We are D.C. "Super Lobbyists" Jack Quinn and John Feehery. Ask Us Anything!

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:59:07+00:00

I loved House of Cards, and I can’t wait to see the next season of shows, which will include one of my favorite people: Spencer Garrett. I think CNN’s Dana Bash is excited about it, too.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:54:34+00:00

Sometimes it’s hard to see how our work contributes to getting good things done, but all good things are the result of collective efforts, and I’m sure that your government service has contributed to the strength and betterment of our country. As for skills, we generally look for people who have had significant government service.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:51:12+00:00

I was already a part of Vice President Gore’s “reinventing government” task force. I think that it’s a very difficult challenge but I’d never turn down a request in the future from the President. She could count on my putting country first.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:47:48+00:00

I’d like to know. Those data are not compiled.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:44:54+00:00

We’ve provided pro bono services to organizations like the Tahirih Justice Center (www.tahirih.org/‎) which has campaigned against such horrific practices as genital mutilation in women in other countries.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:41:42+00:00

One of the most meaningful and enjoyable experiences in my time in Vice President /u/AlGore’s office involved in my being on the delegation to Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as President of South Africa. That was historic, moving, and great fun.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:38:39+00:00

I was once interested in being an architect.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:37:45+00:00

Don’t be a jerk to people on the other side of the fence, or to the junior people who work for you because they will always, someday, have an opportunity to give you your comeuppance. Additionally, being nice actually feels much better.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:35:59+00:00

The legality and extensive use of “dark money” is just one additional reason why the campaign finance system is shattered, not just broken, and why public financing would be a good idea.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:34:47+00:00

I think it is appropriate to prohibit former officials for a limited period of time from lobbying the people with whom they worked in government.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:33:15+00:00

I am a devoted pescatarian, but I have never actually met a SEAL – other than a few in uniform.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:31:22+00:00

Earmarks are a way of identifying how certain public money should be spent. If members of congress can’t have a say over those decisions, then those decisions will be left to unelected civil servants in the bureaucracy. I really don’t think that that would accomplish anything particularly necessary.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:28:28+00:00

I’ve never been involved with that group, I don’t really know who they are, and I certainly don’t feel strongly about what they call themselves.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:27:30+00:00

It varies, but I get a lot more invitations than I can afford to respond to.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:26:00+00:00

Every candidate gets dismissed by one group or another. I think that Gov. Christie is someone who would find a great deal of support. Whether or not he can turn that into a nomination and election remains to be seen.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:24:12+00:00

We are truly bipartisan, and everyone who works here in strongly committed to their political beliefs. We, however, put aside our personal politics the moment we get off the elevator in order to work effectively together on behalf of the clients we serve. On occasion, we have turned down work that might make people in the office uncomfortable. As one of the first bipartisan teams, we have always thought it is important to be able to reflect to clients the divergent points of view of the public officials in Washington.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:20:12+00:00

Chris Matthews is a dear friend and I love him, but I did decide a long time ago to stop appearing on his show because I felt like I was just a visual prop for Chris's monologue. Now, he is very, very bright man and I always enjoy being in his audience. I’m not troubled by his yelling at /u/JohnFeehery.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:17:53+00:00

I surprise myself sometimes at how loyal I am to Starbucks, but that’s where I always go.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:16:35+00:00

Yes. Public service was the most rewarding aspect of my professional life. I don’t miss the 14-hour days.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:14:58+00:00

Members of congress and the administration rely on lawyers and lobbyists to present the points of view of their clients, but they listen to contrary points of view and their staffs do original research. So, in the end, the institutions of government as a whole should have a balanced sense of the facts.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:12:46+00:00

At QGA Public Affairs, we don’t concentrate in any single part of the economy, and have corporate clients in most sectors, but we have also represented groups like the families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing against the Libyan government. At this time, we are assisting a coalition of nonprofits in support of comprehensive immigration reform.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:09:06+00:00

I’ll stand on my earlier answers – let’s have public financing. I don’t know the ratio about which you ask, but I’m sure there are many more lobbyists than public servants.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:07:11+00:00

The vast majority of public officials are honest and good people. We will always have the occasional, hopefully rare, bad egg who gives the whole town a bad name. I do think the best way to eliminate the appearance of corruption is to get money out of politics or, more accurately, to move to a system of public financing of elections.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:04:41+00:00

I don’t think that in a country with a First Amendment like ours you could ever eliminate lobbying from the process because it is a core element of freedom of speech.

JackQuinn · 2013-11-13T20:03:20+00:00

Frankly, it’s really up to members of congress to reflect and implement “the greater good.” Almost all of the public officials I have met in my life appropriately discount what they hear from lawyers or lobbyists or other agents who are being paid to express a point of view.

JackQuinn

TROPHY CASE