Info on AARP and director William D. Novelli

[KelleyKramer]

I'm sure by now you have heard about the Medicare legislation passed by the Republican house and senate.

The Republican sponsors of the bill are making much hay and pointing to the fact that the AARP has endorsed the bill, and are presenting this as proof that seniors are behind them.

But after some checking, things are not what they seem. It looks like the AARP is no longer an 'independent' advocacy group.

Turns out that William D. Novelli, the director of AARP is nothing short of a Republican product, with very close ties to the RNC and also close financial ties with many pharmaceutical and healthcare related corporations.

Before coming to AARP, he co-founded the public relations firm Porter Novelli, which was up to their eye-balls in spinning the public for Republican causes.

To be blunt, this guy is nothing but a right-wing hack, who specializes in spinning the truth.

Listed below is some info I lifted from the AARP forum (link included) that will give you a good start on the real Mr. Novelli.

The post includes a suggestion to google the words: Porter Novelli Republican. I did that, and if you are interested in this issue, that will tell you all you need to know that the leader of the AARP is knee-deep into Republican party partisan actions.

I'm not a senior, but if any of you are, I would encourage you to check this out and give serious thought to resigning from an organization run by a person who has a long history of direct financial ties that conflict with your personal health and well being.

I found this email on the AARP site listed as the one to contact William D. Novelli, its looks suspicious to me, but it might be worth a try... [e-mail]


Best!
Kelley

==============


http://community.aarp.org/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=rp-legislative&msg=3735.1&ctx=1

In June 2001 our elected Board Members of AARP, under the influence of Mr Novelli, changed our AARP Bylaws. Instead of having a AARP convention every other year, they voted to have new Board members appointed by the present Board. They create a nomination committee to propose new Board members. This in effect has taken out WE, the members from the voting process, and replacing us with Novelli.
If you look at many large organizations, and corporations you will find that when this method is used corruption often flourishes. This gives so much power to the CEO that they have created a self perpetuating dynasty.

Where did Bill Novelli come from ? He joined AARP in January 2000 as Associate Executive Director, Public Affairs. Mr. Novelli co-founded and was President of Porter Novelli, now one of the world's largest public relations agencies and part of the Omnicom Group, an international marketing communications corporation.

The following is some research I did this morning. You draw your own conclusions.

I would post each WEB site, but AARP is now removing any references in this Board. You can recreate my work by putting into the Google browser the following:
Porter Novelli Republican

Taken from the current Porter Novelli web site:

"Porter Novelli has a rich history of innovation, from its roots as a pioneer in social marketing and health care communications, to its leadership in high-tech marketing, to its global corporate, public affairs and consumer marketing practices representing some of the world's best-known clients. We are committed to continue building a multinational, multicultural organization that extends our thought leadership and superior client service to all corners of the globe."

A couple of their clients:
GSK Glaxo SmithKline
Phizer
Wyeth (Amgen)
Sharp HealthCare
Cephalon Inc.
American Legacy Foundation

Donna Lucas
"Partner and Executive Vice President at Porter Novelli
..... she was California press secretary for President George Bush's successful 1988 presidential campaign."...
"Donna was the California media director for the 1992 and 1996 Republican National Convention and was on the California Steering Committee for President George W. Bush."

Office of the White House Press Secretary - October 4, 2002
Suzy DeFrancis
"Suzy currently is a vice president with Porter Novelli, and is a former top aide at the Republican National Committee."

Office of the White House Press Secretary - November 7, 2002
Karen Johnson
" The President intends to nominate Karen Johnson of Virginia to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. Currently, Ms. Johnson is Vice President of Social Marketing and Public Affairs for Porter Novelli, where she provides strategic public affairs and communications counsel for a variety of clients. "

Chuck Greener
" In fact, the Levy account at Porter Novelli is being handled ..... and Chuck Greener, a one-time communications director for the Republican National Committee."

Donna Lucas
"The PNPA practice leader is Partner and Executive Vice President Donna Lucas. She previously served as CEO and president of NCG Porter Novelli, which emerged in 1999 as California's leading public affairs firm.".....
"She also served as California press secretary for President George Bush's successful 1988 presidential campaign, and California media director for the 1992 and 1996 Republican National Convention."

Omnicom
The Omnicom Group is the second largest corporate communications conglomerate behind WPP. It owns three of the world's largest PR companies, Fleishman-Hillard, Ketchum and Porter Novelli

Revived 'Harry and Louise' ads spark a lawsuit
Mark Larson
"The famous "Harry and Louise" political ads .... were created in a 1993 campaign by Sacramento-based Goddard Claussen, now Goddard Claussen Porter Novelli, the third-largest ad agency in the market. Back then, the common-sense couple opposed President Clinton's healthcare reforms on behalf of the Health Insurance Association of America."

By Jonathan Heller
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 19, 2002
"Trying to follow the money in the race for San Diego City Council's open 2nd District seat is like trying to solve the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle.
Clues are everywhere, but the answers are not obvious.
On one side, you have Republican groups spending tens of thousands of dollars on behalf of candidate Kevin Faulconer. But those groups don't manufacture money: Most of it is coming in great big gobs from developers, builders and hoteliers.
"Faulconer, 35, on leave from his job as a public relations executive with NCG Porter Novelli, has raised $430,495 as of Sept. 30 in direct contributions. That includes a personal loan of $46,500.
He has spent $409,397. The county GOP, the Lincoln Club and Atlas Hotels have spent $69,829 in soft money. Soft money is funds raised and spent on behalf of a candidate by an outside organization."

[GoBlue]

1. from the porter novelli website

http://www.porternovelli.com/pnwebsite/pnwebsite.nsf/WhereWASections/11C0DFCFE4AF5E5B85256D0F00549125?OpenDocument&Tab=4


Sounds like a to do list for the GOP and their backers. I especially like their bragging about persuading the UN to change their position on Global Warming.

[KelleyKramer]

2. Thanks for the link

I had not seen that site yet, thanks for the link

[bandy]

3. We resigned as soon as

this crap passed. Still get the literature - goes right to the re-cycle bucket.

[murielm99]

4. I give mine back to the mailman unopened, mark it refused

and tell him to return it from whence it came!