Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Democratic Consultants Fabiani and Lehane to work against Writers Union

This afternoon the LA Times reported that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have brought in three political consultants to assist them in the public relations battle with the striking Writers Guild of America.[Link] Democratic consultants Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, together with Republican consultant Steve Schmidt were retained by the Alliance to shore up its public image.

The advisors will take over the role of Barbara Brogliatti, who has been guiding the group's public relations strategy for much of the last 25 years. The former Warner Bros. executive recently stepped down from her day-to-day role, though she will remain as senior advisor to the group, which has been locked in contentious contract negotiations with writers over pay for new media.

The move reflects a concerted push by the alliance to take a more aggressive approach in its public relations after polls conducted by Pepperdine University, Fox News and SurveyUSA showed widespread public support for the writers, now in their fifth week of a strike.[Link]

Republican Steve Schmidt, prior to working for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as his 2006 campaign manager, held a high position in the Bush White House, "including serving as the lead strategist on the confirmations of John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court."[Link]

Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane have a long history working for Democrats. They served as senior aides and advisors to both President Clinton and Vice President Gore. In 2004 they were both strategist to General Wesley Clark during his presidential campaign.

For the last several years Fabiani has been working for the San Diego Chargers in their attempt to convince taxpayers to pay for a new stadium for the team.[Link] Lehane on the other hand has played the role of "freelance political pundit" quoted occasionally in print and appearing on television. He has also played the unofficial attack dog role for Clinton campaign.[Link]

That two very prominent Democratic consultants are working against a labor union in a high profile strike is extremely troubling. The fact that both have close ties to the Clinton political machine, someone should ask the Clinton campaign if they support Fabiani and Lehane in their present efforts?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

A sellout is a sellout and these guys are the posterboys for it. I hope someone does call out the Clinton Campaign for having Lehane as part of their on-call spin machine. This is actually kind of predicatble knowing the history of these two...blue

Anonymous said...

Freaking whores!

Lucas said...

Stoller is on it:

Strike breaking is not ok. Clinton knows this. And that's why she should sever all ties with Lehane and Fabiani and put out a statement announcing this."

Anonymous said...

I think it is quite apparent that both Lehane and Fabiani represent their own selfish interests over representing Democratic ideals.