Politics and Public Relations sometimes go hand and hand – especially with firms based in and around Washington D.C. One of those firms is Larry Rasky’s Communications Firm, Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications (RBSC), a firm specializing in healthcare, non-profit, financial services, energy, and high-profile lobbying efforts.
Bethany Bassett
RBSC got a huge boost recently, hiring Bethany Bassett as a Senior Vice President in Washington DC. Bassett comes to RBSC with a wealth of experience handling budget and public policy. Most recently serving at the Department of Defense as team chief at the Office of Secretary of Defense, and as Defense and Veterans Affairs policy advisor for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D – Mass). “Few understand the interplay between the federal budget, public policy, Capitol Hill and the administration like Bethany,” said Joe Baerlein, President of RBSC. “She will be an immediate asset to our firm’s clients and add a great depth of knowledge on defense and security issues.”
Joe Biden
In related news, Vice President Joe Biden’s recent withdrawal from the 2016 Presidential race has spurred a lot of attention. An editor commenting on Biden’s decision was RBSC’s public affairs associate Will Rasky. In the Boston Globe, he wrote a moving statement about the VP’s decision to not run.
“Biden has this effect on many people. His decision not to run, and the way he explained that decision, clarify a simple truth: We need people in politics and government who embody our ideals of compassion and sincerity. If you already work in politics and government, then renewing your commitment to these ideals should be a singular goal.”
Rasky also says his father’s decade-long friendship may influence his decision, but he also believes Biden’s policies and frank sincerity are something Americans need to look up to as a model, and as someone combining ideas with “camaraderie, earnestness, and compassion.”
Chris Christie
On the Republican side of the presidential race, candidates vie for endorsements from lobbying firms. In this case, a member of Rasky Baerlain, David Tamasi, weighed in with an endorsement for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
“New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reported bundling help from a single lobbyist — David Tamasi, a senior vice president at Rasky Baerlein, who has pulled in $23,400 on Christie’s behalf, Roll Call reports.”Tamasi, when questioned, stated “[Christie’s] leadership skills are quite rare and in short supply, particularly here in Washington.”