Parsky in The News Parsky Watch Archives
More Parsky Watch Parsky Watch - The Magazine Take the Parsky Watch IQ Test Visit the Parsky Watch Store	Back to Parsky Watch archives Parsky turns on Riordan Parsky Watch #28 October 24, 2002 PARSKY TURNS ON RIORDAN You’re Bush’s main man in California and working (ostensibly, at least) hard to put Bill Simon in the governor’s mansion. The campaign needs help from all hands for the home stretch, so you write a popular party leader to ask for his help. He’s you’re financial peer, so you naturally adopt a tone that is…condescending, presumptuous, insulting and self-absorbed (and send it in a manner calculated to embarrass and humiliate)? Well, you do if you’re Gerry Parsky writing to Richard Riordan. As readers may know, on October 14, Riordan declared he absolutely would not launch a write-in campaign for governor, as some panicky Republicans were urging him. That same day, Gerry Parsky mailed a letter to Riordan asking him to do what he had just very publicly done -- a letter that was written on October 2 but for some odd reason languished on Gerry’s busy desk for 12 days. Gerry simultaneously (and embarrassingly) CC-ed the letter to everyone on the planet BEFORE he even sent it to Richard Riordan – a classic example of sticking to someone while appearing to help them. Classy. Following is the text of the letter: Dear Dick: Every so often, speculation reappears that you might be a write-in candidate. I fully realize that you have not encouraged such talk. Indeed, I think it is essential that you continue to dampen such speculation. We want to permanently put such rumors to rest. Of course, I recognize it would be self-defeating for you to go overboard, because a Sherman-like statement might, to some, appear to dignify the possibility. The more press coverage there is concerning a write-in, the more damage to our Party’s nominee. So, in a sense, no news is good news. As I reflect, perhaps the best approach is for you to do everything you can to help Bill and the other statewide candidates. That would implicitly deal with talk of a write-in, which undercuts not only our nominee, but the Party. We are doing everything we can to help Bill and the entire ticket. We both recognize Gray Davis’ vulnerability, and if there is anyway to defeat him, we want to do it. As a result of the President’s efforts, we have raised approximately $6.7 million for Bill’s campaign and approximately $4.5 for our grassroots effort. We are also working hard for major efforts to support the entire Republican ticket, as well as the targeted legislative seats. If you can help in raising money or in any appearances, that would be terrific. You are held in high esteem, and we all would like to have you involved as much as possible in the weeks remaining. Best personal regards, Gerald L. Parsky Could Parsky have possibly have been more condescending, talking to Riordan as one does to a slow child, or a great medieval lord to a puny vassal? An expert on winning friends and influencing people, Parsky clearly is not.