Former Dick Cheney Spokesperson Begins Job at BP

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

Former Vice President Dick Cheney addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.

(Credit: AP)

Anne Womack-Kolton, the 2004 campaign press secretary for Vice President Dick Cheney, began a new job today as BP's head of U.S. media relations, TPM reports.

Reuters first reported BP's hiring of Womack-Kolton, who also worked as head of public affairs at the Department of Energy under former President George W. Bush. The company is looking to improve its battered public image in the wake of the disastrous and continuing oil leak in the Gulf.

Here's Womack-Kolton's LinkedIn page detailing her employment history. As TPM notes, in 2004 she was often identified as Cheney's spokeswoman.

Cheney was for five years the chief executive of Halliburton, one of the companies tied to the rig that exploded in April, killing 11 and causing the massive oil spill. He said he severed his ties with Halliburton upon becoming vice president, though critics noted that he continued to receive compensation from the company.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

6 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by larrylinn1 June 8, 2010 8:51 PM EDT: Has Liz Cheney registered as a lobbyist for Dubai based Halliburton, and their OPEC employers?; Reply to this comment


by pasmalltown June 2, 2010 9:34 AM EDT: by jschmidt27 June 1, 2010 9:08 PM EDT -
"Pick" and "choose" all you like, smitty. This from the same article you cite:
"Make no mistake: BP ranks among the most powerful corporate forces in U.S. politics," said Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. "It donates hundreds of thousands of dollars every election cycle through its employees and political action committee and is routinely a seven- or eight-figure federal lobbying powerhouse each year."

In 2008 alone, BP gave $37,000 to members of the House Energy Committee and $106,501 to members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which deals with security issues facing the nation's oil supply.

BP has also evolved in its corporate giving over the past decade, shifting more money to Democrats. In 2000, the company gave almost 39 percent more to Republicans than to Democrats. But by 2008, Democrats had nearly pulled even with Republicans on BP donations."
-----------------------

The key sentence above is: "But by 2008, Democrats had nearly pulled even with Republicans." and the Key word "nearly"....
I don't think there's ANY doubt that BP's Lobbying efforts have influenced politics past or present, yet it seems with this "hire" they want to screw the ordinary people on the Gulf Coast who are effected by this oil spill.... What say you about that??? More importantly "finger pointing" and innuendo don't cut "right" here.
"Why would CBS only report a connection to Cheney but not BPs hiring friends of the White House." Because it's BP to blame and they are trying to "buy" their way out of doing the "right" thing with more dirty politicking. AND this "for hire" "pimp"ess, "Anne Womack-Kolton,... began a new job today as BP's head of U.S. media relations." If you can't see some more "evil" behind this hiring, instead you want to over emphasize the blame on one side of the aisle and suggest that the Dems are at fault, the go ahead and spew - You're really missing the point behind this article..... Your myopic argument is duly noted and dismissed as being equally "one sided"......; Reply to this comment


by jschmidt27 June 1, 2010 9:08 PM EDT: BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations come from a mix of employees and the company's political action committees - $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64420A20100505; Reply to this comment

by Thebigkate June 1, 2010 7:43 PM EDT

Oh My! What a BIG surprise! Cheney's spokeswoman becoming BP's spokeswoman! She certainly won't need any training in lying and coverup, now will she?

Reply to this comment


by jschmidt27 June 1, 2010 9:04 PM EDT: The spokesperson will fit right in with the White House.


by jschmidt27 June 1, 2010 6:31 PM EDT: Funny CBS didn't report this-We all know Obama was the biggest recipient of BP's campaign cash in Washington, but it seems BP's ties to the White House run even deeper.

According to The Next Right, PR firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner "helped BP plan and evaluate its successful re-branding campaign, focusing the company's branding on energy solutions, including the development of solar and other renewable energy sources."

The firm's Stanley Greenberg is married to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. There was something of a flap last year when it was pointed out that White house Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had been living in the couple's Capitol Hill townhouse, resulting in a lot of questions about whether or not this arrangement violated congressional ethical guidelines.

Further, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee paid Greenberg's firm some $500,000 in 2006 and 2008 while Emanuel was living with Greenberg, and Emanuel was even in charge of the DCCC during the 2006 election cycle.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Top-PR-firm-for-BP-tied-to-White-House-Chief-of-Staff-Rahm-Emanuel-95223369.html#ixzz0pdwY88Lg

Why would CBS only report a connection to Cheney but not BPs hiring friends of the White House.; Reply to this comment