Press Secretary Ari Adler in his previous job with Delta Dental - business casual?
So what are the priorities as this new group tries to hit the ground running? Below is an email from Ari Adler, press secretary to our new Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, discussing deviations from the newly issued dress code for the press requiring “business attire.” After conferring with leadership, Adler is now willing to let some folks to dress in “business casual” when they cover the House. (A reporter friend is threatening to dust off his tux as an upscale protest.)
What exactly was the problem? Were reporters showing up in sequins and spandex? (If so, please send us the photos. Tim Skubick and Rick Pluta in tie-dye would be to die for.)
Is this really how our new high-level leaders should be spending their time?
From: Ari Adler
Date: Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Subject: Dress code for House sessionGreetings,
As you have probably heard by now, we have instituted a “business attire” dress code for anyone conducting business in the bar of the House, which for you folks would generally mean either the House Floor or the House Appropriations Room.
I have been working with leadership to address concerns raised by some members of the media regarding this stricter dress code.
While we are not changing the official rules, I have been granted authority to provide reprieve to members of the media who are within the bar of the House on official media business. What this means is you will be held to a minimum dress code of “business casual.” The only exception would be TV videographers, who will be allowed to dress down from business casual given the nature of their jobs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Ari
Ari B. Adler
Press Secretary
Office of House Speaker Jase Bolger
State Capitol
Lansing, Michigan
Sorry, Ari, but as a communications pro, you should know that wasting time on a dress code merely feeds the narrative that Republicans often make the mistake of caring more about how you look than what you do.
I attribute my fashion sense to the late Sam Kinnison - I guess neither of us will be covering the Michigan House anytime soon
Lefties, in contract, revel in ambiguity. They love living in the wishywashy grey where they can be heard saying “on the one hand . . . and on the other hand . . ..” Think Sam Kinnison.
Think of how dumb Gov. Michael Dukakis looked wearing that helmet in the tank, though I have to admit Rudy Giuliani always looks comfortable in a dress.
Unchecked, the right trends toward fascism, while the left lurches toward anarchy. Worrying about what those pesky reporters are wearing rather than getting them the information they need feeds into the narrative that Republicans are the kind of folks who keep mowing the lawn while the house is on fire.
What happened to all that Tea Party talk about personal liberty? Apparently, freedom doesn’t extend to the media. And why would you start your term by insulting a press corps whose goodwill you need? (Will the next memo be on personal hygiene? Perhaps Ari could issue each reporter a toothbrush?)
Decades ago, when I first came to Lansing, I attended a meeting of the Michigan Press Association at the old Jim’s Tiffany Lounge where a reporter was interviewing then-Governor William Milliken. The reporter, who shall remain nameless mostly because I cannot remember who it was, sat down at the end of the session and crossed his legs, revealing a gaping hole in the sole of his shoe – a reminder that reporters do not always come from the same patrician class as our leaders.
Rick and the boys can afford to wear anything they want. Yet I note that our new guv takes great pride in deciding when and where he will wear a tie. (“Ties definitely are out in Snyder administration” – Lansing State Journal, December 29, 2010.)
Why can’t the new administration grant that same level of sartorial freedom to the press corps? Or are they the lowlifes who must quickly get the message that their job is to take orders, not give them?
Bonnie,
After all the years we have known each other, I am quite surprised by your personal attack on me when I was trying to do something nice for the press corps. The Rules of the House clearly state that those conducting business there are to be dressed in business attire. I support this rule because I believe having representatives and staff on the floor who are professionally dressed will help lead to a higher level of decorum.
I knew, however, that reporters often spend their time doing things other than covering House business. And, as suspected, several made comments toward that effect. Therefore, I took the time to ensure that their level of dress would not be held to as a high a standard as representatives and staff.
For the record, the picture of me that you published without appropriately attributing the photo rights was taken while I was at work for another employer. That employer’s dress code was business casual. I’m not sure how I dressed at another time for another employer with a different dress code is relevant to this discussion, other than it was yet one more way to continue the personal nature of your assault.
I also take affront to your insinuation that I am not providing the media with the information they need to do their jobs. I believe the dozens of reporters I have spoken to and helped on deadline, on the record and off the record in just the past two weeks would disagree with you.
By the way, if the press corps does not appreciate my taking the time to ensure they could dress more comfortably, I would be happy to eliminate the exemption and require business attire for access to the House floor. I would recommend, however, that you confer with your colleagues who know me and for whom there exists mutual respect before you attempt to again speak on their behalf.
Regards,
Ari
@aribadler
holy crap!!!!! who gives a flying fring about any of this?
I have had jobs which dictated to an extreme (IBM) what you could/could not wear and other jobs where I could wear just about anything. These days I believe we should go old school. Men in tennis shoes, shit tails hanging out and wrinkles everywhere – women with their “goods” hanging out and skirts barely covering their you know what are inappropriate – what is wrong with having a professional appearance?
But what astounds me is that people don’t have the self respect or common sense to dress appropriately –
Great job Bonnie-you caught them with their pants’ down. Next they will ban green bowties. I recall once going to the GM headquarters in Detroit and having to borrow a jacket and tie from the “management”. We all know what that got them.
Bonnie:
Content of this post aside, I have a hard time seeeing your selection of your photo of Ari as anything other than a low blow.
I’m going to have to back up Ari here. The photo is too much, and this attack is a stretch. Ari was trying to accommodate the press and as far as sequins and spandex go, I can attest to witnessing a female reporter dressed in such a way that embarrassed the members and the staff on a regular basis. Business casual is not too much to ask in the least, and I don’t see why this is a big deal, let alone a story.
To add context to my original comment, I worked with the press for the Senate Democrats for two years and also know Ari personally.
I think the photo is cute. Ari tweeted it to folks, and it remains on his FB page. And I do think that the Republicans need to take the heat for instituting a policy no other administration has been stupid enough to implement in lo these many decades. Ari’s attempt to put a little lipstick on that pig merely highlights how dumb a move the whole thing is. And having him grant arbitrary dispensation hardly seems a cure to me.
Just what I thought it would come down to. Petty pandering to the most pernicious party. Why isn’t Snyder off to that running start he promised? Wisconsin and Minnesota’s new governors are already at work lowering the property taxes of their states, and getting their state machines running again. Why is Michigan stalling out on dressing down the press corp? Grow up and do your jobs, and dress appropriately. Nuff said.