CHATSWORTH, CA – The Free Speech Coalition today announced the hiring of its first federal lobbyist. Aubrey C. King was hired to help the Free Speech Coalition promote Free Speech interests in Washington.According to a press release put out by the Free Speech Coalition, King brings plenty of experience to the job.
“Mr. King brings a strong record of professional achievement in government and public affairs to his new position with FSC, including more than a decade of lobbying and coalition building experience in Washington D.C. With a Masters of Political Science and Economics from John Hopkins University, Mr. King promises to be a skilled and tenacious advocate. He is well known and respected in the government affairs and trade association communities, as well as among top government officials in our nation’s Capitol. Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Mr. King spent 18 years in leadership roles with several national trade associations. Other qualifications include credentials as a Certified Association Executive,” the press release stated.
The organization plans to take a “low-key” approach to lobbying in Washington.
“During the first months of 2005, FSC began low-key lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. in order to expand our work as watchdog for the adult entertainment industry. Our cautious, but consistent strategy will require patience, diplomacy and thorough political analyses. Washington D.C. these days is not exactly ready to roll out a red carpet for the adult entertainment industry. However, we are confident that, with Aubrey King’s informed political input, we can evaluate and put into action an effective plan that will allow FSC to press our case before the federal government.,” the release stated.
YNOT spoke to Michelle Freridge, the Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition. Freridge told YNOT that King’s appointment will help the organization respond to developing legislation unfriendly to Free Speech rights before it becomes law.
“The federal lobbyist is very important,” Freridge said. “He will be our eyes and ears, our watchdog in Washington D.C. Our goal is to identify and understand national trends in the attacks on the industry so that instead of fighting individual court battles we can help the industry pull together and nip unconstitutional or just plain bad legislation in the bud before it passes into law, before it is enforced and prosecuted.”
Freridge referred to the recent anti-pornography “hearings” organized by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) as examples of the kinds of activities that a federal lobbyist can help the organization identify before it is too late to respond.
“By finding out about the Senate hearing on Obscenity in February, FSC was able to advocate for a more objective witness to be included and for our own written testimony to be included in the congressional record,” Freridge explained. “If, as some people speculate, Senator Brownback’s goal in organizing these hearings (the one on “porn addiction” in November ‘04 as well) is to develop on the congressional record a data set that will justify new legislation to re-define obscenity in a way that will infringe more heavily on the Free Speech rights of American citizens, then FSC will be able to educate policy makers, mobilize consumers to put pressure on their representatives, and lobby the government to consider the Free Speech and industry issues at stake.”
The Free Speech Coalition holds an annual “Free Speech Lobbying Days” event in California, giving adult industry professionals a chance to reach out to lawmakers from the state where most professional adult films are produced. That event has proven largely successful. According to Freridge, extending lobbying efforts to Washington will provide the adult industry with an opportunity to respond to the misinformation spread about the adult industry by anti-pornography activist groups.
“By initiating a federal lobbying project, FSC is moving our defense of the adult entertainment industry upstream to a new level,” Freridge told YNOT. “If, in the long run, FSC lobbying in Washington DC is as successful as it has been in CA, FSC will be able to help government understand the industry and connect with the industry in a realistic way that is mutually beneficial, rather than through the myths and stereotypes that pro-censorships groups promote.”
For more information about the Free Speech Coalition and membership, please visit FreeSpeechCoalition.com.
