Edwards Consultant Tied to Anti-Union Ads

[TeamJordan23]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902417.html

Edwards Consultant Tied to Anti-Union Ads

By Politics
Friday, July 20, 2007; Page A06

While on a tour highlighting poverty this week, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards faced more questions about whether his focus on the issue was undermined by, among other things, his work at a hedge fund and his $6 million house. A closer look at his campaign finance reports reveals another potential contradiction: His campaign paid more than $200,000 in May and June to a Georgia-based media consultant that was working at the same time with an antilabor group dedicated to exposing the way unions have plowed "mandatory union dues" into their "radical political agendas."

While Edwards was launching his first campaign ads, the group Center for Union Facts launched its own advertising aimed at stopping unions from using membership dues for political contributions. (The ads can be viewed at http://www.unionfacts.com/ads.cfm.) Edwards's consultant, LUC Media, operates from the same suite, at the same address, with the same chief executive as the agency that purchased advertising time for the Center for Union Facts, a company called 1-2-1 Interactive Media.

Christopher M. Werner, who is listed on Georgia incorporation papers as the CEO of both firms, said the two companies are "totally separate entities, with separate staff." Werner said, "I have an interest from way back, but I don't do any work for <1-2-1 Interactive>." He added, "We're thrilled to be working for Senator Edwards."

Edwards aides said they are looking into the matter.

[rinsd]

1. You seem to love that smear by association BS.

For a group of supporters that moaned about Rezko, you lot sure have no problem with employing the tactic yourselves.

What are you gonna do when something unsavory is found in Obama's FEC records?

Whine about smear by association?

[TeamJordan23]

2. Who the hell is smearing? It's a Wash Post article. I don't even have a big problem with it.

Last time I checked, this is a Political forum. Does that mean political articles should not be brought up?

[rinsd]

4. Really then why did you cut it off at 2 paragraphs when the 3rd explains the situation?

"Christopher M. Werner, who is listed on Georgia incorporation papers as the CEO of both firms, said the two companies are "totally separate entities, with separate staff." Werner said, "I have an interest from way back, but I don't do any work for <1-2-1 Interactive>." He added, "We're thrilled to be working for Senator Edwards."

gee I wonder why you you did that other than to create a false impression.

And what is another word for deliberately creating a false impression....hmmmmmm

[draft_mario_cuomo]

31. rinsd--who is not exactly an Edwards fan--is a paragon of fairness

:toast:

[rinsd]

41. Thank you but that is really too much.

I try to be fair but I know I will have my moments of anger and weakness as we all do.

:toast:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

26. It doesn't get anymore ironic than this...

[wyldwolf]

6. yes, Obama supporters are much like the man himself in that respect

They decry the very tactics they use themselves.

But I guess it's a good time to finally put the question out there. Is posting articles that contain unflattering info about a candidate "smearing?" If it is for Edwards, than it is for Obama. (and yes, everyone, I include Clinton - but we all know a different standard applies to her around here, anyway.)

[rinsd]

7. I don't think either of us has a problem with critical articles.

But this one was also deliberatly cut off at a key juncture to leave a bad impression.

That is the big difference in my mind.

Here's the key passage after all the intrigue and smear by association

Christopher M. Werner, who is listed on Georgia incorporation papers as the CEO of both firms, said the two companies are "totally separate entities, with separate staff." Werner said, "I have an interest from way back, but I don't do any work for <1-2-1 Interactive>." He added, "We're thrilled to be working for Senator Edwards."

[TeamJordan23]

8. I see your point. But

When a CEO of a company states that he does no work for the company that he is the CEO of, that is pretty suspect to me.

Again, I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

[rinsd]

9. "I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A BIG ISSUE"

SO WHY POST IT?

Little late to cry "I just want to discuss the issue" ain't it?

"When a CEO of a company states that he does no work for the company that he is the CEO of, that is pretty suspect to me. "

He is listed as the CEO on incorporation papers. IOW, at the time the company was incorporated. That doesn't mean he is still CEO.

[TeamJordan23]

12. Oh please, you post crap all the time that is not a 'big issue.' I just posted a Wash Post article.

Take it as you will. It might not be a big issue to me, but it might for someone else.

[rinsd]

15. "you post crap all the time that is not a 'big issue'"

What a load. Just more phony excuses.

[TeamJordan23]

16. I'm sorry, I will come to you now for your approval before I post. =) nm

[rinsd]

17. No, that won;t be necessary. You got nailed to the wall for all to see.

[Colobo]

19. All of us are like that, wyld?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

28. The OP himself has denounced articles with unflattering info about his hero BO as "smears"

But when he does the same--which he does routinely--to HRC, and occasionally Edwards, it is just posting the news. Which is it? And where are the Obama supporters who bitterly decry "smears" when such articles are posting about their hero? The silence from the Obama camp time and again when the same thing is directed by Team Obama to others is telling. "New kind of politics" seems to be a 2008 version of Rove's "changing the tone." :puke:

[MethuenProgressive]

3. The smarmy so-called "son of a mill worker" is a mess of contradictions...

...and overly crafted image/message.
Dude, your Dad was in management - your should be proud of that, not "playing" it.

[rinsd]

5. Read the whole article its hit and run BS and I'm not even an Edwards fan

Christopher M. Werner, who is listed on Georgia incorporation papers as the CEO of both firms, said the two companies are "totally separate entities, with separate staff." Werner said, "I have an interest from way back, but I don't do any work for <1-2-1 Interactive>." He added, "We're thrilled to be working for Senator Edwards."

[MethuenProgressive]

11. So, the story isn't true? What part?

:popcorn:

[rinsd]

25. The part about the Edwards consulting having ties to anti-Union ads.

See this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3390015&mesg_id=3390228

[LostInAnomie]

10. I don't get the point of the article

Why would they even print a story about a guy that doesn't even work for the company they're talking about?

It doesn't make sense.

[TeamJordan23]

13. I don't get how the CEO says he doesn't work for a company for whcih he is the listed CEO for. nm

[LostInAnomie]

18. Perhaps he's only a figure head, or the incorporation papers don't match current circumstances.

Either way, there is nothing in Edwards' rhetoric nor actions that would honestly give someone the impression that he himself is anti-union.

This is a fishing expedition.

[TeamJordan23]

20. And both companies have the same address and suite numbers?

[LostInAnomie]

21. What's so hard to believe about that?

If they are small businesses is it so hard to believe that they might share a floor together?

I don't even get what you are going for with this article. Even if the worse case scenario is true and this guy took active part in the most horrid anti-union activities imaginable, how does it have any bearing on the Edwards campaign whatsoever if Edwards and his campaign staff, through rhetoric and action, are undeniably pro-union?

[rinsd]

24. See this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3390015&mesg_id=3390228

[rinsd]

23. I can't verify that.

I've looked up 1-2-1 Interactive Media and I can't find a website.

I did a reverse address look up on LUC Media, non 1-2-1 listed

http://www.whitepages.com/10001/search/ReverseAddress?housenumber=25&street=Whitlock+Place+&city_zip=marietta&state_id=GA

LUC Media was founded by a former Executive Director of the GA party.

http://www.lucmedia.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=38

Here's the corporation info from the Sec of State for GA on 1-2-1 Interactive Media

http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?99227

They have only a PO BOX and its a different CEO.

http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?99227

Here's their filed papers.

http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Filings.asp?99227

I think we can put this to bed as unfounded.

[Casper]

45. Papers were filed on 7/18/07

Changing the CEO from Werner to someone else and changing the address. On March 30 the annual registration was filed showing Werner as the CEO.

It's not just the Edwards connection that is a concern. LUC Media has been thick in Georgia politics (9.7 million since 2002) and Georgia Dems have always gotten really good support from labor. I think it's a slap in the face to Dems across the state.

[LostInAnomie]

47. I think it's a facile connection that has no purpose other than to tear down Edwards union support.

It has no bearing on the rhetoric or actions of Edwards or his campaign staff.

[rinsd]

48. Interesting

I had not seen that. Something tells me Werner got a call about this and is in CYA mode one way or the other.

"It's not just the Edwards connection that is a concern. LUC Media has been thick in Georgia politics (9.7 million since 2002) and Georgia Dems have always gotten really good support from labor. I think it's a slap in the face to Dems across the state."

That was what was surprising, LUC media seemed to be mostly a Democratic firm.

At this point I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but I cerrtainly have some questions I would like answered.

[GreenTea]

32. TeamJodan23 YOU trash Edwards every chance you get. Stop trashing Democrats!!

I simply looked up your past postyou have no leg to stand on...Stop trashing Democrats!!!

[TeamJordan23]

46. Provide some evidence. nm

[PresidentObama]

14. Attack Hillary, attack Edwards, attack Hillary, attack Edwards.

Is this the new DU pattern?

Perhaps you're afraid they both have the ability to win...??

[Colobo]

22. I personally think Obama is doing so well that we don't need to attack anyone

We need to focus more on how to increase his level of success.

[LaPera]

27. "Center for Union Facts" is a right-wing republican anti-union organization.

This is being done by the usual republican slime who want to tarnish Edwards with enough shit as for people to say, well some of it most be true....same old republican tactics...just keep pounding away, over & over with bullshit...just keep pounding whether it's truth or not...enough people will believe them with their slime behind the scenes and pretend it's coming from other sources!!

The republicans want John Edwards out of the race so badly as early as possible...they want to keep the Democratic nominees between a woman & an African American man...the republicans feel that's their best bet...Edwards they know will eat the republicans alive!!!

[zulchzulu]

29. PR firms sometimes help out a wide mix of clients

I work for a media relations company that mostly does work for progressives...however, sometimes there is a client with a big budget that wants help with media training for their interest, which might be less than progressive.

That's the nature of the biz.

Check out LUC Media's client list:

LUC Media has worked with both national and local media consultants in almost every state on behalf of issue advertisers including Citizens Against Unauthorized Telephone Taxes, Voices for Choices, Citizens for Real Transportation Choices, Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, the Washington Education Association, SC Trial Lawyers Association, and the Democratic State Parties in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, and Virginia.

On the candidate side, our client list includes Governor Roy Barnes (GA), Governor Gray Davis (CA), US Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), US Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD), US Senator Herb Kohl (WI), US Senator Zell Miller (GA), Attorney General Darrell McGraw (WV), Congressman Ronnie Shows (MS), Congressman Chris VanHollen (VA), St. Auditor Crit LuAllen (KY), Lt. Governor Mark Taylor (GA), US Senator Chuck Robb (VA), Justice Robert Benham (GA), & Mayor Shirley Franklin (Atlanta), and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Los Angeles) just to name a few.

- - - - - - - -

[draft_mario_cuomo]

30. Obama's Chief Spokesman Tied to Ad Linking Howard Dean to Bin Laden

Why doesn't TJ ever mention this? Mr. "New Kind of Politics'" spokesman engaged in the most vicious kind of "old politics"...

http://mydd.com/story/2007/2/22/101914/565

==Robert Gibbs was was spokesperson for John Kerry in 2003, and he worked under the direction of Jim Jordan. Both of them grew to detest Howard Dean, as they saw their frontrunner candidate slip in his position to Howard Dean over the year. For Jordan, it was a case of terrible strategic advice that he was fired, but he went on to position himself below the media production through in 2004 and did quite well. Robert Gibbs remained a spokesperson, but his next gig wasn't Barack Obama until after Obama won the primary in 2004. Before that, Gibbs became the spokesman for a new group called "Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values". A group that promptly created the most disgusting ad I've ever seen occur in a Democratic primary against Howard Dean.

The ad (view the ad here ) slowly moved in on a Time Magazine cover featuring bin Laden, zooming in on a close-up of Osama's eyes, while saying that Howard Dean was an unqualified Democratic candidate because of his lack of military or foreign experience.

Tricia Enright, who was the spokeswoman for Howard Dean at the time, summed the ad up best, saying: "Whoever is behind this should crawl out from underneath their rock and have the courage to say who they are." But Robert Gibbs, who was the spokesman for the group, embraced the slime ad against Dean, and refused to say who had funded the ad. Now sure, you can say that Gibbs was just doing his job. But Gibbs wasn't just aligned with the group, he was in the leadership. The group took seed money from crooked former Senator Robert Torricelli to get off the ground, and then went out and raised over a million to run the ad. Gibbs was one of three people that made that ad happen.==

==If Gibbs is gonna be the voice of Obama, then what I want to know is whether Gibbs has renounced his past association with the anti-Dean ad that Joe Trippi called the "the kind of fearmongering attack we've come to expect from Republicans," one that "panders to the worst in voters." Mistake?

And does Gibbs still believe that a Presidential candidate with "no military or foreign policy experience" is "unqualified"? Then how Gibbs, is Barack Obama going compete with John McCain on foreign policy. Howard Dean was right on Iraq too, ya know.==

Read the rest at http://mydd.com/story/2007/2/22/101914/565

[GreenTea]

33. TeamJodan23 Dude, stop always trashing John Edwards with such glee!

[LaPera]

34. I have to agree, I've been watch this for a while myself.

[TeamJordan23]

35. Can you provide some examples of me trashing him? I actually like Edwards and supported him in 2004.

[GreenTea]

37. Yeah right, and I picked every winner of every Super Bowl!

How did you support Edwards, tell us, by voting for Kerry...hardly supporting Edwards.

[TeamJordan23]

38. Lame, now provide me some examples of regularly trashing him. nm

[GreenTea]

40. How did you support Edwards, tell us, by voting for Kerry in 2004? Hardly supporting Edwards.

Your excuses are "lame" dude, as are the words you choose "lame"???? Your exposed!!

I will keep on it...

[TeamJordan23]

42. In the primary, genius. nm

[draft_mario_cuomo]

39. According to the standards you apply to others regarding Obama this is a "smear"

You call even factual but unflattering information a "smear." What you posted in the OP, as rinsd has shown, was intended to mislead people by excluding relevant information to make Edwards look bad. Surely that has to meet your threshold for a "smear", if a mere article about, say, Indian-American support dropping for Obama after memogate is a "smear" in your book.

[Adelante]

36. Center for Union Facts blog

http://www.laborpains.org/

and web site:

http://www.unionfacts.com/index.cfm

Pretty ugly stuff and embarrassing, I would think, but Edwards is not a client of the ugly part and guilty of nothing. Still, he will probably need to step away from this consultant.

[wyldwolf]

43. the big question is...

will The Nation write a three-part hit piece, in which truth was casualty, about Edwards they way they did Clinton in respect to Mark Penn?

[Adelante]

44. Make sense all you want

It won't get you nowhere :D

[bling bling]

49. Where were these "investigative" journalists 4 years ago?

SO they CAN make connections after all, eh? Goody. They've got time and motivation to dig around and find hardly alarming "connections" between who gives money to which consultants who also *happen* to be providing services to Edwards...but,

they couldn't be bothered to fucking put together this type of "hard-hitting" shit about how connected our GOP government is to the oil industry and the energy companies and how that has impacted our domestic and foreign policy? And that's even an INTENTIONAL and conspiratorial type connection. IN OUR GOVERNMENT. How about Bush's lies that paved the way into Iraq? Anyone? What about the EPA? What about the doctored reports on global warming? Hello, Halliburton?? I've been reading Waxman's letters and requests to this corrupted administration since WAY before we became the majority and it was breathtaking that none of the newspapers including the WaPo were paying any attention to what Waxman was handing them on a golden platter.

My head just spins when I think about our media. I want them to be taken down.

Didn't mean to hijack. I can't seem to control myself when it comes to my ire with the MSM.