Campaigns & Elections' Politics - February 2008 - (Page 48) Political Bookshelf Review by Gary Maloney What do you call a researcher who writes a book about his exploits, clients and enemies? A: An ex-researcher. Stephen Marks’ memoir, spanning contests from 1989 to 2006, is a compelling and often entertaining read. Current pols will especially enjoy references to recent campaigns and stillactive operatives. But Marks’ place in the opposition research biz deserves explanation. He is (or was) a Road Warrior, one of that invaluable breed that specializes in digging through state capitols and obscure courthouses, mining relevant information for campaigns and private clients. From Confessions, it does not appear Marks interacted often with candidates, pollsters, ad-makers, managers and other pros (besides fellow researchers). Road work is challenging and timeconsuming, not to mention debilitating to one’s personal life. By itself, 12 years as a full-timer suggests a certain professional quality, as well as survival skills. Marks’ voracious appetite for women is described in steady, though not sickening, detail and helps paint the personal arc that led him to depart the campaign scene Confessions of a Political Hitman two years ago. By Stephen Marks SourceBooks Trade, 416 pages, $23.95 It’s puzzling that a researcher who writes about chasing tail could become so disillusioned with politicians doing the same. Unfortunately, Marks also buys into the current canard that the personal sins of Republicans are far worse than those of Democrats, because Republicans are uniquely hypocritical. He cites defeated Sens. Al D’Amato and Tim Hutchinson and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as examples. Maybe one of the reasons for Marks’ unhappiness was that he did not better screen his clients. It’s an eclectic bunch, with some high points (e.g., Rudy Giuliani in 1989, Jeb Bush briefly in 1994) sprinkled among the rest (Pat Buchanan and Katherine Harris, plus many National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee targets). Alternatively, his detachment as a Road Warrior may have prevented the positive bond most consultants gain from joining a campaign team. When you’re a lone wolf constantly seeking prey—“with no direction home, like a complete unknown,” to quote Bob Dylan—cynicism can skew perspective. But the stories are often quite good, and Marks has a clear narrative style. His picks for the most corrupt states (Louisiana and New Jersey) are solidly argued, though I’d have included Arkansas. The closing lists of worst clients/targets/situations are fresh and amusing. There’s also his assessment of negatives on each 2008 presidential aspirant, and some score-settling— like the lengthy chapter devoted to adventures with Pat and Bay Buchanan (c. 1995/1996), including Marks’ own com- Q Quick Picks By Lauren Zingarelli Choices and Changes: Interest Groups in the Electoral Process By Michael M. Franz Temple University Press, 216 pages, $23.95 The influence of interest groups on elections has changed dramatically over the past decades. Michael M. Franz argues that two d to understand the full impact of interest groups on today’s elections, it’s necessary to look at the changing political and legal landscape of campaign finance reform. Franz does so by analyzing past expenditures of 527s and political action committees during election cycles. Academics are the primary audience for this graph-rich book, but dedicated (and patient) journalists and Hill staffers may also pick up some useful data points. Three’s a Crowd: The Dynamic of Third Parties, Ross Perot and Republican Resurgence B By Ronald B. Rapoport and Walter J. Stone The University of Michigan Press, 314 pages, $29.95 Third parties in America are continuT ally a changing the nature of the political landscape. As minor parties emerge and la then disappear, they leave lasting alterations to the two major parties. The authors explain what they call the “dynamic of third parties” by analyzing the impact of Ross Perot, specifically his efforts to reform the Republican Party. plaint to the FEC, plus a coda on Buchanan 2000. Occasionally, Marks succumbs to two fallacies common in election memoirs: (1) The work I did was the deciding factor in X campaign, and (2) If only they’d listened to me. His justifying the role of oppo in American politics is by now unnecessary. The copy-editing by publisher SourceBooks is simply nonexistent, with 50-plus factual errors, misspelled names, etc.— infuriating, but none of these truly diminish Marks’ accounts or arguments. And no campaign pro will want to miss a book that includes such well-regarded current pols as Chris Henick, Jim Dornan, Mary Ann Carter, Ed Goeas, Scott McKenzie and Richard Billmire, as well as the better-known Buchanans, Jack Abramoff, Ed Rollins and the oil-rich Koch family. Confessions isn’t the great “political war story” tome, on the order of Ray Strother’s Falling Up, but it’s an interesting addition and worth the effort. Gary Maloney is a Republican research consultant. 48 Politics February 2008
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.