What Fenty needed to hear
By Sally G. Kranz
Washington
As someone who has spent years as a public relations and public policy professional in Washington, I’ve been mystified over these past months as to why there wasn’t someone in D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s circle with the guts to tell him the truth about his actions and manner.
Obviously, Fenty needed to hear that despite his accomplishments, he was suffering from problems and shortcomings that threatened his reelection chances. The Sept. 16 front-page story “The unmaking of a mayor” makes clear that several of Mr. Fenty’s advisers and friends did try to make these points, only to be shot down.
Well, soon Fenty will be gone, but professional advisers everywhere would do well to use this story as a case history for their clients who think they know what is best for themselves and turn their backs on staff and others who often have a far better sense of public perception.
By
washingtonpost.com editors
| September 17, 2010; 7:57 PM ET
Categories:
D.C., D.C. politics, Mayor Fenty
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Posted by: Nicnamibia | September 17, 2010 9:33 PM | Report abuse
Funny things happen to mayors who set taxicb rates.
Posted by: starclimber9 | September 17, 2010 10:44 PM | Report abuse
Ms. Kranz,
Fenty was the classic case of the Emperor with the so-called New Clothes. He refused to hear anything negative, and he set up his Administration specifically to ensure that he wouldn't be told anything negative. He muzzled or fired anyone who dared to challenge or disagree with him. And to the extent that, during the campaign, Fenty's advisors tried to get him to understand the extent and probable effects of his delusion, Fenty didn't want to believe them and so refused to truly hear them.
Your lesson is a worthwhile one, but nothing could have gotten this person to accept it.
Posted by: nan_lynn | September 18, 2010 1:57 PM | Report abuse
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Feeling Lucky?
Why is Rhee gambling with our children’s education, self-esteem & growth?
Do you feel it is fair or humane to tell a child they cannot have a quality education because they lost a lottery drawing?
How about using a child’s anxiety, pain and sense of rejection to make big money on a film? How about trading their education, like pork bellies or B-1 Bombers on the Stock Market? If any of this sounds “O.K.” to you, then you know nothing about child psychology, education or democracy… just like Michelle Rhee and Joel Klein.
Reject this child abuse.