One of the most underreported asininities of modern American politics is the existence of political “consultancies” that rake in money from candidates, fail to get those candidates into office, then go on to rake in even more money from other candidates. Consider:
Texas candidate for Senate Beto O’Rourke spent $18 million on a consultancy called “Screen Strategies Media,” according to a Fox News report. By the time you read this, you may know the outcome of the contest between O’Rourke and Ted Cruz, but polls have O’Rourke trailing by double digits.
Screen Strategies, according to its website, works “hand-in-hand with our clients to develop tailor-made media solutions that deliver their message to the right audience in the right place and at the right time.” Or, to put it a little differently, the firm will gladly take $18 million to help you lose an election to one of the most dislikable politicians in America.
In fairness, the reason O’Rourke and many other politicians and aspiring politicians permit themselves to spend so much money on political consultancies is that they can’t spend the money on much else. It’s not their money. It’s campaign money, collected from innumerable fundraisers, and as such heavily regulated. Millionaire consultants: yet another benefit of strict federal election laws.
The best part? In March 2017, as Beto was considering a run against Cruz, he told the Dallas Morning News he wasn’t using consultants. “I’m not poll-testing it,” he said. “I’m not consulting with consultants.” Of course, the candidate had every right to change his mind. The honchos at Screen Strategies are no doubt glad he did.
