Despite Conflict, Pro-Biden Firm Got $35M Election Contract

[Geee]

Real Clear Policy

High-powered political consulting firm SKDK improperly received a $35 million contract to encourage people to vote in California in 2020 while one of the founders of the firm was advising Joe Biden’s campaign.

The then-California Secretary of State Alex Padilla awarded the contract to SKDK, known for working with Democratic candidates and whose co-founder Anita Dunn works closely with Biden.

 

The $35 million was part of a $400 million Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 2020 CARES Act Grant Fund.

But California Controller Betty Yee said Padilla didn’t have the authority to award the funds, only the counties did, and she refused to pay the invoices.

Later, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state legislature got SKDK its money directly from the state budget.

[Valin]

@Geee

SKDK

To say these guys were Well Connected, and Not just in Ca. is a Vast Understatement.

Example

The Best PR Firms in America 2022

#4 SKDK

• Josh Isay, CEO
• HQ: Washington, DC

Was there a bigger assignment in 2021 than helping Pfizer raise public awareness around its Covid vaccine rollout?  That brief went to SKDK, whose partner, Anita Dunn, topped last year’s PR Power 50.  Handling one of the year’s most sensitive situations, the firm partnered with attorneys representing more than 1,000 victims of alleged abuse by the Boy Scouts; let’s just say the Scouts didn’t win the perception battle in that one. The firm also rallied to bring the Less is More Act to Governor Hochul’s desk with New Yorkers United for Justice (NYUJ) to reduce incarceration and racial bias in the parole system. Beyond trad media relations, SKDK worked with massive activist coalition Climate Power on more than 130 TV spots to push for President Biden’s climate agenda. SKDK’s tome-like list of clients includes AT&T, the Robin Hood Foundation, Mount Sinai Health System and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

 

[Geee]

58 minutes ago, Valin said:

@Geee

SKDK

To say these guys were Well Connected, and Not just in Ca. is a Vast Understatement.

Example

The Best PR Firms in America 2022

#4 SKDK

• Josh Isay, CEO
• HQ: Washington, DC

Was there a bigger assignment in 2021 than helping Pfizer raise public awareness around its Covid vaccine rollout?  That brief went to SKDK, whose partner, Anita Dunn, topped last year’s PR Power 50.  Handling one of the year’s most sensitive situations, the firm partnered with attorneys representing more than 1,000 victims of alleged abuse by the Boy Scouts; let’s just say the Scouts didn’t win the perception battle in that one. The firm also rallied to bring the Less is More Act to Governor Hochul’s desk with New Yorkers United for Justice (NYUJ) to reduce incarceration and racial bias in the parole system. Beyond trad media relations, SKDK worked with massive activist coalition Climate Power on more than 130 TV spots to push for President Biden’s climate agenda. SKDK’s tome-like list of clients includes AT&T, the Robin Hood Foundation, Mount Sinai Health System and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

 

Anita Dunn (Swamp People)

• Was an adviser to the political campaigns of such notable Democrat U.S. Senators as John Glenn, Bill Bradley, Evan Bayh, and Tom Daschle
• Played a major role in laying the groundwork for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign
• Was appointed to serve as President Obama’s White House communications director in 2009
• Delivered a June 2009 speech to high-school students in Maryland, where she cited Mao Zedong as one of her “favorite political philosophers”
• Resigned her post as White House communications director in November 2009
• Currently serves as managing director of the political consulting firm SKD Knickerbocker

 

[Valin]

8 minutes ago, Geee said:

Anita Dunn (Swamp People)

• Was an adviser to the political campaigns of such notable Democrat U.S. Senators as John Glenn, Bill Bradley, Evan Bayh, and Tom Daschle
• Played a major role in laying the groundwork for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign
• Was appointed to serve as President Obama’s White House communications director in 2009
• Delivered a June 2009 speech to high-school students in Maryland, where she cited Mao Zedong as one of her “favorite political philosophers”
• Resigned her post as White House communications director in November 2009
• Currently serves as managing director of the political consulting firm SKD Knickerbocker

 

 

 

One of the things Richard Grenell (BTW remember Donald Trump is among other things a homophobe) said was toward the end of Trumps administration he came to realize The Swamp was even deeper than he 1st thought.  

I'm taking  Alex Jones lessons. I'm not ready to go Full Michael Savage, but Alex, he might be on to something. 10 years ago I could not have said that.