The rumors about political Web consulting outfit, RightClick Strategies, have abounded for quite some time, and now Roll Call, and even the General Counsel’s Office is on the case. According to a story published today in the Capitol Hill must-read (sorry, ya gotta subscribe to read it in full), "sources said Rightclick Strategies made a presentation to the office of Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) in which company representatives displayed Web site designs to staffers that supposedly had been done for other Democratic offices, including that of Rep. Bob Menendez (N.J.)." The thing is, Menendez spokesman Matt Miller says the firm never did any work for Menendez. Doh!

(Menendez is my congressman, by the way. A few years back there was a trash can that had been burned and melted beyond recognition sitting directly outside his Jersey City office for months....)

Back to the story: It looks as though RightClick's strategy may involve all sorts of shenanigans, if the Roll Call report is any indication. Evidently, the company also claimed it did work for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, as well as other Dems, when it turned out it hadn't. According to the article, "Larry Purpuro, founder of Rightclick Strategies...said that he couldn’t speak to the specific Obey presentation but he did say that 'our guys are up there ... they visit five to 15 offices a week. We have done hundreds of designs, designs for Members that did not engage us but that were conceptual designs.'"

Last summer, it came out that sites created by RightClick for Arkansas Republican Rep. John Boozman and Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions both used the same exact statement that "sportsmen, hunters, gun enthusiasts and citizens concerned for their personal safety have a right to own guns for these legitimate purposes, and I am committed to fighting for these rights for the constituents of the 3rd District of Arkansas." Or wherever. Take yer pick.

It also turns out images of Pelosi and Rep. Dennis Kucinich were employed in a marketing campaign for Rightclick Strategies' subsidiary American Digital Campaigns without approval, so Pelosi and Mr. Department of Peace asked the Office of the General Counsel to investigate.

And how's this for a juicy tidbit: Purpuro is former deputy chief of staff for the Republican National Committee. He comments in the story, "it’s difficult for me to respond to accusations based on hearsay and I’m somewhat suspicious of their origin given my visibility as a Republican and the large amount of work we have done for GOP Members."

This touches on an the ongoing debate of partisanship among vendors serving political clients -- should they choose sides or not? Well, depending on the services they provide, I suppose some might be better off playing in their own side of the sandbox.

Like I've said, I've heard some things about RightClick, too, but only from Dems if I recall, so I suppose partisan politics could play a role here. Still, it'll be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

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