Talk
about public relations disasters in degrees. When Republican presidential
hopeful Mitt Romney criticizes a Pittsburgh cookie it’s one thing. But when half
a dozen secret service agents and 11 military personnel lose their jobs
after seeking the “secret services” of women who could have gone by the street
name “Cookie” it’s an entirely different matter and enough to make me lose my
dessert.
In
short: this is not good at all.
If
anything, the unfolding Secret Service and military personnel prostitute scandal
is a glaring example that sometimes no matter how much spin is added to the
curve ball of professional news speak and public relations, you can still
strike out. The exploits of these men are indefensible which has left the
political punditsphere returning to humor. One of my favorites comes from
Steven Cody, the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Peppercorn, a public
relations firm. His idea, expressed in his most recent post: “Let’s
re-brand it the not-so Secret Service.”
And
while crass humor may serve as a temporary public antidote for the serious
standards and security breach that was uncovered in Colombia, it will do
nothing in the longer term court of public opinion.
To a
large extent, Lawrence Berger, the lawyer for two Secret Service supervisors
who lost their jobs was right. The actions of these individuals did not compromise the security of the President.
But if that’s the best defense that can be mustered, I think one would be hard
pressed to call that a stunning PR reversal.
The President
may not have been harmed physically, but his image certainly was, giving
political red meat to the likes of Sarah Palin who commented on Fox news
recently, "It's like, who's minding the store around here?"
The Secret Service, founded
in 1865, and charged with presidential protection since 1901, has a long and
largely successful history. While there’s no denying this public relations
disaster is a big one, it’s also likely that an agency that presumably takes
its mission and duty so seriously will work exceedingly hard at doing their
jobs that much better so that time really will smooth out this unfortunate –
kink. (Yes, pun intended)
“Waiting
it out” is usually a PR professional’s least favorite advice to a client. But
in this case it may be the only way the embattled agency can regain its
stripes. “I’m sorrys” have been made. Jobs have been lost.
It’s
quite possible the less they say going forward might be the most prudent course
of action. Until, of course, one of them
releases a kiss and tell all tome,
which will be only a matter of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments?