Are political operatives the scourge of American politics, the corrupters of all that’s pure and just about our Democratic process? The answer, as with many things in our political world, is yes and no.
The job of a political consultant is much like the job of a sports agent – they guide their client’s career by helping to make strategic decisions at critical times. They also negotiate and handle difficult chores so their clients can concentrate on “bigger” tasks, like winning games or, in politics, like accomplishing their agenda.
Anytime you apply professional techniques and principals to an emotional process like a campaign, you’re bound to be viewed as a troublemaker. Political consultants are often the ones convincing their candidates that it’s time to go negative, to hit their opponents with everything but the kitchen sink.
They are also the ones who advise clients that their stand on an issue doesn’t match the polling data, so they should compromise a bit and not really tell the public exactly how they feel about healthcare or gun control.
It is an operatives’ job to get their man or woman elected. They would be derelict in their duty if they didn’t give accurate advice designed to help win an election and put their client in office. On the other hand, most good consultants have a great sense of fairness and truly love this American democratic process.
Some of the best political consultants in Nevada are certainly that way. Men like Billy Vassiliadis, Sig Rogich, Kent Oram, Pete Ernaut and the late Jim You won’t find their names associated with some of the more unscrupulous politicians we’ve had in recent memory because they knew these individuals did not have the integrity it takes to be good, compassionate and strong political leaders.
They are associated with names such as Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, former Governors Bob Miller and Kenny Guinn, former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and State Senators Bill Raggio and the late Jim Gibson Sr., all dedicated and outstanding public officials.
Are there unscrupulous practitioners of the profession? Of course. Politics is a big-money business, and a corrupt politician can always find someone who will take their money to get them re-elected or elected to a higher office.
However, it’s obviously wrong to assume that everyone in a particular profession is just out for the money. The consultants mentioned here and many of their colleagues turn away more clients than they agree to handle. It’s just not worth getting involved with a candidate who will eventually end up hurting the system they love so dearly.
At the time this column went to press, one of Nevada’s elite political consultants, Kent Oram, was facing health problems and fighting to get back in the game and continue providing advice and counsel to some of Nevada’s best public servants. Nevada needs him to get well and get back to what he does best – electing quality and upstanding political representatives.