Kerry Hires Lobbying Firm to Work on Campaign

[HFishbine]

Dewey Square Group, a Washington lobbying firm (1), was paid over $80,000 last year by the Kerry campaign for consulting and expenses. (2)

Dewey Square Group reciprocated by contributing $14,000 to Kerry's campaign. (3)

Is this how Kerry is going to kick the special interests out of Washington?

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1) http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/lookup2.asp?txtName=Dewey+Square+Group&C1=y&C2=n&C3=n

2) http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/expend.asp?ID=N00000245&cycle=2004&Sort=N&Page=64

3) http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=dewey&txtCand=kerry&txt2004=Y&Order=N

[sidwill]

1. Unfortunately

The only thing that matters is winning. WE can cry about the process but if Kerry can't win, then we have no shot at changing the process within the next 4 years.

[blm]

2. Where's the quid pro quo?

Kerry has the BEST record on special interest money of ALL the candidates and you want to target him by nitpicking?

Where are DEAN'S records of his career donations using the same formula used on Kerry? Did Dean release that data? Wouldn't an HONEST opponent want their record detailed and compared side by side if they are using it as an issue?

Did Dean and his supporters do this or is he demagoguing?

[HFishbine]

3. If

You can find information that shows Dean hired a Washington lobbying firm to work on his campaign, I'd be very interested in seeing it.

[cindyw]

4. Dean hires lobbyist to run campaign.

Big deal. That is what Lobbyists do. They help you get your message out. Sorts necessary to get your message out when you are running for President.

[HFishbine]

5. Dean

Hired an individual who, although once regisered as a lobbyist, never lobbied. Kerry hired an active lobbying firm. I think there is a clear distinction.

[papau]

6. DEWEY SQUARE FUSIONTM Campaign Concept - not exactly "lobbying"

"DEWEY SQUARE FUSION(TM)

The Fusion Campaign Concept:

Next Generation Information to Win

Traditionally, critical campaign planning and resource allocation decisions have been made based on a combined analysis of historic voting patterns and current polling information. While these sources are still important, a much richer picture of a potential voting base can be painted through the strategic use of consumer marketing information.

In our connected world, far more information about voters is available than addresses and voting history. Corporations and consumer marketers have long taken aggressive advantage of “life style” information generated by consumers. The Dewey Square Group has developed a cost-effective way for political campaigns to mine the same data and apply the knowledge strategically to a wide range of political and campaign planning decisions with DEWEY SQUARE FUSION(TM).

This “fusion” approach leverages the enormous advantages embedded in enhanced voter information. It makes it possible for a more nuanced (and therefore more effective) message to be “fused” to paid media, earned media, scheduling, fundraising, and all methods of voter contact and field activities. It also produces better resource allocation decisions through dramatically more sophisticated targeting"

But then there is a lobbying arm in the group -

sort of like Anderson had an accounting arm, and a consulting/lobbying arm - so if Aurthur Anderson did your books, you were using a lobbying firm?

Spin, spin, spin ........

[HFishbine]

7. Sorry

Campaign records show payments to Dewey Sqaure Group, not Dewey Sqaure Fusion.

[papau]

9. Dewey Sqaure Fusion is the "campaign product" sold by Dewey Sqaure Group

Please note the DNC uses the same "campaign product" and lists the payments to the Dewey Sqaure Group on its disclosure forms as:

"DEWEY SQUARE GROUP AKA DSG STRATEGIES INC"

The firms web site is here:
http://www.dewey.com/

The firms PR blurb is here (click on "campaign products" on left edge of screen and you will see the link to "Dewey Sqaure Fusion"

"The Dewey Square Group applies sophisticated, strategic campaign skills and experience to high-stakes, high-risk public policy debates and business challenges for corporate, national advocacy and political concerns."

[bigtree]

8. To paraphrase Will Pitt:

Bush has $200 grand to attack the eventual nominee. What does your candidate plan to do about it?

[TexasSissy]

10. Good. We will need all the help we can get in the GE. Bush will

make sure HE gets all the help he needs. I'm glad to know that Kerry's wiley, plans ahead, and is tough as nails (and sort of a tricky dicky). We'll need it.