Brett Banter

We wrote a post not too long ago about how the issue that just won't go away in our state -- the Confederate flag -- continues to command attention from both sides ten years after the flag was removed from the dome of the South Carolina Statehouse. Though the flag was taken down from the Capitol and placed on a 30-foot pole on the Statehouse lawn, the NAACP and others continue to protest the flag's presence on state property. The issue that just won't die in South Carolina has positioned our state on a perilous ledge until it is fully resolved. The ongoing ferocity potentially jeopardizes not only our own internal political and social relations, but has the opportunity to also directly impact the state's economy by causing businesses to shy away from bringing industry to such a cutthroat political climate.

In terms of personal strife, our own Governor Mark Sanford has certainly seen his share. Over the past six months the married governor has endured ongoing criticism and public relations fiascos stemming from his actions related to his relationship with an Argentinian woman.

When it comes to the most unpopular governors currently in office across the nation, one might think Sanford would be a star in the topmost tier. But according to a poll released today by Public Policy Polling, Sanford doesn't even make the top 8 in terms of unpopularity. If the poll is correct, Sanford has a better approval rating than California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Budget and financial issues appear to be the root reason of the unpopularity of the eight most unpopular governors, says PPP. They include:

John Baldacci (D) of Maine
Jan Brewer (R) of Arizona
Jim Doyle (D) of Wisconsin
Jim Gibbons (R) of Nevada
David Paterson (R) of New York
Bev Perdue (D) of North Carolina
Ed Rendell (D) of Pennsylvania
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of California

Takeaway from this poll? Even in an age when scandals like the Mark Sanford affair rock the country, more obscure, less flashy issues may ultimately have a truer impact on a governor's overall perceived image.

VIEW THE FULL POLL RESULTS

On Sunday, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire ran a short blip from political strategist and Obama heavyweight David Plouffe's new book, The Audacity to Win. The book quote points to former Presidential hopeful John Edwards. After deciding his campaign was finally kaput, Edwards apparently tried to turn his loss into an endorsement bargaining chip laid on the table between remaining candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. An Edwards aide indicated that Edwards might be willing to jump ship to Team Obama ship to help defeat Mrs. Clinton.

As you probably know, we like to harp on how substantial a role public relations plays when it comes to politics, campaigns and the political climate. Positive public relations and perceptions equate to gold, particularly in a state like South Carolina where the partisan divide remains profoundly distinct and scars from political scandal still bleed profusely.

Politicians walk a precarious wire. As public figures, every move they make in public and private becomes subject to scrutinization by constituents and the media at large.

Letters to the editor have been around practically since the dawn of the newspaper itself, and over time have endured as a powerful way to leverage one's power of persuasion. Do you have an opinion on a particular matter? Want to weigh in on a heavily-talked about issue in your community? All it takes is putting pen to the paper - or in today's day and age, fingers to the keyboard - and at no cost you can literally put your opinion in front of the eyes of hundreds, if not thousands of people and influential leaders. As an added bonus, politicians and policymakers frequently look to the editorial pages of newspapers to gauge constituent opinions and perspectives.

1. Pick your issue and choose your media outlet. If it's a community issue, your local newspaper is best. You can usually find information how to submit a letter on the editorial page. Lists of global newspapers are also available at Ref Desk.


2. Be timely! Sending your letter while the issue is hot is a must if you want any chance to get published.


3. When you respond to a story, a column or another reader's letter to the editor, be polite even if you disagree with them. Letters to the editor are not the place to launch personal attacks or be rude. On the same note, if you are responding to a particular story, column or letter, make sure to note the headline and date of publication.


4. Compose your letter in short, well-written sentences that get to the point quickly. Make your letter no longer than one or two paragraphs.


5. Avoid banality; don't use any hackneyed or already overused phrases.


6. Proofread your letter! Better yet, have someone else proofread it.


7. Make sure to include your name, phone number and email. The media outlet will almost always want to verify that you wrote the letter before they will publish it.

Ultimately, if your letter does not get published, keep writing, especially when the issue has particular importance to you. Read other letters to the editor on a frequent basis as this can help you when crafting your own. And once you do get published? Congratulations on casting your net far and wide. With just a little time spent, your opinion can influence and be the accompaniment for many as they sip their coffee and read the morning news.

Something is happening in your community that just lights a fire under you. It makes you furious. It gets under your skin and it itches and burns until you want to scream, and scream some more. You tell your neighbors and your friends and you complain to your family. But guess what? Until someone steps up to the plate, nothing is going to change.

A constant state of peaceful, blissful cooperation when multiple people with different ideas and agendas all have to coexist is virtually next to impossible to ever achieve. Controversy in local communities is nothing new, and it happens each and every day. You’ve probably experienced anger, or at the very least frustration, over a community issue at some point in your lifetime.

That’s where the grassroots movement comes in. Whether it’s speaking out for or against a piece of legislation, or campaigning for something you strongly believe in, or asking your government to intervene in an issue that needs attention, you literally have untapped power at your fingertips to make change happen…. you just have to think strategically!

Case Study: Several years ago, our company helped build a coalition to oppose the construction of a new mega landfill in Spartanburg County, giving it the clever and memorable moniker F.O.U.L. (Friends Opposing Unnecessary Landfills). As part of the effort, Brett recruited elected officials and key community leaders to publicly fight this issue, speaking out against it at appropriate venues and events. We incorporated these spokesperson opportunities with collateral materials and key press conferences scheduled around community visibility. The result was an exceptional campaign that branded the coalition, gave it a name, and ultimately gave F.O.U.L. the advantage to win the dispute.

Had the supporters of the mega landfill succeeded, millions of tons of out-of- state garbage would have been brought into the county, in exchange for millions of dollars going into the county’s pocketbook. Because of the coalition’s strong, permeable grassroots movement, county officials denied the petition.

So when it comes to grassroots organizing, you have a number of tactics to consider:

• Create and distribute your own one-page fact sheets or flyers
• Call your legislator’s office and ask to meet him/her in person
• Recruit others to your cause by hosting tables, booths, or handing out literature where appropriate
• Write a letter to the editor and have as many other people as you can write letters as well
• Seek out key elected officials or local influential people who support your cause and ask them to publicly back you
• “Bird-dog”, or show up at an elected official or issue ‘decision-maker’s’ event to influence others (try to avoid personal attacks or outward displays of anger)
• Create visuals – posters, signs, stickers, buttons
• Create a viral, pass-along email campaign
• Post in any online discussion forum you can find related to your issue
• Get on the social media train and create Facebook and Twitter pages for your campaign, or write articles and post them to Digg and other similar article sharing sites

The above grassroots strategies are just a starting point, and when using them you should carefully consider the overall impact on your particular campaign and what you hope to accomplish. Be prepared to talk to the press. You should always have a designated spokesperson and talking points prepared ahead of time. Making a grassroots campaign a success can be an extremely rewarding task, especially as you watch your efforts swell and gain momentum! Happy campaigning!