Who Is a Lobbyist?
Jul 31, 2020506K Shares8.1M Views
Until I read Michael Isikoff’s latestNewsweek story, if asked, I’d have called David Axelrod a political strategist, maybe a consultant. Now, I’d have to tack on the term lobbyist.
Isikoff points to the activities of Axelrod’s consulting firm, ASK Public Strategies, which runs campaigns for heavy hitters, like Commonwealth Edison and Cablevision. Cablevision’s $1.1 million deal with ASK to drum up support to block a new Jet’s stadium was called the "largest lobbying contract" of the year by New York’s lobbying commission in 2004.
It’s tricky to say who should fall under the lobbyist umbrella, particularly in Axelrod’s case. He doesn’t wander the halls of Congress with a checkbook pressing members for earmarks, but certainly private groups looking for public perks see him as a a gun for hire. It’s certainly the kind of work that falls under the broad category of "political influence."
I’ve actually decided to carve out this idea of political influence as a new beat for myself here at TWI. It’s an important part of the Washington world that explains much of the news we read in headlines here. I’m hoping to investigate these policy end games to start answering that simple but in important question: why?
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
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