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James Richardson (political consultant)

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James Richardson (born October 30, 1984) is a conservative American political strategist and columnist best known as a spokesman and adviser to the Republican National Committee and former Governors Jon Huntsman and Haley Barbour. In a September 2014 opinion editorial published in the Washington Post, Richardson openly disclosed that he is gay.[1] As of July 2015, he serves as managing director of Dentons,[2] a global law practice, in the firm's public policy and regulatory affairs group.

Career

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In the 2008 presidential election, Richardson served as Online Communications Manager[3] for the Republican National Committee. He briefly served as Communications Director for the College Republican National Committee before accepting a position with the Conservative consultancy Hynes Communications, which specializes in Conservative blogger outreach. Richardson took leave from the firm in 2011 to advise then-Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour,[4] who was openly weighing a presidential bid. After weathering criticism for his perceived proximity to racist groups,[5] Barbour eventually announced in mid-2011 he would forgo a campaign for the White House.[6] Richardson was the first of Barbour's advisors to join another campaign,[7] accepting a position as Director of Online Communications for Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign.[8] After Huntsman's resignation from the race following his third-place finish in New Hampshire, Richardson returned to Hynes Communications as Vice President of Public Relations.[citation needed] According to media reports, some of his clients have included the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Indiana Senator Dan Coats[9]

Richardson has written extensively on political and cultural issues and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. His columns have appeared in The Atlantic[10], GQ[11], US News & World Report[12], National Review[13], The Washington Post,[14] The Guardian[15][16][17][18][19],' The Advocate Magazine,[20] The Christian Science Monitor,[21] USA Today[22][23], Politico[24][25][26], Roll Call[27], the Washington Times[28], Creative Loafing[29], Fox News,[30][31][32][33] CNN,[34] CBS News,[35] and The Huffington Post.[36] He edits the political news blog Georgia Tipsheet,[37] which the Washington Post named one of the "best state-based blogs[38]" in the country in 2013.

Personal life

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In September 2014, Richardson authored an Op-Ed in The Washington Post in which he publicly disclosed he is gay.[39] In the column, Richardson said he advocated for equal rights for LGBT persons throughout his career "even as I never openly disclosed my personal stake" in the debate.

Richardson's coming out was covered by CNN,[40] The Huffington Post,[41] The Advocate[42], MTV,[43] and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution[44][45], among others.

Richardson lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his partner of five years.[46] He attended the University of Georgia.

Selected writings

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References

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  1. ^ Richardson, James (4 September 2014). "I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  2. ^ Saporta, Maria (14 July 2015). "Dentons law firm boosts its public policy practice". The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  3. ^ Rothman, Noah (26 April 2011). "Barbour's exit from 2012 field frees up operatives". Campaigns & Elections. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  4. ^ Smith, Ben (9 March 2011). "Barbour adds online communications aide". Politico. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. ^ Shear, Michael (20 December 2010). "Discussing Civil Rights Era, a Governor Is Criticized". New York Times. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  6. ^ Political Unit (25 April 2011). "Barbour not running for prez". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  7. ^ Coulter, Matt (11 May 2011). "Huntsman Hires One of 'Haley's Seven'". Race42016. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  8. ^ Barr, Andy (10 May 2011). "Jon Huntsman hires former Haley Barbour aide". Politico. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  9. ^ Rothman, Noah (26 April 2011). "Barbour's exit from 2012 field frees up operatives". Campaigns & Elections. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  10. ^ Richardson, James (17 January 2012). "What Was the Huntsman Campaign's Problem?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  11. ^ Richardson, James (15 March 2012). "A Former Huntsman Staffer on Gingrich's Refusal to Ever, Ever Drop Out". GQ. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  12. ^ Richardson, James (26 June 2014). "One Year After DOMA Fell, and Still No Revolution". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  13. ^ Richardson, James (30 December 2013). "You're not fired, ever". National Review. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  14. ^ Richardson, James (4 September 2014). "I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  15. ^ Richardson, James (12 April 2013). "Big test for GOP: will party leaders do right thing on gay marriage?". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  16. ^ Richardson, James (10 October 2012). "How Mitt Romney's historic debate confounded political science convention". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  17. ^ Richardson, James (8 March 2012). "America has moved on from Romney's Mormonism". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  18. ^ Richardson, James (26 April 2011). "Haley Barbour, the GOP's best candidate not to run". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  19. ^ Richardson, James (3 January 2011). "US cable leaks' collateral damage in Zimbabwe". The Guardian.
  20. ^ Richardson, James (4 December 2014). "The Real Reason Rob Portman Won't Run for President". The Advocate Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  21. ^ Richardson, James (10 June 2013). "Why Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling won't be like Roe v. Wade". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  22. ^ Richardson, James (29 July 2014). "Teacher tenure refugees flee public school". USA Today. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  23. ^ Richardson, James (21 March 2014). "Sin city a virtuous venue for GOP convention". USA Today. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  24. ^ Richardson, James (5 November 2013). "Congress must lead by dealing with the deficit". Politico. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  25. ^ Richardson, James (29 April 2011). "David Petraeus: Politics of appointments". Politico. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  26. ^ Richardson, James (4 April 2009). "Dems play politics with 9/11 workers". Politico. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  27. ^ Richardson, James (23 April 2014). "An honesty gap in the pay gap debate". Roll Call. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  28. ^ Richardson, James (16 September 2010). "Who are you calling extreme?". Washington Times. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  29. ^ Richardson, James (25 June 2012). "Kasim's gay problem". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  30. ^ Richardson, James (1 February 2013). "Gun control misfire in Georgia to cost lives". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  31. ^ Richardson, James (12 June 2012). "Two inspiring 20-something candidates to watch". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  32. ^ Richardson, James (21 January 2012). "God, guns and grease! Northern snobbery fuels the Paula Deen fingerpointing". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  33. ^ Richardson, James (28 October 2010). "What Democrats wish for". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  34. ^ Richardson, James (27 February 2014). "Stop Arizona-style anti-gay bill in Georgia". CNN. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  35. ^ Richardson, James (26 January 2010). "An Albatross or Aid for the Democrats?". CBS News. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  36. ^ Richardson, James (17 December 2010). "Food or Facebook for America's homeless?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  37. ^ "Georgia Tipsheet".
  38. ^ Cilliza, Chris (5 March 2013). "The Fix's best state-based political blogs list is here!". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  39. ^ Richardson, James (4 September 2014). "I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  40. ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann (4 September 2014). "Former GOP spokesman comes out, pushes for same-sex marriage". CNN. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  41. ^ Lavender, Paige (4 September 2014). "James Richardson Comes Out: 'I'm A Senior GOP Spokesman, And I'm Gay.'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  42. ^ Brydum, Sunnivie (7 September 2014). "Former GOP Spokesman: 'I'm Gay. Let Me Get Married'". The Advocate. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  43. ^ White, Caitlin (4 September 2014). "GOP Spokesman Comes Out In Emotional Letter: 'Let Me Get Married'". MTV. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  44. ^ Galloway, Jim (4 September 2014). "Living in Spin City". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  45. ^ Bookman, Jay (4 September 2014). "Two viewpoints on gay marriage, vividly opposed". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  46. ^ Richardson, James (4 September 2014). "I'm a senior GOP spokesman, and I'm gay. Let me get married". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
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