Glenn W. Smith
Encyclopedia
Glenn W. Smith is an author, activist and political consultant.
from 1979 to 1985 and the Houston Post
from 1985 to 1988. He covered state and national political affairs before leaving journalism to work for then-Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby in early 1988. He subsequently worked for the late U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen
, and managed Ann Richards
' 1990 primary victory in her successful campaign for Governor of Texas.
Throughout the 1990s Smith designed public affairs campaigns for a variety of state and national clients. A managing director of Public Strategies, Inc., he wrote and produced award-winning communications for broadcast and direct mail, and designed communications strategies for business, universities, activist groups, and progressive candidates.
Smith left Public Strategies in 2001 and launched his own company, Affinity Dynamics, Inc. ADI provides strategic media, advertising and communications consulting to a variety of non-governmental organizations, businesses, political campaigns and advocacy groups. In 2003 Smith managed MoveOn.org's campaign against Tom DeLay
's mid-decade congressional redistricting. In 2004, Smith helped found Texans for Truth
, a 527 organization that promoted fair, open elections and raised questions about George W. Bush
's service in the National Guard
during the Vietnam War
.
Smith has taught "religion and politics" at the Starr King School for the Ministry
in Berkeley
, California
. He sponsored and organized national events with progressive religious leaders, including events challenging the Right Wing's "Justice Sunday
" rallies in 2005, a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King at Riverside Church
in New York City
, and "Freedom and Faith" bus tours throughout the northeast and mid-west.
Smith is the author of The Politics of Deceit (2004) and Unfit Commander (2004). He is director of the Texas Progress Council, a progressive think tank in Austin, and was a senior fellow at George Lakoff
's Rockridge Institute
in Berkeley.
Biography
Smith was a journalist for the Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
from 1979 to 1985 and the Houston Post
Houston Post
The Houston Post was a newspaper that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle.-History:The newspaper was established on February 19, 1880, by Gail Borden Johnson...
from 1985 to 1988. He covered state and national political affairs before leaving journalism to work for then-Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby in early 1988. He subsequently worked for the late U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. was a four-term United States senator from Texas and the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President in 1988 on the Michael Dukakis ticket. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1955. In his later political life, he was Chairman of the Senate...
, and managed Ann Richards
Ann Richards
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was an American politician from Texas. She first came to national attention as the state treasurer of Texas, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as the 45th Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995 and was...
' 1990 primary victory in her successful campaign for Governor of Texas.
Throughout the 1990s Smith designed public affairs campaigns for a variety of state and national clients. A managing director of Public Strategies, Inc., he wrote and produced award-winning communications for broadcast and direct mail, and designed communications strategies for business, universities, activist groups, and progressive candidates.
Smith left Public Strategies in 2001 and launched his own company, Affinity Dynamics, Inc. ADI provides strategic media, advertising and communications consulting to a variety of non-governmental organizations, businesses, political campaigns and advocacy groups. In 2003 Smith managed MoveOn.org's campaign against Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
's mid-decade congressional redistricting. In 2004, Smith helped found Texans for Truth
Texans for Truth
Texans for Truth is a now inactive political advocacy organization, registered under Section 527 of the United States tax code, formed to oppose George W. Bush's re-election efforts in the 2004 presidential election...
, a 527 organization that promoted fair, open elections and raised questions about George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's service in the National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Smith has taught "religion and politics" at the Starr King School for the Ministry
Starr King School for the Ministry
Starr King School for the Ministry is a Unitarian Universalist seminary in Berkeley, California and part of the Graduate Theological Union. Starr King School opened in 1904 as the Pacific Unitarian School for the Ministry...
in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He sponsored and organized national events with progressive religious leaders, including events challenging the Right Wing's "Justice Sunday
Justice Sunday (conservative Christian event)
Justice Sunday is the term used for a series of religious conferences organized by the Family Research Council, founded by James Dobson and headed by Tony Perkins, and Dobson's Focus on the Family organizations...
" rallies in 2005, a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King at Riverside Church
Riverside Church
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational church in New York City, famous for its elaborate Neo-Gothic architecture—which includes the world's largest tuned carillon bell...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and "Freedom and Faith" bus tours throughout the northeast and mid-west.
Smith is the author of The Politics of Deceit (2004) and Unfit Commander (2004). He is director of the Texas Progress Council, a progressive think tank in Austin, and was a senior fellow at George Lakoff
George Lakoff
George P. Lakoff is an American cognitive linguist and professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1972...
's Rockridge Institute
Rockridge Institute
The Rockridge Institute was an American non-profit research and progressive think tank founded in 1997 and located in Berkeley, California from 2003 until April 30, 2008. Its stated goal was to strengthen democracy by providing intellectual support to the progressive community...
in Berkeley.