GOP Human Landmine!

McCain’s folks passed on having Paul Manafort manage the Republican national convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota this September because the selection of Mr. Manafort “created anxiety in the campaign because of his long history of representing controversial foreign clients, including Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.” After some searching, they ended appointing Douglas M. Goodyear, CEO of the DCI Group – a Republican lobbying and PR firm.

McCain’s campaign has been working hard to make McCain the candidate appear independent from influence by the lobbyist, PR, and special interests groups that have sullied the reputation of the GOP over the last decade. That was one of the main reasons they took a pass on Manafort, but they did not apply the same standards in selecting Goodyear. His leadership of the DCI Group should have been enough to convince the campaign that they had not found their man. Sourcewatch has a great article on the DCI Group. If you scroll down to the section marked “What the Burmese Junta and the Drug Industry Have In Common” you will find lots of information about the DCI Group’s work for the military junta in Myanmar. This would be the same military leadership that has been dragging its heels and preventing international humanitarian aid from reaching the million Burmese folks displaced by Cyclone Nargis earlier this month.

In 2002, the DCI Group received $340,000 for eight months of work for the Union of Myanmar (Burma) State Peace & Development Council.

The Washington Post’s Al Kamen wrote, “DCI’s filings with the Justice Department offer an unusual glimpse into the efforts by the Rangoon junta. DCI lobbyists, featuring Charles Francis, a longtime family friend of the Bushes, ran a sophisticated campaign to improve the regime’s image—and steer the conversation away from its rampant human rights abuses and such.”

Francis “even set up two meetings with White House National Security Council Southeast Asia director Karen B. Brooks,” Kamen continued, “—an unusual feat given that Burma is under U.S. sanctions and its top officials are barred from coming here—to tout Burma’s cooperation on anti-drug, HIV/AIDs and anti-terrorism efforts and in finding the remains of U.S. soldiers from World War II.” After lobbying congressional officials, the Defense Department, and well connected think tanks, the “campaign was on the verge of success—the State Department was about to certify the regime—but the administration backed off amid pressure from the Hill, human rights groups and the media.”

The DCI Group calls itself a “strategic public affairs consulting firm” and boasts that it handles corporate issues like political campaigns. “We are a political firm and all of our partners have political campaign experience. We thrive in competitive circumstances, and are used to fluid situations and tight deadlines,” their website claims. DCI Group offers services that include national, state and local lobbying; coalition building; and generating “grasstops” and constituent support for issues. The firm has been linked to several industry-funded coalitions that pose as grassroots organizations. Perhaps it comes as no surprise as DCI advertises its ability to provide “third party support” to clients. “Corporations seldom win alone,” the group’s website says. “Whatever the issue, whatever the target—elected officials, regulators or public opinion—you need reliable third party allies to advocate your cause. We can help you recruit credible coalition partners and engage them for maximum impact. It’s what we do best.” (view on WayBack Machine)

It did not take long for Goodyear’s appointment to draw more attention from the mainstream press and bloggers alike. During a time when McCain is championing a “Gas Tax Holiday” (along with Senator Clinton) it’s probably not the best idea to appoint the CEO of a public relations firm who has had ExxonMobil as a client.

(Did you know that the ExxonMobil political action committee (PAC) contributed $698,450 to federal candidates in the 05/06 election cycle – 7% to Democrats and 93% to Republicans?)

Unlike the lingering pain of Senator Obama’s slow-motion dissolution of his relationship with his former pastor, this “scandal” may pass quickly. Taking a page from the Bush Administration’s playbook, the Republican National Convention – at 4:06 PM Eastern Time – on a SATURDAY – filed a Press Release announcing that Doug Goodyear is stepping down from his role as convention coordinator.

May 10, 2008 16:06 ET
GOP Convention Coordinator Resigns

SAINT PAUL, Minn., May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The 2008 Republican National Convention today accepted the resignation of convention coordinator Doug Goodyear. Mr. Goodyear issued the following statement on his resignation:

“Today I offered the convention my resignation so as not to become a distraction in this campaign. I continue to strongly support John McCain for president, and wish him the best of luck in this campaign.”

Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National
Convention
www.GOPConvention2008.com
Phone: (651) 467-2008

Source: Republican National Convention

CONTACT: Matt Burns, Republican National Convention, +1-651-925-7208, or
mburns@gopconvention2008.com

Web site: http://www.gopconvention2008.com/

If anyone writes to Matt Burns at that email address above and finds out how they plan to find some who is both a DC based Republican & unrelated to the lobbying industry I’d love to hear about it.