Election 2050 - It's Perception, Stupid

 "[Karen] Dunn, co-chair of Paul Weiss’ litigation department, is helping to prepare Vice President Kamala Harris for .. presidential debate ... Meanwhile, Dunn is also serving as a lead attorney for Google in a Justice Department lawsuit ... several legal ethics and political science experts dismissed concerns over a potential conflict of interest, even if it may pose as a 'perception problem.'” - Law.com, September 6, 2024 

The trial which could result in the DofJ breaking up Google's digital ad business starts Monday, September 9th. The debate, in which Harris has to showcase she can stand her ground unscripted, happens on September 10th. 

The Biden Administration has been antitrust. That policy stance has been symbolized by the aggressive actions of FTC head Lina Khan who has won some and lost some legal battles. 

Meanwhile, major donors such as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and others are advocating that a Harris adminstration force out Khan. Overall corporate executives have been throwing the hat in the ring in support Harris. Many of them would prefer non-excessive scrutiny of proposed mergers. In the US M&A could be bouncing back with lower interest rates and the lessening of uncertainty following a general election year.

So here we are and that's just some of the complexity. Since Dunn "has Harris' ear" and simultaneously is an advocate for Google, this whole ball of wax can appear to some as a potential conflict of interest. 

Those associated with the Donald Trump campaign have introduced that subject. 

The push-back to the Trump circle essentially is that this sort of thing happens all the time for both GOP and Democratic Party lawyers. They prep politicos and also represent all sorts of clients. 

Strictly the concern doesn't seem to be a matter of law. But despite America's being a litigious nation and highly regulated, law is just one institution affecting human activities. 

Perhaps more important than the law per se is the a matter of perception. My background includes four decades in aspects of public relations.

If we believe in the power of public opinion, that could bite in the rear lots of folks in the loop. Long term. Those could include the Harris White House, Google, Department of Justice, FTC, lawyer Karen Dunn and other lawyers and law firms involved in the Harris campaign. 

A public relations fundamental is that perception can structure reality. That's exactly why litigation, Congressional regulatory proposals and state referandums become high-profile in the media. 

Depending on the analysis of Harris' performance art during the debate and the aftermath in the polls and media opinion, this particular perception issue can balloon into a big sticky something. Of course, the appearance of impropriety doesn't mean impropriety but in an era driven by legacy media/social media/influencers "meaning" can be quite subjective. 

In my coaching I warn clients it's not what is, it's what is interpreted to be happening.

In business and life you usually have only one shot at whatever. Up the odds of success with Jane Genova. I am an intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)


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