Lincoln Group's Personal Propaganda

Jason Vest contributes the following item: Back in November, GovExec

was the first to start parsing the oblique and dubious history of the Lincoln Group. Wednesday's New York Times added to the canon, filling in some nice details about how Lincoln Group honchos Christian Bailey (nee Jozefowicz, as the Times of London revealed last year---check it out via War and Piece) and Paige Craig have used sleights-of-hand to secure millions in federal contracts. But there was no exploration of how Bailey's Republican fundraising connections may have helped Lincoln Group. Nor did the paper name either of the two lobbying firms Lincoln has working for it. (On retainer for Lincoln since last summer: the well-connected Republican lobbyist/public relations specialist Charlie Black of BKSH Associates, and quiet heavy-hitters Van Scoyoc Associates).

Still, the piece is a great read, especially when one recalls what the Lincoln Group said about itself at various times in various places under various names (in the past few years the company has gone from Lincoln Alliance Corporation to Iraqex to Lincoln Group). A few

examples:

• 2004 Iraqex ad on InternshipPrograms.com: "We have four mansions across Baghdad"
  

  NYT: "The firm rented a one-story house inside the Green Zone, the heavily fortified government compound in central Baghdad. Furnished with two sofas and a sheet of plywood that served as a desk, the house had a single telephone and an overloaded electrical outlet."

• 2004 Iraqex ad on InternshipPrograms.com: "Iraqex takes precautions to safeguard the security of its personnel."
  

  NYT: "Lincoln lacked the armored vehicles or security guards employed by more established contractors. When venturing outside the Green Zone, employees would grab weapons and climb into one of two beat-up Proton sedans, which employees were told were chosen to blend in with dilapidated Iraqi vehicles on the streets."

• Lincoln Alliance Corporation website, 2003: "Values and

  Principles: Honesty and Integrity."
  

  NYT: "The company's rise, though, has been built in part by exaggerated claims about its abilities and connections...The briefing also touted the firm's "strategic advisers," including Mr. [Jason] Santamaria...Mr. Santamaria said he reviewed several investment proposals for Lincoln during a two-week association in late 2004. But after becoming "concerned about their methods," he said, "I severed ties with them as quickly as I could." ... Lincoln listed Mr. [Jerry] Della Femina as a "creative director" in materials presented last spring at a meeting with Special Operations officers in Tampa. But Mr.

  Della Femina said his firm pulled out before executing any of the ideas. Three months after ending the collaboration, Mr. Della Femina said, he discovered that Lincoln's Web site listed him as one of its partners. ...A proposal signed by Mr. Bailey in October said Lincoln "has exploited the extensive experience and expertise of the Omnicom Group." But Pat Sloan, an Omnicom spokeswoman, said she could find no evidence it has ever worked with Lincoln Group. "We're not aware of any relationship with Lincoln Group," she said.

• Lincoln Alliance Corporation website, 2003: "Values and

  Principles: Innovation and Creativity"
  

  NYT: A Lincoln spokesman, William Dixon, said "it was a mistake" to include Mr. Santamaria's name in the December briefing because he was no longer affiliated with the company. Lincoln may simply have been following another principle taught by Mr. [Daniel S.] Peña. "How do you create an instant track record?" Mr. Peña says he told Mr.

  Bailey. "You joint-venture with someone who has a track record."