Working for a Senator on his re-election campaign, what a great time to open a consulting firm?
If you're working for a Senator on his staff because he's going to be seeking re-election, it just comes off as an odd move to open up a consulting firm at the same time. Because it would give most people the impression that one was hedging their bets... From the Associated Press
It's not anything I'd raise a fuss about one way or another, but it just comes off as an odd move. I'm assuming Jarding was brought on for the re-election efforts. But it looks like he's also got one foot out the door at the same time everyone else is trying to give the impression that things are a "go" for a campaign.
This situation bears watching.
Sen. Tim Johnson's new deputy chief of staff, Steve Jarding, is opening aIn my years of watching this stuff, I don't think I've ever seen anything such as this. But then again, we haven't had a Senator afflicted like this for decades, ever since Republican Karl Mundt.
political consulting business in Virginia.
Jarding started his job in Johnson's Rapid City, S.D., office on Thursday,
and he says he will not be paid by the new firm, called Maverick Strategies
and Mail. He has also decided to take an extended leave from the new
political consulting business as it gets started, to avoid any appearance of
a conflict.
The South Dakota senator is recovering from a December brain hemorrhage, but
offered Jarding the job before he fell ill, according to Johnson's office.
The hire set off speculation that Jarding was brought in to eventually run
the South Dakota Democrat's 2008 re-election campaign. Jarding is a veteran
political consultant who served as a top strategist for James Webb, the
Virginia Democrat who upset Republican Sen. George Allen last November.
It is unclear whether Johnson will run for re-election because he is
expected to be in recovery for several months.
It's not anything I'd raise a fuss about one way or another, but it just comes off as an odd move. I'm assuming Jarding was brought on for the re-election efforts. But it looks like he's also got one foot out the door at the same time everyone else is trying to give the impression that things are a "go" for a campaign.
This situation bears watching.
Comments
What's his reason for doing it?
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polical forum
Here's the deal: Johnson's staff was so anxious to make it appear as if their boss was going to recover that they put Jarding on the payroll. This does two things: 1) Jarding get federal benefits and 2) It staves off challengers to TJ's reelection efforts if, and that a big if, he would recover. At this point insiders say he will recover but no soon enough or well enough to take on a campaign. Godspeed TJ.
Secondly, it's widely known in DC that Jarding has been courted by Obama's campaign and I wouldn't doubt seeing Obama signing on Maverick Strategies in the near future.
The good people of South Dakota want to know if the federal government employees working for them are committed to doing so or not.
At this time it appears that Jarding got caught and his explanation is that he is on a leave of absence. Many of us are not buying though because, and again, Jarding has been shopping himself around to Big D presidential camapaigns for sometime now, even after the announcement about him coming back to Rapid City.
And, one more thing, another dirtly little secret or ommission, Jarding is establishing Rapid City residency but word is that he is not moving from his home in the DC area.
Also, is this the kind of professional conduct expected of federal government employees who are serving SD constitutents?
All the more reason to suggest that TJ is not running, Jarding is mooching off the government, and Jarding is covering his bases b/c he knows TJ is probably not coming back to office.
This Mr. Epp at s.t.d. watch must surely be a member of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce.
Here here
Well said!
"While I wish Tim Johnson a complete recovery,..."
And if you believe that, given the rest of her post, I've got some swamp land by Oacoma to sell ya.
Birdbrain.
And resorting to name calling is a nice touch and shows your depth of thought, or lack of actually.