Legislature facing tough public relations issues

The Utah Legislature is always a showcase for political public relations case studies that offer lessons for amateurs and even experts. Here are our comments on the hottest PR topics on Capitol Hill (at least for last week):

The hated, but anticipated, Obama stimulus money

Pignanelli: "The problem with tainted money is ... it taint enuff." Republicans nationwide are making a public show of denigrating the stimulus appropriations legislation recently passed by Congress and approved by President Barack Obama. Yet, a number of important programs are targeted for help. Thus, many Utah Republican state and local officials are caught in a public relations dilemma of grumbling, while assisting constituencies eager to spend the money.

Webb: It's perfectly fine from both PR and public policy perspectives to grouse about the stimulus package and then take the money. The Obama/Democratic Congress package is terribly flawed with untold billions in wasteful spending, and most people know it. But Congress passed it, and we're sure as heck going to pay for it (along with our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on), so Utah ought to fight for every penny it can get, and then some, and use the money in the smartest ways possible.

The most recent "Buttars eruption"

Webb: Utah has 104 independently elected lawmakers, each with ambition, a big ego, a mandate and a bully pulpit to say whatever they please. Thus, it's inherently hopeless for a legislative majority to conduct a coherent PR strategy where everyone is unified, disciplined, stays on message and avoids controversy. At the same time, a legislative majority has to try to work as a team to be effective. With his offensive and foolish remarks, Sen. Chris Buttars keeps hurting his team, creating big distractions and news media feeding frenzies that detract from the important work of the Legislature. It was impossible for Senate GOP leaders to contain the PR damage, and their response was appropriate in stripping him of leadership roles. Buttars should resign if he can't control his mouth and be more respectful of those he disagrees with.

It is important to point out a double standard here. Many of the gay rights leaders who have been stridently and vocally angry over Buttars' intemperate remarks were quite silent when the LDS Church was subjected to hateful, bigoted and even simulated terroristic attacks by gay rights radicals. They ought to be more consistent in speaking out against hateful speech wherever it occurs.