Savannah Moments

That’s the question I keep asking myself. You see several months after the Stimulus Bill was passed I started hearing it called the “Porkulus Bill”, and criticism that it was a failure, a waste of hard-earned taxpayers’ money leading the country into greater debt. The drumbeat started before it had even begun to be implemented. I knew that if the opposition kept up the chant, even though they had no hard data to support it, the administration’s position would be one always on the defensive, and public support would erode – unless a Crisis Intervention Strategy was implemented.

But I said nothing, Wrote nothing, Occasionally yelled at the TV talking heads. Vented over the dinner table. White House press briefing after briefing passed and yet I didn’t get the sense of urgency. Was the critique thought of as “politics as usual”? Was I the only one aware that this should be treated in crisis mode?

Months passed. Still I did nothing. I thought of writing to Press Secretary Gibbs, or to President Obama, or to Vice President Biden, whose office was in charge of oversight. But the fingers never got to the keyboard. Meanwhile the opposition’s talking points continued to be mouthed, again without any supporting data.

What was the strategy that could have been implemented – that can still be implemented?

Let me take a step back. The typical response to political criticism is to point to flaws in the argument. To treat it as two sides of a policy debate. Therefore the talking heads and the bloggerati marshal their talking points and, all too often, the TV anchors let “both sides” express their views, and rarely intervene, even to challenge some egregious statements.

From the point of view of blunting politically biased criticism this approach is a disaster in the making. The other side sets the agenda, frames the issue, and time and energy are spent arguing. From a public perspective it becomes a “he said, she said” finger-pointing exercise.

A Crisis Intervention Strategy is solidly fact based. It is the antithesis of “spin”. It is transparent and subject to scrutiny. It is detail oriented. It is also relentless.

So if I were advising the Press Secretary, I would suggest that each daily press briefing would start by highlighting a project that was receiving Stimulus money. 
. It might be the award of a particular grant – what the goals were, what results might be anticipated.
· A ground breaking or ribbon cutting ceremony of a publicly funded project.
· A decision by a state or local government to retain police, fire fighters, first responders, teachers — based on stimulus funds.
· Energy savings from the installation of solar, wind, geothermal, or fuel cells.
· A manufacturing start-up made possible by stimulus funds.
· Major roadway and infrastructure improvements.
· Improvements to public buildings and construction of new schools and libraries.
· Construction of affordable housing.
·  …. The list goes on – in every state ….

In addition, I would feature a project of the week, and a project of the month, a quarterly review, and an annual review.

I would also order a review of the media relations departments of all of the federal government agencies involved. Do they have an up-to-date list of journalists who report in their specialty field? Of known freelancers? Of bloggers? Unfortunately, from what I have seen, press releases are posted on websites, and given limited distribution. However, there is a local story for every grant, loan guarantee, new business or business expansion. These stories were not being told primarily because the local journalists were not informed.

In addition, the federal agencies have to be involved with the state agencies that actually determine many of the awards in order to establish procedures for notifying the local press, and provide any needed instruction, templates, etc. Many of the state agencies were understaffed because they suddenly had to manage the increased volume of funds that were allocated. The federal agencies need to ensure that routine local media contact procedures are put into place.

It is very easy to criticize the Federal Government. To pick at an expenditure, poke a finger in the eye, rail against some perceived injury. If individual Americans do not know what is being done for them, for their community, for their business by the activities of government then it becomes easier for the demagogues to sway public opinion.

Well, I knew what needed to be done – yet I remained silent. I take small comfort that it appears others in the media relations community did not speak up. There is still time. Throughout this country there are many ongoing projects that received stimulus funds and that remain underreported.

I am willing to put myself on record. I just hope I can get someone in authority to listen — and take action.

Jack Star  jack@solarcitiesusa.com