Getting the word out

Getting the U.S. media to pay attention to Stephen Harper doesn’t come cheap. During last April’s Summit of the Americas, the Prime Minister’s Office spent $24,000 to have Mike McCurry, Bill Clinton’s former press secretary, set up interviews with the New York Times and Fox News, among other outlets, as well as provide "communications advice" to Harper about how best to present Canada’s positions to an American audience. It wasn’t the first time Harper has tapped former White House officials to help him get his message out. Ari Fleisher, George W. Bush’s former press secretary, was tapped to handle similar duties during the G20 meetings in London, for which Fleisher was paid $24,500.

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