Everyday PR

Former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod declined a job offer this week from Secretary Tom Vilsack, the same guy who prematurely fired her based on a selectively edited and gross misrepresentation of the facts on Andrew Brietbart’s Big Government blog.  Who could possibly argue with her decision?  Go for the consulting gig.  Even if that’s not in her future, her lawsuit against Brietbart for defamation should satisfy.   

As originally posted, this woman is not stupid and clearly can hold her own.  Too bad for Brietbart, Vilsack and the countless news editors, supervisors, bloggers, et al, who didn’t fact check the story before publicizing it and following the herd mentality.  They don’t deserve a single virtual Cup of Joe for their rush to judgment.  Too bad, so sad.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

Who knew that some of the most profound statements I’ve ever heard would come from Wynonna Judd?  I saw the international superstar speak this week at a monthly CABLE luncheon, and I can guarantee that nobody left without having a few belly laughs, some moments of reflection and a unanimous thank-you for the experience.  Self-described as a “passionate artist, philanthropist, and a farmer with the ability to kick anybody’s ass who’s new in the country music business with one hand tied behind my back”, Wynonna talked about her personal journey “to hell and back”.  A few years ago, she hit a wall and wanted to quit the business around the time her doctor told her to start taking care of her body or her career decision may be made for her.  Following a stint in rehab for her “addiction to food, OCD and perfectionism”, she changed her lifestyle.  Here are some wise words from Wynonna:

*  If you don’t care of yourself, no one else will.

*  Start learning to say “no”.

*  Perfectionism is the highest form of self abuse.

*  I don’t want to be bitter; I want to be better.

*  If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.

*  Give yourself daily affirmations – in the mirror – naked.

*  Your best is good enough.

*  Listen to your inner voice.

*  No more credit cards; pay cash for everything. 

*  You are more than your weight.

*  Stop drinking the poison expecting someone else to die.

*  Don’t give the devil rent-free space in your head.

*  Set boundaries.

*  Be the change you want to be.

And the most well-received advice by the 400+ women in attenance, and I quote, “Stop prioritorizing your schedule.  Schedule your priorities, and let the rest go.  Just go get a good book and a vibrator.”

For her authenticity, candor and connection, we honor Wynonna Judd with three virtual Cups of Joe. 

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

UPDATE:  Wikileaks posts huge encrypted file on the Web.  Read the latest.

I rarely make judgment calls about public relations officials especially when they’re just trying to the best job they can with the information given to them.  But last week’s comments by Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell put me over the edge.  In regard to the Wikileaks situation, the Pentagon ”demanded that Wikileaks return the documents. We want whatever they have returned to us and we want whatever copies they have expunged. We demand that they do the right thing. If doing the right thing is not good enough for them, then we will figure out what alternatives we have to compel them to do the right thing.”  Stop it!  I’m so embarrassed for you, and here’s why:

*  I’m no technical giant but how can documents be “returned” as who knows who’s already downloaded the info, made copies, sent to others, what servers the info is on or en route, etc.  It’s like trying to get pee out of a pool.

*  Demanding someone in another country to do something is almost laughable as Australians aren’t bound by American laws.

*  Demanding that someone do the right thing is in the eye of the doer.

*  Admitting that you basically have no strategy beyond your demand sounds like you’re unprepared, unsure and unclear about what authority, legal or otherwise, that you have. 

While legal recourse remains questionable,a change of tone and content in messages from the Pentagon should be considered.  Think communication, resolution, negotiation, prevention and being proactive instead of reactive.  And if you going to use the “demand” word, use the “please” word with it.  A single virtual Cup of Joe to Geoff Morrell and the Pentagon for using a school yard tactic to get something you don’t have.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

I could easily live the rest of my life without ever seeing “The View“, so for President Obama to make an appearance on the talk show that discusses the latest Kim Kardashian tweets borders on absurdity.  How can the appearance possibly be regarded as statesman-like?  Do presidents of other countries make similar choices?  How in the world could Obama choose what appears to be some lightweight program with four hens just a cackling and pecking one another?  Seriously, he choose Joy Behar over the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts?  As a public relations strategist, I question the move – UNLESS it was a purposeful quasi-military tactic to go where your strongest supporters are.  Connsider his abysmal approval ratings and since “The View” attracts a large female contingency, it makes perfect sense for Obama to stop by and say whatever he said to the gender credited for electing him.   If I were advising him, I might recommend the same tactic, which is basically go where you’re liked to help ensure that you’re still liked in future elections.  Two virtual Cups of Joe to the White House communications staff for putting their “client” first, not to mention likely job security in the future.  Up next: a regular segment on Oprah.  

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

UPDATE:  Shirley Sherrod files lawsuit against Andrew Brietbart for defamation.

whatever will be may not be. Case in point:  Shirley Sherrod. First, Andrew Brietbart’s Big Government Blog posts an edited video of a speech made by Sherrod to a NAACP chapter in Georgia.  The blog was was supposed to demonstrate racism on the part of Sherrod. However, after watching the entire speech, I’m stumped. First, why did said blogger do what he did especially if the event is on tape?  Second, this woman is not stupid and clearly can hold her own.  Her real-world experience about dealing with a white farmer is subsequently described as a lesson in the “haves and the have nots”.  This is what prompted her to want to help poor people with her mantra being “God helped me see that it’s not about black people, it’s about poor people”. She frequently references God and his grace (why aren’t the atheists screaming about that?). She talks about the importance of things like home ownership, helping your community, having a good credit record and entrepreneurship. In fact, she sounded a lot like Bill Cosby.

So why fire the woman? Why be so quick to judge? Was this the final straw in a series of poor employee performance? The rush to judgment in this case gives me great concern about decision making on Capitol Hill.  The fact that the President had to take the time to apologize to Sherrod means he’s not doing what he was elected to do - govern this country. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack didn’t do himself any public relations favors by firing someone without knowing all the facts, or (and here’s an idea), talking directly to the person. And here’s the kicker – Vilsack offers her a “new unique position” at the USDA.  So how much did that cost? I remain stumped. 

Shirley Sherrod deserves three virtual Cups of Joe for handling the situation with much poise and aplomb.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

When I worked for a prison management company, someone reported that a female correctional officer had become romantically involved with an inmate via taped conversations.  With the most deadpan expression on his face, the CEO calmly said “that’s going to hurt her career.”  Heads up, Mel, your lips are fast sinking your ship. Regardless of the authenticity or inadmissibility of the tapes, Mel has done to himself what he allegedly said he’d do to ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.  Being dropped by your agency doesn’t help his career either.  Mel, get help.  Until then, your performance in the court of public opinion doesn’t even deserve a virtual Cup of Joe.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

So Lindsay Lohan is finally called out for breaking the law. Wow. Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel actually held a celebrity accountable for violating the rules of the court.  Assuming the profanity-manicured child completes the 90-day jail sentence, Marsha (I feel that close to the judge) also tacked on substance abuse treatment subsequent to Lohan’s release.  I have only two words to say to Marsha:  THANK YOU!  Here’s three virtual Cups of Joe for restoring some sense of justice to those of us who often question the system, and at the same time, positively serving a public interest.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. Okay, that much most of us know.  But what else do we need to know about this most American of holidays?

* More than $135 million is spent on fireworks to celebrate the occasion. Most of the imported fireworks to this country are from China.

* Most of the American flags in this country are imported here from China (I’m starting to see a theme here).

* More than 66 million people fire up their grills to cook hamburgers and hot dogs for July 4.

* Our National Anthem is “The Star Spangled Banner” written by Frances Scott Key to the English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”.

* Three U.S. Presidents died on the Fourth of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Bummer.

Happy Fourth of July to all.  Enjoy three virtual Cups of Joe to stay awake for all the festivities.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

Yes, General McChrystal and his aides moved their mouths way too much in front of Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings.    That’s often the case when complacency and alcohol mix. However, based on the article, the General’s overall bull-in-a-china-shop personality, combined with his I’m-a-General-and-you’re-not mentality, this guy was going to verbally trip himself and his career up sooner rather than later.  Although General McChrystal gets no Virtual Cup of Joe from us, I suggest he consider decaf in the future.

Speaking of loose lips, U.S. Representative Joe Barton of Texas doesn’t deserve any coffee either, as recently pointed out by EveryDayPR reader Don Barkman.  As Don put it, ”Who said ‘hoof in mouth’ disease was a thing of the past?  In other circumstances the guy might have had half a point about the intrusion of govt into business, but not in this case.”  No coffee for BP’s Tony Hayward for “keeping a straight face (blessings to botox) during the questioning at the hearing.  Add up the air time and I suspect it amounts to congresspersons 85%, BP 15%.  What were they hearing?  Posturing for the populace, of course.”  As always, thanks to Don and other readers for your feedback  – keep it coming.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.

Happy Father’s Day weekend to all the Papas, Dads, Pops and Old Men out there!  Before you buy your guy a new tie or get in the car to take him to a bar, read the following tidbits about Father’s Day to share with him this special weekend.

*     Father’s Day was founded in 1910 by a woman, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane.  One of six children, she was reared by her father, a single parent.

*     In addition to this country, dozens of others celebrate Father’s Day, including Costa Rica, Germany, China, New Zealand and Singapore.

*     In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to declare Father’s Day a federal holiday.  Congress didn’t agree, fearing the day would become commercialized.

*     In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the Father’s Day act, making it a permanent national holiday. 

*     More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day, but more collect phone calls are made on Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day to all. Enjoy your virtual three Cups of Joe.

The virtual Cup of Joe Award from EveryDayPR spotlights our pick of the week for a public relations performance –  good, bad or ugly.  If you’d like to make a nomination, contact shart@hartpr.com or www.Twitter.com/susanhartpr.