Says Industry Isn't Looking For A "Bailout," Unlike
Others...
Marion
Blakey is no stranger to the power of a strong marketing campaign.
One need only look to her tenure as administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration, where she spearheaded a rebranding of the
agency under the FAA Branding Identity Program. As ANN reported, that program
called for a standardized logo, so the FAA wouldn't be confused
with other like-acroynmed federal bureaucracies.
Like FEMA.
Well, okay, so perhaps that's not the best example... but Blakey
-- now president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association,
the major lobbying group for the nation's defense suppliers -- has
implemented a similar ad campaign for her latest gig, to spur the
incoming Obama administration to protect lucrative weapons
contracts.
The Washington Post reports the new advertising campaign, titled
"Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America," is backed by
such industry heavyweights as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General
Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.
The
$1.5 million campaign will promote AIA businesses over the next two
months through print ads in a number of Washington, DC publications
-- including the Post and Congressional Quarterly -- to encourage
the incoming president and Congress that as they look to "invest
taxpayer dollars, they don't fail to appreciate that we're an
economic engine.
"There are many industries turning to
Washington with expectations," Blakey adds. "We want it understood
that we're not asking for any bailout... We want to make sure they
understand we are a strong industry that can propel the economy
forward and not see us as a bill payer for some of these other
costs that are going to be incurred.
"We're simply saying, 'Take care not to damage a critical engine
for the economy.'"
That message carries added impetus for AIA, says defense analyst
Loren Thompson... who notes the industry "fears there will be a
decline in federal spending for military technology under President
Obama, so it is sending a signal that any cuts will further harm an
already weakened economy."
Thompson, who consults for a number of defense contractors at
the Lexington Institute, adds "With the erosion of US
manufacturing, aerospace exports -- including weapons -- have
become one of the few bright spots in the US trade balance.
Aerospace is also one of the few sectors left where industrial
unions still have a strong presence."