Well known and influential lobbyist part one

November 6, 6:03 PMLafayette Political Buzz ExaminerKen LaRive

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Lobby salad
Photo by Ken LaRive

As cyberspace has been focusing on its newest and formidable antagonist player influencing Obama, George Soros, hardly a mention goes to other marketers and lobbyists who know the game and play it well.

Let's not forget the partnership of our own southern luminaries, former Louisiana Democrat John Breaux and Mississippi Republican Trent Lott. With over 70 congressional years experience between them, these two have found a lucrative niche. Called the Breaux Lott Leadership Group, they represent big-boy oil like Shell (RDS.A) and Chevron (CVX), and the complexities of the pharmaceutical industry brings it home with a lot of leverage.

Another lobbyist in Washington's high regard is Kenneth M. Duberstein. He is very successful in bridging party lines, and though he was once Ronald Reagan's chief of staff, it matters little to many Democrats so long as he partners with Michael S. Berman.  Berman was the organizer of the Democratic conventions and  the Democratic advisor during the Clinton years. They call themselves the Duberstein Group with magnetos like Comcast (CMCSA), UAL (UVAL), Novartis (NVS), Sara Lee (SLE), and another big boy named BP (BP).

There are others who never held an office, and none more iconic then Thomas Hale Boggs JR.. His influence is noteworthy, but his families' notoriety has helped him too. His father was House Democratic Majority Leader in the early '70s and his sister Cokie Roberts is a notable political commentator for NPR and ABC. Mr. Boggs had such door-opening clout even as far back as economical advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and he has a real savvy for campaign contributions, the source of money flow, and networking manipulations. His law firm Patton Boggs is thought to be the most influential of any in the beltway. With virtually hundreds of clients, his firm reported earnings of 28.8 million in 2008. Verizon (VZ), Microsoft (MSFT), E*Trade (ETFC), and Managed Funds Assn, are but a few in their portfolio.

Boggs realized that the best lobbyist firm was one of law, and his litigations in regulations and corporate law are legendary. But of course his friendships with Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Barny Frank (D-Mass,) and D. Dingle (D-Mich.) may have helped him also. Note: Cerber Capital Management, the owner of Chrysler, received 4 billion in bailout money, with Boggs' help. And who can forget the loan guarantee in 1979, unprecedented at the time, as he helped Chrysler and the United Auto Workers Union to persuade Congress and Jimmy Carter's Administration for a very controversial 1.5 billion.

A lobbyist's main function is the art of persuasion, and it can take on many diverse forms. The complexities of this game is threaded in information and a commonalty of interests that can bridge the gap between opposing points of view. In this regard not all lobbying might be considered negative, especially when he might be able to supply information like statistics or bottom line numbers that a Congressman or politician might otherwise not have access to.

Other less glamorous forms of lobbying might be part of a grass-root organization who might enlist the community to influence representatives or politicians by writing, calling, or actually demonstrating. Some report directly to politicians as representatives of the community, and promote their interests from their perspective.

Lobbyists are movers and shakers, and an understanding of who they are and what agendas they represent are necessary to an understanding of the direction our county is taking.

AIPAC Lobby