Barack Obama at the U of O
As the last of the spring sunlight sat on top of the trees above the quad, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama adressed students, faculty and community members at the U of O last Thursday evening. He discussed the usual topics: the economy, the war in Iraq, education and so on. I was very impressed with Senator Obama. While I am still an undecided voter, I very much admired his character and speaking skills. At one point in his speech he referenced the public relations industry very subtly and briefly. Perhaps I am over analyzing, but it struck me as odd and obviously I cannot shake it, which is why it is the topic of this weeks blog. Sen. Obama was discussing the Republican party leaders and when referring to the delivering of information to the American people he criticized it by saying, “the people want truth, not PR.” Obviously, the public relations industry was referred to with a negative connotation this way. I understand what he meant; that the people do not want their information twisted, downplayed, over-exagerated or spun. What is Sen. Obama saying about the public relations industry in regards to the truth? That PR is not the truth? Is he referring only to political public relations? Or is this an issue that must be addressed by the entire industry? Does — at times– public relations have bad public relations?
Pat, I was also shocked to hear Senator Obama disparage public relations. He could have at least said “bad public relations,” especially after borrowing our PR students to handle media registrations for his event. Coming from the law profession, he should know that a handful of bad lawyers doesn’t mean that every lawyer is bad.
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Unfortunately, I did not make it to Obama’s speech. Now I’m glad I didn’t, though! At work we recently had a “manager” named Daniel, and I remember on his first week talking to him about him going to the UofO. He said that he was at one piont going to major in PR, but that “he didn’t want to lie for a living.” I was irrate at him for this comment. I wanted to snap back, well good thing you didn’t becaue if you knew ANYTHING about public relatoins it’s about getting the FACTS out into the public and the media first. I get so angry when people reference PR in a negative way, simply becaue they are ignorant to the basics of PR, or at least what PR SHOULD be. I feel you brotha!