonan Caught Slamming Palin Selection

The Obama Speech, How it Got Done

Obama "Very Pleased" With Speech, Says Communications Chief

Robert Gibbs: Obama's Communication Chief, and the "Enforcer"

Russia vs Georgia PR War Continues

Live from DNC: CNN, CBS, FNC

Burson CEO Mark Penn Still Advising Hillary

Live from DNC: McCain and Obama Spokespeople Get Together

The GOP's Rapid Response Effort in Denver

Captain Morgan For President

The Penn Memos: Bill Gates Asks "Can You Make Me More Human?"

Inside the Mind of Mark Penn

Media Alert: Hawaii vs. Cokie Roberts

Howard Wolfson: We Would Have Won Iowa and the Nomination

Paris Hilton Smacks McCain, Tucker Bounds Bothers to Respond

Obama's European Victory Lap

LA Times: Obama Campaign Tries to Repair New Yorker Cover PR Blunder

Tony Snow; 1955 - 2008

Former Clinton Spokesperson Makes Debut on FNC

PR Newswire Official Wire for RNC and DNC

McCain Rep Spins Candidate's Internet Use

NY Times: Obama's Campaign Tightens Control of Image and Access

Obama's Journo Turned Flack: "He Wants Me To Tell The Truth"

Obama Campaign Launches Smear Debunking Site

NYTimes: Clinton Owes Burson $5M

What Role Did PR Play in the Democratic Primary?

Scott McClellan on The Daily Show

Should PRSA Scold McClellan?

Howard Kurtz Helping Wife's PR Clients?

Obama: Americans Tired of Spin and PR

Spinning Wind Power

Terry McAuliffe, World's Most Optimistic Spin Doctor

Spinning the PA Primary Results

The Generals, The Pentagon and The Media

Penn To Stay With Burson

Mark Penn Quits Job as Clinton Top Strategist

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