Since BP bought up some of Washington’s biggest pundits to clean up their image, things are getting sticky. Television bookers are strapped for guests, we hear, and conflicts of interest have cropped up.
Take John Feehery. He frequently appears on CNN and MSNBC, but has been working on BP’s account for two weeks with the Brunswick Group. When he appeared on MSNBC’s “The Ed [Schultz] Show” on June 1, the BP story was discussed on the show. Feehery said he’d “like the administration to focus on plugging the damn hole,” and was identified as a Republican strategist.
He told Yeas & Nays the BP story was a late addition to the show’s lineup.
“I didn’t think we were going to talk about the issue,” he said. “I should have said something, and I regret that I didn’t, but my message then wasn’t approved by BP, nor was it a BP message, nor did I think of BP when I said it,” he added. MSNBC did not respond to a request for comment.
Hilary Rosen, who works at the Brunswick Group (but not on BP’s account), also has had some issues. Because of Rosen’s ties with the oil company, she had to cut ties with the Huffington Post last week, where she held an editorial position, and hasn’t appeared on CNN, where she is a contributor, in weeks. Rosen wouldn’t comment on the record.
CNN contributor Alex Castellanos’ and political commentator Steve McMahon’s communications firm Purple Strategies also has been hired to take care of some of the post-oil spill public relations mess, BP confirmed.
To deal with the situation, CNN is keeping its oil connections off the topic of oil.
“Both Alex and Hilary are contributors used primarily to comment on political issues, and they are not being used to discuss the oil disaster story,” CNN spokeswoman Edie Emery said.
As for CBS, spokesperson Jeff Ballabon told Yeas & Nays “Our policy in this case, as in others where a compensated spokesperson is involved, is to identify and disclose the individual’s relevant interests.” BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward and BP Cheif Operating Officer Doug Suttles have appeared on their programming.
ABC and Fox News Channel said this hasn’t been an issue. NBC did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
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