American Bankers Association plan to defeat Occupy Wall Street and President Obama

[Guest LAW]

A memo to the American Bankers Association (ABA) written by Sam Geduldig and Jay Cranford, partners of the lobbying firm Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford (CLGC) and former employees of John Boehner (R-Ohio) has surfaced that reveals the AMA fears against populist uprising against them and a plan to defeat President Obama this election cycle.

 

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FOR: American Bankers Association

FROM: Sam Geduldig, Steve Clark, Gary Lytle, Jay Cranford

DATE: November 24, 2011

SUJECT: Proposal: Occupy Wall Street Response

 

Leading Democratic party strategists have begun to openly discuss the benefits of embracing the growing and increasingly organized Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement to prevent Republican gains in Congress and the White House next year. We have seen this process of adopting extreme positions and movements to increase base voter turnout, including in the 2005-2006 immigration debate. This would mean more than just short-term political discomfort for Wall Street firms. If vilifying the leading companies of this sector is allowed to become an unchallenged centerpiece of a coordinated Democratic campaign, it has the potential to have very long-lasting political, policy and financial impacts on the companies in the center of the bullseye.

 

It shouldn't be surprising that the Democratic party or even President Obama's re-election team would would campaign against Wall Street in this cycle. However the bigger concern should be that Republicans will no longer defend Wall Street companies - and might start running against them too.

 

Well-known Wall Street companies stand at the nexus of where OWS protestors and the Tea Party overlap on angered populism. Both the radical left and the radical right are channeling broader frustration about the state of the economy and share mutual anger over TARP and other perceived bailouts. This combination has the potential to be explosive later in the year when media reports cover the next round of bonuses and contrast it with stories of millions of Americans making do with less this holiday season.

 

Democratic strategists have identified the OWS movement as way to tap this populist anger. As and example, the L.A. Times reported that Robby Mook, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, wrote and email to supporters saying "protestors are assembling in New York and around the country to let billionaires, big oil, and big bankers know that we're not going to let the richest 1% force draconian economic policies and massive cuts to crucial Main Street Americans."

 

They are certainly in the field right now testing messaging options and developing the plans to deploy them in ads, speeches, social media and grassroots communications as early as this year. The focus of those campaign efforts would be to tar the financial services sector - and in particular high-profile Wall Street investment house brands - as being responsible for the economic problems facing the country and middle class Americans. As the Democrat half of the well-known Battleground Survey polling team, Celinda Lake, said: "It has enormous potential."

 

It may be easy to dismiss OWS as a ragtag group of protestors, but they have demonstrated that they should be treated more like an organized competitor who is very nimble and capable of working with the media, coordinating third party support and engaging office holders to do their bidding. To counter that, we have to do the same. Putting the cornerstone elements of a plan in place right now will prepare firms to respond quickly and collectively at the earliest and most influential point when embracing OWS goes from concept planning to execution. The cornerstone elements of a plan include: survey research and message testing, opposition research, targeted social media monitoring, coalition planning, and advertising creative placement strategy development.

 

CLGF.pdf

[Guest LAW]

Continued

 

FOR: American Bankers Association

FROM: Sam Geduldig, Steve Clark, Gary Lytle, Jay Cranford

DATE: November 24, 2011

SUJECT: Proposal: Occupy Wall Street Response

 

Survey Research

 

It will be critical to begin with national polling that has a focus on key voter groups in play in the presidential campaign: women, seniors, suburban voters, GOP and Tea Party both nationally and in targeted states on the front end to inform how the campaign is approached, our messaging and opponent campaign saliency.

 

Deliverable: Our polling plan would produce a national survey of 1,000 voters to serve as our benchmark and give us a national context for our state-by-state efforts. We would produce additional statewide surveys in a least eight states that are shaping up to be the most important of the 2012 cycle. The most important states in which to consider conducting research include:

 

Florida: Swing state with vulnerable Democrat Senator running for re-election; has the ability to swing Presidential elections. President Obama won here in 2008.

 

Pennsylvania: Conservative Democrat Senator running for re-election, but Obama struggles here, especially in the Pennslyvania "T" (i.e., outside of the Philly and Pittsburgh metro areas). President Obama won here in 2008.

 

Virginia: Open U.S. Senate seat, and a true toss-up state, with northern Virginia far more Democratic than the rest of the state. President Obama won this state in 2008.

 

Wisconsin: Open US Senate seat, toss-up state that has been previously been in the spotlight due to Governor Walker's battle with the public unions. President Obama carried this state in 2008.

 

Ohio: Freshman Senator Sherrod Brown is running for re-election. A swing state in the heartland hat has been hit hard by recession and would have the potential to be a breeding ground for resentment toward financial institutions. President Obama carried Ohio in 2008.

 

North Carolina: Governor Bev Perdue has been struggling in the polls, but this a state that President Obama is targeting in 2012. He won here in 2008.

 

Nevada: This is a lean-Republican state that President Obama carried Nevada in 2008. It is ground zero for the foreclosure crisis.

 

New Mexico: An open Senate seat in a pure toss-up state. President Obama carried New Mexico in 2008

[Guest LAW]

Continued

 

FOR: American Bankers Association

FROM: Sam Geduldig, Steve Clark, Gary Lytle, Jay Cranford

DATE: November 24, 2011

SUJECT: Proposal: Occupy Wall Street Response

 

Opposition Research

 

OWS bears many of the hallmarks of a well-funded effort and media reports have speculated about associations with George Soros and others. It will be vital to understand who is funding it and what their backgrounds and motives are. If we can show they have the same cynical motivation as a political opponent it will undermine their credibility in a profound way. A key strategic goal will ultimately be to show an evidence of fraud on the other side.

 

Deliverable: Our opposition research work at this stage will produce an analysis of OWS backers and funders, extremist leaders, policy positions, and rhetoric for the development of strategic polling and messaging. THe research will identify opportunities to construct fact-based negative narratives of the OWS for high impact media placement to expose the backers behind this movement.

 

Specific initial opposition research tactics will include:

 

Comprehensive media analysis of OWS and their leaders

 

Records search and obtainable open records requests of leaders' histories including civil and criminal information, litigation history, tax liends, bankruptcies, judgments, and other associations

 

Associated business and record search including internal Revenue Service and Federal Election Comission filings, sanctions, regulatory actions, and litigation.

[Guest LAW]

Continued

 

FOR: American Bankers Association

FROM: Sam Geduldig, Steve Clark, Gary Lytle, Jay Cranford

DATE: November 24, 2011

SUJECT: Proposal: Occupy Wall Street Response

 

Targeted Social Media Monitoring

 

The transparency of social media platforms offers an excellent opportunity to anticipate future OWS tactics and messaging as well as identify extreme language and ideas that put its most ardent supporters at odds with mainstream Americans. These platforms may not be a place where engaging OWS supporters directly could be successful but with sophisticated monitoring and analytical tactics it could provide exceptional political intelligence.

 

Deliverable: We will conduct and report on an audit of most active social media platforms used by OWS and the identification of trends in their engagement. This audit will offer analysis of those trends and identify effective reporting tools to develop actionable intelligence that could rapidly acted on when a campaign becomes fully operational.

[Guest LAW]

Continued

 

FOR: American Bankers Association

FROM: Sam Geduldig, Steve Clark, Gary Lytle, Jay Cranford

DATE: November 24, 2011

SUJECT: Proposal: Occupy Wall Street Response

 

Coalition Planning

 

Individual companies under threat by OWS and its adoption by Democrats likely will not be the best spokespeople for their own cause. A big challenge is to demonstrate that these companies still have the political strength and that making them a political target will carry a severe political cost.

 

Deliverable: We will produce a report identifying traditional and non-traditional allies, intellectual support and politically important economic footprints that could ultimately form the basis of a broad coalition (rather than the narrow D.C. definition of a coalition) who can help carry our messages and organize supporters.

 

Advertising Creative and Placement Strategy

 

While it is not clear if, when, where and to what extent paid advertising may be necessary, the cost and reach makes it a potential strategic advantage for you in a message war against a grassroots movement like OWS. The key is to use the information identified through the survey research to develop hard-hitting, compelling creative that can move numbers, combat OWS messages and provide cover for political figures to defend the industry. By developing and clearing this creative now it can be ready for immediate deployment immediately as it becomes necessary. A strong placement early in a transition to adopt the OWS movement will send a powerful political signal about the risks of carrying that through.

 

Deliverable: Three creative concept options based on results of the survey research as well a national/Beltway and state - and district-specific placement plan (including all mediums - TV, print radio, mail, and online) based on political targeting.

 

Pricing

 

This initial effort to develop the cornerstone elements of a strategic campaign is achievable within 60 days and would best provide you with a range of effective response options if the move to adopt OWS continues on its current path. The cost of the deliverables identified above is $850,000.

[Guest greenzen]

It is now perfectly clear that the banks are scared that Mainstreet OWS and Mainstreet Tea Party may merge together on this issue. The banks are willing to spend enormous amounts of money to make sure it does not happen. The whistle blower that released this information is a patriot in my book.

[Luke_Wilbur]

 

The leaked information was sent to MSNBC

 

In fairness ABA stated that they did not accept the proposal.

[Guest grachus babeuf]

In case anyone is interested in (peacefully and legally) protesting at theoffices or homes of the partners and associates at Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford, here is a list of their names, addresses and questionable accomplishments.

 

Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 750 South

Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 628-0028

 

Steve Clark, Partner

Former Board Member Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Cited in 2000 as Ohio’s Most Effective Corporate Lobbyist

9273 Lerwick Dr.

Dublin, OH

43017-9492

 

Gary Lytle, Partner

Former VP and lobbyist at Qwest

Former interim CEO of the United States Telecom Association (USTA)

Former VP at Ameritech

4870-D Old Dominion Dr.

Arlington, VA

 

Sam Geduldig, Partner

Served in an array of positions with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Mike Oxley (R-Ohio)

Acted as the House Republican leadership’s liaison to the business community

1519 Pathfinder Lane

Mc Lean VA

22101

 

Jay Cranford, Partner

Former Assistant for Policy to Boehner

Former Director of Government Affairs at the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a offshore oil and gas industry association

Former Director of Government Affairs at the El Paso Corporation, a natural gas exploration and transportation company

4136 N Richmond St.

Arlington, VA

 

Amy Lorenzini Wren, Associate

Worked for convicted money launderer and former Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas)

Alexandria VA

 

Adam Geller, Associate

CEO of the Republican polling firm, National Research Inc.

Former pollster for NJ Governor Chris Christie

Managed and analyzed surveys and focus groups in Jesse Helm’s 1996 re-election

National Research Inc.

146 State Highway 34

Suite 250

Holmdel, NJ 07733

(732) 817-1088

adam@nationalresearchinc.com

 

Jim Parker, Associate

Former President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine

5755 N Pennsylvania Street

Indianapolis, Indiana

46220

 

Ann Marie Clark

Clark’s campaign contributions include Roy Blunt R-Mi. In 2005, Blunt was a member of the “Most Corrupt" list compiled with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

9273 Lerwick Drive

Dublin OH 43017-9492

[Guest Drury]

I would support working with the Occupy Wall Street kids on fighting the banks. I think they are stealing our money, The problem is that I am not for Obama or the phony Republicans. We need another chioice. We need an honest conservative candidate to solve our problems. I will not follow the ideas of communism as a solution.

[Financexaminer]

Very interesting indeed. While the ABA claims that this proposal was not accepted, any prudent person can only assume a similar campaign agenda will be launched. Roy Blunt represents an area of well entrenched members of the relegious far right having the National Headquarters of the Assemblies of God located in Springfield, Mo. Together they form a political machine that rarely squeeks so long as his followers can afford their beer tabs at the Pink Cadilac, a local strip joint.

 

Occupy Springfield Missouri (OSM) is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. While many Democrats are participating in OSM, the group has active Tea Party members as well. OSM has made a point of keeping the organization from identifying with any established political party in the area. There is a common goal, mission and bond between these two parties which has also allowed centralists to embrace the group.

 

Announcing any smear campaign against OWS is not surprising to the OSM group a such is simply a standard operating proceedure in local politics. There is a solidarity against corrupt banking institutions, modes of operations includimg fraudulent foreclosures and the difficulty for small businesses to obtain funds.

 

I think it is also obvious to all the members of OSM that the ABA calls many of the shots for our representatives who have abandoned citizens in favor of congressional individualism. Many of us wonder how in the world Roy Blunt could have become so wealthy on his salary.

 

The ABA should plan on spending more like 8.5 million dollars, not $850,000, it's going to be a tough nut to crack in these hills!