Last week, FH Edinburgh hosted a discussion and debate on the impending US Presidential elections in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town. The one hundred invited guests from the worlds of politics, business, the media and civic society were treated to contributions by our very own Bill Black and former UK Ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer, also one of Fleishman’s International Advisory Board. The Right Honourable George Reid, former MP, MSP and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (our equivalent to the Speaker of the House!) chaired the event, directing many probing questions to the speakers himself, before opening up to the floor.

Sir Christopher pleaded with the audience not to view the election through European, UK or Scottish lenses, describing left wing liberal views in the US as akin to central UK political leanings. “In the US, small town populism is a very powerful force and is manifest in every election” he claimed.

Looking back over the relationships between UK Prime Ministers and US Presidents, Sir Christopher emphasized the importance of personal chemistry between the leaders as an essential lubricant on issues of policy. He believes that as of this week, there is no natural British or Scottish candidate as neither candidate has revealed how he would really act on international affairs. In what was a frank delivery, he revealed that any new President would inherit a “legacy from hell” with the combination of the economic crisis, unresolved issues in Iraq and huge problems in foreign policy, which he described as “going to hell in a handcart”. The UK and others need to be prepared to share the share the burden of this legacy with allies and partners and there are obligations that Europe and the UK must take on – rather than, as he put it, “wanting the US to lead, when we want them to lead!”

He drew his remarks to a close with what he saw as a key lesson – that protectionism only serves to make recession worse and tip the world into depression. His final word however was on the special relationship between the UK and the US, quoting the first female Governor of Texas, Miriam Marr Ferguson: “If the King’s English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it’s good enough for the state of Texas”.

Bill Black provided an objective and insightful chronology and analysis of the two parties’ selection procedures and campaigns which demonstrated a deep and thorough understanding of what is going on at the heart of the two parties as they approach this election. His remarks were peppered with humorous comparisons to the UK party traditions and systems. The audience particularly liked his description of the US two party system – “there are two parties in the US, the Republicans, which are like your Conservative Party and the Democrats, which are like your Conservative Party”.

For Bill, Obama won the Democrat nomination because of superior strategy and the power of his message for change. However recognition for what he has achieved against the odds and his “moment” had been stolen, albeit possibly temporarily, by Sarah Palin’s impact at the Republican Convention. Both candidates will have to manage change, and as Presidents before them have done, both men will almost certainly be at great pains to compensate for the sins of their predecessor.

The current economic crisis and a quote from Churchill drew Bill’s speech to a close: ” America will do the right thing…..after they have exhausted all the alternatives”. Bill isn’t quite sure if America has reached this point just yet!

Questions from the floor ranged from the future of Georgia to the candidates’ likely economic policy once in the Oval office.

The contributions were entertaining, illuminating, thoughtful and of course hugely well informed and feedback from the guests was extremely positive. A recording of the event will be available on the Source shortly.

Sarah Chisnall, Managing Director and Partner

Fleishman-Hillard Edinburgh

October 6th, 2008 by Craig Paridy | No Comments