Corporate America just doesn't get it - "All politics is local"

by Anthony M. Figliola Big companies like Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Wal-Mart and others are finding out that their existing lobbying efforts are not as effective as they once were.  Government advocacy is no longer just about one-on-one meetings with public officials.  It's about educating the public and creating grassroots pressure utilizing traditional and non-traditional methods. Major restrictions on lobbyists have frustrated many corporations leaving them with few options on how to successfully advance their cause. Looking for solutions they turn to old-fashioned lobbying as their solution, only to fail.  The answer to their dilemma is simple - develop a grassroots strategy. Since the advent of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, the public now has direct access to their elected leaders without going through a gatekeeper and can influence public policy like never before.  The playing field has been leveled and access is available on the same field as other special interests. Corporations must move past traditional high-powered Washington lobbyists with hallway access to elected leaders.  Many corporations are coming to learn that there are just so many personal favors that a K-street firm can call in from a handful of legislators. Businesses must adopt a broader strategy that enlists the support of those outside the Beltway with real interests in their organization's legislative goals. There are a handful of companies that do grassroots and some have even mastered it.  Philip Morris, many years back developed the most successful, corporate grassroots lobbying operation in America.  They believed that "all politics is local," and that any successful operation must have a bottom-up approach. Others have copied the tobacco industry's outreach and have enlisted outside allies for their efforts. Careful targeting of potential friends is the key to a good grassroots operation, plus having the right people in the trenches helps too! The Empire Government Strategies team has used this strategy successfully to help pass legislation; oppose government regulations and a variety of other victories at both the federal and state level. Most U.S. corporations focus on hiring a few top lobbyists who tell them to spend....spend... spend... in the hopes that their contributions will counteract any opposition from the public.  As evident by the current push in Congress for financial and campaign finance reform, spending on the few does not work. There is a better way and many groups from organized labor to environmentalists have been mastering this effort for years.  If corporate America truly wants to remain in the game it needs to adapt to the outside world and adopt a comprehensive grassroots approach. The days of using lobbyists as door-to-door salesmen are over.