James Richardson (political consultant) explained

James Richardson (born October 30, 1984) is a conservative American political strategist and columnist best known as a spokesman and adviser to the Republican National Committee and former Governors Jon Huntsman and Haley Barbour. In a September 2014 opinion editorial published in the Washington Post, Richardson openly disclosed that he is gay.[1] As of July 2015, he serves as managing director of Dentons,[2] a global law practice, in the firm's public policy and regulatory affairs group.

Career

In the 2008 presidential election, Richardson served as Online Communications Manager[3] for the Republican National Committee. He briefly served as Communications Director for the College Republican National Committee before accepting a position with the Conservative consultancy Hynes Communications, which specializes in Conservative blogger outreach. Richardson took leave from the firm in 2011 to advise then-Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour,[4] who was openly weighing a presidential bid. After weathering criticism for his perceived proximity to racist groups,[5] Barbour eventually announced in mid-2011 he would forgo a campaign for the White House.[6] Richardson was the first of Barbour's advisors to join another campaign,[7] accepting a position as Director of Online Communications for Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign.[8] After Huntsman's resignation from the race following his third-place finish in New Hampshire, Richardson returned to Hynes Communications as Vice President of Public Relations. According to media reports, some of his clients have included the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Indiana Senator Dan Coats[9]

Richardson has written extensively on political and cultural issues and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. His columns have appeared in The Atlantic[10] , GQ[11] , US News & World Report[12] , National Review[13] , The Washington Post,[14] The Guardian[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] ,' The Advocate Magazine,[20] The Christian Science Monitor,[21] USA Today[22] [23] , Politico[24] [25] [26] , Roll Call[27] , the Washington Times[28] , Creative Loafing[29] , Fox News,[30] [31] [32] [33] CNN,[34] CBS News,[35] and The Huffington Post.[36] He edits the political news blog Georgia Tipsheet,[37] which the Washington Post named one of the "best state-based blogs[38] " in the country in 2013.

Personal life

In September 2014, Richardson authored an Op-Ed in The Washington Post in which he publicly disclosed he is gay.[39] In the column, Richardson said he advocated for equal rights for LGBT persons throughout his career "even as I never openly disclosed my personal stake" in the debate.

Richardson's coming out was covered by CNN,[40] The Huffington Post,[41] The Advocate[42] , MTV,[43] and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution[44] [45] , among others.

Richardson lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his partner of five years.[46] He attended the University of Georgia.

Selected writings

Notes and References

  1. News: Richardson. James. I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married.. 16 September 2014. Washington Post. 4 September 2014.
  2. News: Saporta. Maria. Dentons law firm boosts its public policy practice. 14 July 2015. The Atlanta Business Chronicle. 14 July 2015.
  3. News: Rothman. Noah. Barbour's exit from 2012 field frees up operatives. 16 September 2014. Campaigns & Elections. 26 April 2011.
  4. News: Smith. Ben. Barbour adds online communications aide. 16 September 2014. Politico. 9 March 2011.
  5. News: Shear. Michael. Discussing Civil Rights Era, a Governor Is Criticized. 16 September 2014. New York Times. 20 December 2010.
  6. News: Political Unit. Barbour not running for prez. 16 September 2014. CNN. 25 April 2011. 26 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111026161809/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/25/breaking-barbour-not-running-for-prez/. dead.
  7. News: Coulter. Matt. Huntsman Hires One of 'Haley's Seven'. 16 September 2014. Race42016. 11 May 2011.
  8. News: Barr. Andy. Jon Huntsman hires former Haley Barbour aide. 16 September 2014. Politico. 10 May 2011.
  9. News: Rothman. Noah. Barbour's exit from 2012 field frees up operatives. 16 September 2014. Campaigns & Elections. 26 April 2011.
  10. News: Richardson. James. What Was the Huntsman Campaign's Problem?. 16 September 2014. The Atlantic. 17 January 2012.
  11. News: Richardson. James. A Former Huntsman Staffer on Gingrich's Refusal to Ever, Ever Drop Out. 16 September 2014. GQ. 15 March 2012.
  12. News: Richardson. James. One Year After DOMA Fell, and Still No Revolution. 16 September 2014. U.S. News & World Report. 26 June 2014.
  13. News: Richardson. James. You're not fired, ever. 16 September 2014. National Review. 30 December 2013.
  14. News: Richardson. James. I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married.. 16 September 2014. Washington Post. 4 September 2014.
  15. News: Richardson. James. Big test for GOP: will party leaders do right thing on gay marriage?. 16 September 2014. The Guardian. 12 April 2013.
  16. News: Richardson. James. How Mitt Romney's historic debate confounded political science convention. 16 September 2014. The Guardian. 10 October 2012.
  17. News: Richardson. James. America has moved on from Romney's Mormonism. 16 September 2014. The Guardian. 8 March 2012.
  18. News: Richardson. James. Haley Barbour, the GOP's best candidate not to run. 16 September 2014. The Guardian. 26 April 2011.
  19. News: Richardson. James. US cable leaks' collateral damage in Zimbabwe. The Guardian. 3 January 2011.
  20. News: Richardson. James. The Real Reason Rob Portman Won't Run for President. 15 December 2014. The Advocate Magazine. 4 December 2014.
  21. News: Richardson. James. Why Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling won't be like Roe v. Wade. 16 September 2014. Christian Science Monitor. 10 June 2013.
  22. News: Richardson. James. Teacher tenure refugees flee public school. 16 September 2014. USA Today. 29 July 2014.
  23. News: Richardson. James. Sin city a virtuous venue for GOP convention. 16 September 2014. USA Today. 21 March 2014.
  24. News: Richardson. James. Congress must lead by dealing with the deficit. 16 September 2014. Politico. 5 November 2013.
  25. News: Richardson. James. David Petraeus: Politics of appointments. 16 September 2014. Politico. 29 April 2011.
  26. News: Richardson. James. Dems play politics with 9/11 workers. 16 September 2014. Politico. 4 April 2009.
  27. News: Richardson. James. An honesty gap in the pay gap debate. 16 September 2014. Roll Call. 23 April 2014.
  28. News: Richardson. James. Who are you calling extreme?. 16 September 2014. Washington Times. 16 September 2010.
  29. News: Richardson. James. Kasim's gay problem. https://web.archive.org/web/20120629031347/http://clatl.com/atlanta/kasims-gay-problem/Content?oid=5667437. dead. June 29, 2012. 16 September 2014. Creative Loafing. 25 June 2012.
  30. News: Richardson. James. Gun control misfire in Georgia to cost lives. 16 September 2014. Fox News Channel. 1 February 2013.
  31. News: Richardson. James. Two inspiring 20-something candidates to watch. 16 September 2014. Fox News Channel. 12 June 2012.
  32. News: Richardson. James. God, guns and grease! Northern snobbery fuels the Paula Deen fingerpointing. 16 September 2014. Fox News Channel. 21 January 2012.
  33. News: Richardson. James. What Democrats wish for. 16 September 2014. Fox News Channel. 28 October 2010.
  34. News: Richardson. James. Stop Arizona-style anti-gay bill in Georgia. 16 September 2014. CNN. 27 February 2014.
  35. News: Richardson. James. An Albatross or Aid for the Democrats?. 16 September 2014. CBS News. 26 January 2010.
  36. News: Richardson. James. Food or Facebook for America's homeless?. 16 September 2014. The Huffington Post. 17 December 2010.
  37. Web site: Georgia Tipsheet.
  38. News: Cilliza. Chris. The Fix's best state-based political blogs list is here!. 16 September 2014. The Washington Post. 5 March 2013.
  39. News: Richardson. James. I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married.. 16 September 2014. Washington Post. 4 September 2014.
  40. News: Caldwell. Leigh Ann. Former GOP spokesman comes out, pushes for same-sex marriage. 16 September 2014. CNN. 4 September 2014.
  41. News: Lavender. Paige. James Richardson Comes Out: 'I'm A Senior GOP Spokesman, And I'm Gay.'. 16 September 2014. The Huffington Post. 4 September 2014.
  42. News: Brydum. Sunnivie. Former GOP Spokesman: 'I'm Gay. Let Me Get Married'. 16 September 2014. The Advocate. 7 September 2014.
  43. News: White. Caitlin. GOP Spokesman Comes Out In Emotional Letter: 'Let Me Get Married'. https://web.archive.org/web/20140911201158/http://www.mtv.com/news/1921534/james-richardson-senior-gop-spokesman-comes-out-georgia-gay-marriage-ban/. dead. September 11, 2014. 16 September 2014. MTV. 4 September 2014.
  44. News: Galloway. Jim. Living in Spin City. 16 September 2014. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 4 September 2014. 10 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140910030521/http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/09/04/living-in-spin-city-the-rapid-aftermath-of-a-judges-denunciation-and-20k-in-fines/. dead.
  45. News: Bookman. Jay. Two viewpoints on gay marriage, vividly opposed. 16 September 2014. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 4 September 2014.
  46. News: Richardson. James. I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married.. 16 September 2014. Washington Post. 4 September 2014.

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