GSPM alumni Ian Koski and Alex Kellner's work at Blue State Digital is covered in a Boston Business Review segment on Blue State Digital's growth with non-profit and for-profit clients outside the political sphere.
"I see Democrats at bookstores buying her books by the dozens and trying to keep the book tour going. She's a magnet for controversy - and that's not what the Republicans need right now," said Garry South in a San Francisco Chronicle article titled Dems hope Palin disrupts GOP's game plan. South is a Democratic strategist in California and a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
"War crimes are uniquely brutal. They require a unique form of justice. Obama and Holder have confidence in war commissions for some terrorists, but not for others. Why? Is Obama preparing to exploit the deaths of 3,000 Americans killed by an act of war in order to score politically with yet more 'anti-Bush' campaign camouflage? For a juror, will a guilty vote on an al Qaeda terrorist who was waterboarded seem like support for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney — and a vote against Obama?" Said GSPM adjunct faculty member Cheri Jacobus in her regular column in The Hill. Jacobus is President of Capitol Strategies PR.
"Given that number of women working 'non-traditional' hours, it should come as no surprise that women today are less likely to be at home to talk to canvassers. They are more likely to have caller ID and not answer calls from campaigns. Women under 40 and unmarried women are more likely to rent their home, and studies show this makes them less likely to read their mail," said Celinda Lake in a piece she co-authored with Amy Gershkoff in the Huffington Post piece titled Communicating with 'A Woman's Nation.' Lake is the president of Lake Research Partners and a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
"One of the most absurd political "doctrines" is that of permanent realignment of the parties. It was just one year ago that some believed Obama had put together a permanent coalition that would last decades for the Democrats. I remember five years earlier the same being said about George W. Bush and Karl Rove. Let me be clear about this: There is no such thing as permanent electoral realignment in modern American politics," said Democratic strategist Bob Beckel in USA Today's Common Ground. Beckel is a member of the GSPM's adjunct faculty.
"For all the hype, [2008] was not a transitional campaign, it was not a transitional year. After $700 million being spent by the Obama campaign, it was not a new electorate," said Repulican pollster Ed Goeas in a Salon.com article titled How the GOP Got Its Groove Back. Goeas is the president at CEO of the Tarrance Group and a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
Interest in a fundraiser for Democratic California Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown among Hollywood and entertainment elite “is an indication of the breadth and depth of Jerry Brown’s support here early in the race," said Andy Spahn in The New York Times' The Caucus blog. Spahn is President and Founder of Andy Spahn & Associates, Inc and a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
"Once you’re painted into the picture fairly or, mostly unfairly, changing that perception is the hardest thing to do,” said Ron Kaufman in a Bloomberg piece about Sarah Palin. Kaufman is senior managing partner at The Dutko Group and a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
"There are inherent conflicts in running a grass-roots organization and representing clients professionally. Presumably your grass-roots organization is motivated by principles, ideology and the people who give $25 and $50 or larger sums and believe the decisions are being made based on a commitment to an ideological agenda. When you lobby professionally for a client, that is not necessarily the case. You are motivated by the clients' interests," said Republican lobbyist Vin Weber in a Morning Call article about Dick Armey's group, Freedom Works. Weber served with Armey in Congress. Weber is a member of the GSPM's Council on American Politics.
What did GSPM faculty, alumni, and Council on American Politics members tell the press during this week's news cycle?
GSPM Faculty
"A president who thumbs his nose at the other party on such a hugely important issue as healthcare reform, ignores the cost estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), blames massive public opposition to his proposal on special interests, the gullibility of the American people, Republican scare tactics, Fox News, talk radio, etc., makes it clear why he is tanking in the polls," said Cheri Jacobus. - in her The Hill op/ed on Obama titled "Start Over, Mr. President."
"I think the time has come for the Democrats to say alright, we're going to have to take on one of our own here," said Democratic strategist Bob Beckel. "They are going to have to contribute because it is true that runaway lawsuits have caused insurance premiums to go up." in a Fox News piece about health care reform.
What did GSPM faculty, alumni, and Council on American Politics members tell the press during this week's news cycle?
GSPM Faculty
"How about we actually look at ourselves as an ordinary, non-political business, selling a commercial product?" asks Republican consultant Bill Greener, founder of Greener & Hook. - in a Huffington Post piece by Thomas Edsall about ideologues in the Republican Party.
"The Bush tax cuts were made as difficult as possible by the Democrats," Robert Dove, who was the Senate parliamentarian at the time, told The Examiner. "If Democrats go the reconciliation route on health care, Republicans will make it as difficult as possible because they feel they are being railroaded." - in a Washington Examiner article about the health care bill.
"The perception is that environmentalists are a bunch of unwashed kids tying themselves to trees," Evan Tracey said. "That's not the case anymore. These are very sophisticated and well-funded campaigns." - in a USA Today article about spending on climate bill advertising. Tracey is at the Campaign Media Analysis Group.
"I do find it ironic that the Republicans would cherry-pick certain polls to try to make their point after claiming to reject polls during the Bush years," said Peter Fenn, a Democratic strategist in Washington. - in a McClatchy article about the Republican Party's use of polls to show declining public support of a health care bill.
GSPM Alumni
"I can't think of anything less partisan than this," said Mo Elleithee, a Democratic strategist. "It's admirable that President Obama would challenge our schoolchildren to do their best, and it's the kind of message that most level-headed Americans can easily get behind." - in a Washington Times article about President Obama's video address to students this week.
Council on American Politics
“If you’re looking for a mistake we made, we should have made [the campaign] more about competence,” says Ron Kaufman, a lobbyist and former White House official who advises Romney. “If a Republican can win in 2012, it will be because competence matters.” - in a Boston Globe article about Mitt Romney and the 2012 presidential race.
Mr. Pawlenty “has respect from people on both sides of the aisle, and if he can win a primary, would have formidable appeal in a general election,” says Rick Davis, who managed John McCain’s presidential run last year. “There is no heir apparent, which opens it up for people like Tim.” - in a New York Times article about Tim Pawlenty.
Jack Gerard, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Petroleum Institute sits on the GSPM's Council on American Politics, which brings together leaders from across the nation to address issues facing the growth and enrichment of the GSPM. Gerard also happens to be a GWU alumnus: he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from GWU.
Gerard has built a career and legacy as an advocate. I had the opportunity of listening to Gerard to speak to a class of undergraduate students at
Brigham Young University's semester in Washington program last week. Gerard generously allowed me to tag along and talk to some of the students about my experiences as a GSPM alum. Jack said something that I wrote down in my journal about the role of advocacy:
Politicians don't lead; they follow. When you work on advocacy, you try to get them to follow public opinion. Advocacy is evolving. The things that the Obama campaign did are the new cutting edge. Advocacy isn't about "inside the Beltway." That's called creating an echo chamber to make politicians feel better about their policy decisions. When voters begin to understand about your issue and vote, then that's influence.
We thought that Gerard's work and perspective was so interesting that we profiled him in
this video. By the way, if you're a BYU student or alumnus interested in coming to the GSPM, Gerard has endowed
a scholarship to help with the costs of tuition.
