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SW: net neutrality op/ed
The firm has been associated with several ghost-written opinion columns. In July 2008, LMG was linked to an op-ed criticizing a bill that would reduce credit card fees, which was attributed to [[Charles Steele Jr.]], the president of the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] (SCLC). The column -- which neither Steele nor his office authorized -- complains that the bill "would boost the profits of [[Wal-Mart]]," an SCLC sponsor. Steele's attorney blamed "the K Street public relations shop LMG" for the mix-up. LMG admitted that it had "reached out through its contractors" to send "advocacy materials" to the SCLC and "urged the group to go public with opposition to the bill." Among LMG's clients is the [[Electronic Payments Coalition]], a group of credit card and financial companies that opposes the legislation. The SCLC investigated and concluded that "the wrong draft of the op-ed" had been sent to papers. "The correct draft should not have referenced Wal-Mart or [[Home Depot]]," another SCLC sponsor. <ref>Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802260.html The Man Behind the Byline Isn't Behind the Article. So, Who Is?]," ''Washington Post'', July 29, 2008.</ref>
In August 2008, LMG was linked to a ''Harvard Crimson'' op/ed supposedly by Mel King, a community organizer and [[network neutrality]] advocate. However, King's column questioned the need for net neutrality provisions. King admitted that LMG was involved and refused to say whether "he was paid for the use of his name," reported CNET News. LMG's clients include [[Comcast]], which opposes net neutrality, and [[Microsoft]], which hired LMG in an attempt to block a [[Google]]-[[Yahoo]] advertising deal. Another strange aspect of King's anti-net neutrality column is that "portions are identical to a [[Rainbow Push]] coalition statement attributed to the [[Rev. Jesse Jackson]] and dated three months before." A source told CNET News that "LMG has a relationship with Jackson that includes ghost-written articles on behalf of corporate clients." <ref>Declan McCullagh, "[http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10016960-38.html Wanted: Writers for D.C. tech lobby group, secrecy mandatory]," CNET News, August 14, 2008.</ref>
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