Ethical Standards For Consultants: do they exist?

American Association of Political Consultants

• Association membership consists of political consultants, media consultants, pollsters, campaign managers, corporate public affairs officers, professors, fund-raisers, lobbyists, congressional staffers and vendors and is open to everyone associated with politics from the local level to the White House.

*http://www.theaapc.org/content/aboutus/overview.asp

Mission Statement• The American Association of Political Consultants is the professional organization for

people working in the field of politics in the United States. We have joined together to promote the following goals:

– To raise the standards of practice in political consultation, thereby enhancing the political process and improving public confidence in the American political system.

– To provide professional guidance, assistance, and education to members as they develop the skills, techniques, and business procedures required for successful political consultation.

– To establish and maintain a high standard of ethical conduct through membership education and the establishment and promotion of a workable Code of Professional Ethics for members.

– To help inform the news media, educational institutions, political organizations, and the general public about the value of political consultation and its contribution to the political process.

– To place particular emphasis in our work on reaching out to involve and educate young people in the art of political consultation and in the benefits it brings to the practice of democracy.

*http://www.theaapc.org/content/aboutus/missionstatement.asp

AAPC Code of Professional EthicsAs a member of the American Association of Political Consultants, I believe there are certain

standards of practice that I must maintain. I, therefore, pledge to adhere to the following Code of Ethics:

• 1. I will not indulge in any activity that would corrupt or degrade the practice of political campaigning.

• 2. I will treat my colleagues and clients with respect and never intentionally injure their• professional or personal reputations.• 3. I will respect the confidence of my clients and not reveal confidential or privileged• information obtained during our professional relationship.• 4. I will use no appeal to voters that is based on racism, sexism, religious intolerance, or any

form of unlawful discrimination and will condemn those who use such practices. In turn, I will work for equal voting rights and privileges for all citizens.

• 5. I will refrain from false or misleading attacks on an opponent or a member of his or her family and will do everything in my power to prevent others from using such tactics.

• 6. I will document accurately and fully any criticism of an opponent or his or her record.• 7. I will be honest in my relationship with the news media and candidly answer questions

when I have the authority to do so.• 8. I will use any funds I receive from my clients, or on behalf of my clients, only for those

purposes invoiced in writing.• 9. I will not support any individual or organization that resorts to practices forbidden by this

code.

*http://www.theaapc.org/content/aboutus/codeofethics.asp

The Fair Campaign Practices Act.

• The Fair Campaign Practices Act sets out basic rules of decency, honesty, and fair play to be followed by candidates and political committees during a campaign. A candidate or political committee may choose to subscribe to the voluntary code by signing a copy of the code and filing it with the authority with whom the candidate or committee is required to file its campaign treasurer appointment. A person subscribing to the code may indicate that fact on political advertising by including the following or a substantially similar statement:

• (Name of the candidate or political committee, as appropriate) subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

*http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/pamphlet/G03polad.pdf

Incentives/Results

• Consultants are being pushed to more ruthless campaigning because they get blamed if candidate loses – not taking on negativity can make the candidate do

worse (Bush/Dukakis)

• A defense of the use of negative campaigns by consultants is that they are providing voters with different perspectives of what is actually going on in the political world

• Increases cynicism and apathy

“A timeless universal set of standards”*

• Edward Rogge suggested that a universal set of standards not be in place, and instead each situation be considered

• Consider multiple sets of guidelines and standards to be used as tools for different situations

• Conceivability?

*The Ethics of Political Marketing Practices, the Rhetorical Perspective, Banker, Steve

Sources

• The Ethics of Political Marketing Practices, the Rhetorical Perspective; Banker, Steve

• POLITICAL ADVERTISING What You Need To Know; Texas Ethics Commission

• Ethical Tools, Not An Ethical Standard; Lev Michael

• http://www.theaapc.org/

• Advertising Agency- client Attitudes Toward Ethical Issues In Political Advertising; David S. Waller

• A Qualitative Exploration into Voters Ethical Perceptions of Political Advertising: Discourse, Disinformation, and Moral Boundaries; Steven Kates