Alex Castellanos#2012 appearance on Meet the Press
{{short description|Cuban American political consultant|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{For|the professional baseball player|Alex Castellanos (baseball)}}{{for|the Honduran swimmer|Alejandro Castellanos}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Alex Castellanos
|image = Alex Castellanos by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|caption=Castellanos in 2013
|birth_name=Alejandro Castellanos
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1954}}
|birth_place = Havana, Cuba
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|alma_mater = University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill
}}
Alejandro Castellanos (born 1954) is a Cuban-American political consultant. He has worked on electoral campaigns for Republican candidates including Bob Dole, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and Mitt Romney. In 2008, Castellanos, a partner at National Media Inc., co-founded Purple Strategies, a bipartisan communications firm. Castellanos is also a regular guest commentator on Meet the Press and a contributor for CNN.
Early life and education
Alex Castellanos was born in Havana, Cuba in 1954 and immigrated to the United States in 1960{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/q_and_a/castellanos1.html |title=Interview with Alex Castellanos |work=pbs.org |publisher=Wisconsin Public Television |accessdate=5 April 2013}} or 1961 with his family. He lived in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina, where he was a National Merit Scholar and a philosophy major. Castellanos is married and has two children.{{cite news |title=Hardball pros; Duo gets Dole ad work |author=Steven Colford |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3SJ4-FW90-000S-82NB&csi=8093&oc=00240&perma=true |work=Advertising Age |date=7 March 1988 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
Career
Castellanos has worked as a political consultant for Republican candidates for state and federal elections since the 1980s, including six presidential elections. In particular, he has received media attention for his work developing ads for political campaigns and is sometimes referred to as "the father of the attack ad".
=1980s and 1990s: Early political work=
Castellanos began his career working on the successful 1984 re-election campaigns for United States Senators Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond. While working on these campaigns Castellanos met Mike Murphy, with whom he later formed the firm Murphy & Castellanos. Their firm worked on Bob Dole's 1988 presidential campaign.{{cite news | author=Lloyd Grove | title=Contra Ads Appeal for Donations | work=The Washington Post (accessed via HighBeam Research) | publisher=Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive | date=March 22, 1988 | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1246670.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315092129/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1246670.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 15, 2016 | accessdate=June 19, 2013 }} In 1989, Castellanos became a partner at National Media, Inc.{{cite news |title=Moving Beyond Attack Ads |author=Louis Jacobson |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-129233991.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624185225/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-129233991.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2013 |work=The National Journal |date=22 June 2002 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
In 1990, Castellanos again worked on the re-election campaign for Jesse Helms. During the campaign, Castellanos drew media attention for an ad he created that showed the hands of a white man holding a rejection letter because he had lost a job to a minority worker. The ad, known as "Hands", was criticized by supporters of Helms' opponent, Harvey Gantt, for appealing to racial biases of white voters.{{cite news |title=Helms ad galvanized white vote |author=Julia M. Klein |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NIYkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6949,12706&dq=white+hands+advertisement+helms&hl=en |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=11 November 1990 |accessdate=12 April 2013}} Castellanos later explained that the intended message behind the ad was that "you shouldn't get a job or be denied a job because of the color of your skin." Also in 1990, Castellanos created television commercials for Bob Martinez's re-election campaign for governor of Florida.{{cite news |title=Low-Key Chiles Campaign in Florida Runs Up Against a Republican Blitz |author=Sara Rimer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/30/us/low-key-chiles-campaign-in-florida-runs-up-against-a-republican-blitz.html |work=The New York Times |date=30 October 1990 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}{{cite news |title=Jeb Bush plans to seek office in Fla. Ex-president's son says he'll run for governor |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1993/01/28/jeb-bush-plans-to-seek-office-in-fla-ex-presidents-son-says-hell-run-for-governor/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=28 January 1993 |access-date=5 April 2013}}
Throughout the 1990s, Castellanos worked on a variety of Republican campaigns as a media consultant and strategist. These included George H. W. Bush's 1992 presidential election campaign,{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/text/q_and_a/biographies.html#castellanos |title=Alejandro (Alex) Castellanos |work=pbs.org |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service |accessdate=5 April 2013}} Jeb Bush's 1994 campaign for governor of Florida,{{cite news |title=Behind McBride vs. Bush is battle of media consultants |author=Adam C. Smith |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/13/State/Behind_McBride_vs_Bus.shtml |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=13 October 2002 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}{{cite news |title=Jeb Bush: Making Name For Himself |author=Linda Kleindienst |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1994/08/22/jeb-bush-making-name-for-himself/ |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=22 August 1994 |access-date=5 April 2013}} and Guy Millner's 1994 campaign for governor of Georgia.{{cite journal |last1=Fullinwider |first1=Robert |year=2013 |title=Are negatives positive? |journal=Philosophy & Public Policy Quarterly |volume=31 |issue=1 |publisher=Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy George Mason University |url=http://journals.gmu.edu/PPPQ/article/view/188 |accessdate=20 June 2013}}
Castellanos again worked for Bob Dole on his 1996 presidential election campaign.{{cite news | author=Stephen Seplow | title=Dole stops attacking Clinton in ads, lets Clinton attack himself | work=Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service | publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services | date=October 6, 1996 | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18736412.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145958/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18736412.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | accessdate=June 19, 2013 }} It was during this campaign that Castellanos discussed the importance of "soccer moms" as a political demographic with The Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne.{{cite news |title=Clinton Swipes The GOP's Lyrics; The Democrat as Liberal Republican |author=E.J. Dionne Jr. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-796770.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200607/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-796770.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=21 July 1996 |accessdate=9 April 2013}} The phrase went on to become one of the key buzzwords of the election year.{{cite news |title=Presidential candidates are making a play for Soccer Moms |author=Jenny Deam |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3S7T-BJH0-009C-047D&csi=11063&oc=00240&perma=true |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=20 October 1996 |accessdate=9 April 2013}}{{cite news | author=Tim Cornwell | title=Bring on the soccer moms | work=The Independent (accessed via HighBeam Research) | location=London, England | publisher=Independent Print Ltd. | date=November 1, 1996 | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4821863.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624185308/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4821863.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 24, 2013 | accessdate=June 19, 2013 }} Castellanos worked on Jesse Helms' re-election campaign in 1996; Helms pulled controversial ads against Charlie Sanders and Harvey Gantt in April 1996, and Castellanos left the campaign at that time.{{cite news | author=Frank J. Murray | title=Consultants insist on need to run attack ads | work=The Washington Times (accessed via HighBean Research) | location=Washington, DC | publisher=News World Communications, Inc. | date=June 8, 1996}} He worked for Bob Taft's 1998 campaign for governor of Ohio.{{cite news |title=Former Dole Consultant Joins Taft's Campaign for Governor |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3SCD-TJJ0-008W-R297&csi=143930&oc=00240&perma=true |work=The Columbus Dispatch |date=25 April 1997 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}{{cite news | title=Taft Hires 'A List' Campaign Team for Gubernatorial Race | work=The Cincinnati Post (accessed via HighBeam Research) | location=Cincinnati, OH | publisher=Dialog LLC. | date=April 28, 1997 | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67907267.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162421/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67907267.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | accessdate=June 19, 2013 }}
=2000s: Bush-Cheney and Romney campaigns=
Castellanos served as a media advisor to George W. Bush in both his 2000 and 2004 presidential election campaigns. During the campaigns, "he sealed his reputation as one of the keenest, most cutthroat strategists in the business." While working on the 2000 campaign, Castellanos created an ad about the Medicare prescription plan Al Gore proposed in which the word "RATS" flashed briefly on the screen as the word "bureaucrats" appeared. This was discussed in the media as potential "subliminal messaging".{{cite news |title=Counterspin |author=Anthony York |url=http://www.salon.com/2000/09/13/castellanos_2/ |work=Salon |date=13 September 2000 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
In 2007 Castellanos was named to GQ Magazine's list of the "50 Most Influential People in D.C."{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. |author=Raha Naddaf |author2=Greg Veis |url=https://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/200708/fifty-most-powerful-dc-washington-political-aides-journalists?currentPage=3 |work=GQ |date=September 2007 |accessdate=8 April 2013}} The following year, Castellanos worked for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign as part of the firm Midnight Ride Media, which managed advertising, production and media buying for the campaign.{{cite news |title=Mitt Romney Consultant wars: Stuart Stevens, Alex Castellanos, Mike Murphy |author=Ben Smith |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/12/consultant-wars-mitts-mad-men-070734 |work=Politico |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=5 April 2013}}{{cite news |title=Romney Puts Competition On The Campaign Table |author=Mark Ambinder |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/07/romney-puts-competition-on-the-campaign-table/50017/ |work=The Atlantic |date=18 July 2007 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
=2008 to present: Purple Strategies=
In 2008, the communications firm Purple Strategies was founded by Castellanos and Democrat Steve McMahon. According to Purple Strategies' managing partner Bruce Haynes, Castellanos and McMahon would routinely see each other while pitching to clients. The two ultimately decided to merge their "blue" and "red" consultancies to create a "purple" company.{{cite news |title=Rob Collins, Jim Jordan join Purple Strategies |author=Mike Allen |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/collins-jordan-new-purple-pros-059220 |work=Politico |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=8 April 2013}}
Castellanos is currently a principal partner at Purple Strategies, major clients of the bipartisan firm have included the United States Chamber of Commerce, BP and PhRMA.{{cite news |title=US Chamber awards largest campaign to Powell Tate, Purple Strategies |author=Jaimy Lee |url=http://www.prweekus.com/us-chamber-awards-largest-campaign-to-powell-tate-purple-strategies/article/149527/ |work=PRWeek |date=23 September 2009 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}{{cite news |title=Washington PR firms cashing in on BP spill |author=Garance Franke-Ruta |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/washington-cashes-in-on-bp-spi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226183136/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/washington-cashes-in-on-bp-spi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=4 June 2010 |accessdate=20 June 2013}}
Other activities
Castellanos is a guest commentator and contributor for CNN{{cite news |title=Why Gingrich's N.H. endorsement is a bigger deal than it seems |author=Paul Steinhauser |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/28/politics/gingrich-endorsement-big-deal/ |work=CNN |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=5 April 2013}} and has appeared on Meet the Press where he argued with Rachel Maddow in April 2012 about the existence of a gender gap in pay.{{cite news |title=Rachel Maddow Clashes With Alex Castellanos Over Women And The Economy On 'Meet The Press' |author=Rebecca Shapiro |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/rachel-maddow-alex-castellanos-meet-the-press-women-economy_n_1464039.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=30 April 2012 |accessdate=5 April 2013}} Additionally, Castellanos writes online commentary for The Huffington Post and National Review, and is also a public speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau.{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=6324 |title=Alex Castellanos |work=washingtonspeakers.com |publisher=Washington Speakers Bureau |accessdate=9 April 2013}}
In 2008, Castellanos was a resident fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics.{{cite web |url=http://www.iop.harvard.edu/alex-castellanos |title=Alex Castellanos |work=iop.harvard.edu |publisher=Harvard University |accessdate=5 April 2013}} The following year, Castellanos became a senior communications advisor to Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele.{{cite news |title=Alex Castellanos Hired By Republican National Committee |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/24/alex-castellanos-hired-by_n_369003.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=18 March 2011 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}{{cite news |title=RNC loses communications director, Castellanos signs on |author=Chris Cillizza |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/trevor-francis-leaving-rnc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630224501/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/trevor-francis-leaving-rnc.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=29 November 2009 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
In 2013, Castellanos shaved his mustache on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer after promising to do so if 500 new donors would give to Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy.{{cite news |title=Another mustache razed for charity |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/18/another-mustache-razed-for-charity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122034806/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/18/another-mustache-razed-for-charity/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |work=CNN |date=18 January 2013 |accessdate=5 April 2013}} Also in 2013, Castellanos led a Super PAC project called NewRepublican.org, which is focused on broadening the Republican Party's demographic base.{{cite news |title=First on CNN: Super PAC to focus on broadening GOP appeal |author=Mark Preston |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/13/first-on-cnn-super-pac-to-focus-on-broadening-gop-appeal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216101720/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/13/first-on-cnn-super-pac-to-focus-on-broadening-gop-appeal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |work=CNN |date=13 February 2013 |accessdate=5 April 2013}} Along with other Republican political consultants, Castellanos signed a "friend of the court" brief in support of gay marriage in February 2013.{{cite news |title=Prominent GOP consultants join gay marriage brief |author=Geordy Boveroux |url=http://www.campaignsandelections.com/campaign-insider/365132/prominent-gop-consultants-join-gay-marriage-brief.thtml |work=Campaigns & Elections |date=26 February 2013 |accessdate=5 April 2013}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://alexcastellanos.com/}}
- {{C-SPAN|24880}}
- {{IMDb name|2883009}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castellanos, Alex}}
Category:American political consultants
Category:American politicians of Cuban descent
Category:Exiles of the Cuban Revolution in the United States
Category:Harvard Kennedy School people
Category:Latino conservatism in the United States