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When it comes to the science and art of media advocacy--approaching the media in ways that propel your issue forward--Vinny DeMarco has 'written the book.' Except that Vinny has shown us all how it's done, and Mike Pertschuk has written the book. From his varied and exquisitely sensitive uses of carefully wrought polling to gaining the trust and access to the media; from inventing newsworthy events to making certain that the coverage of those events broadcasts his core messages to legislators, Vinny, in the book, demonstrates how it's done right, and Mike Pertschuk wraps it up in a lively package that both delights and teaches us. No advocate who wants to make change happen can afford to miss The DeMarco Factor. --Celinda Lake, progressive pollster; President, Lake Research

When it comes to the science and art of media advocacy--approaching the media in ways that propel your issue forward--Vinny DeMarco has 'written the book.' Except that Vinny has shown us all how it's done, and Mike Pertschuk has written the book. From his varied and exquisitely sensitive uses of carefully wrought polling to gaining the trust and access to the media; from inventing newsworthy events to making certain that the coverage of those events broadcasts his core messages to legislators, Vinny, in the book, demonstrates how it's done right, and Mike Pertschuk wraps it up in a lively package that both delights and teaches us. No advocate who wants to make change happen can afford to miss The DeMarco Factor. <br>--Celinda Lake, progressive pollster; President, Lake Research

I've never met a more authentic person. There is no pretense; there is no put-on with Vinny. He's an extraordinarily compassionate, committed person, a very bright person, and one who knows how to get things done. The faith community in Maryland and across the country has benefited greatly from Vinny's uncanny ability to mobilize us behind life-saving public health policies. --Bishop Douglas I. Miles, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) In 2007, we in Maryland expanded health care coverage to over 100,000 Marylanders because Vinny DeMarco built a powerful grassroots coalition that made sure legislators knew that the people wanted expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare. Vinny built the same kind of coalitions to strengthen Maryland's gun laws and reduce teen smoking. As I have, all of us can learn from Vinny how to transform public will into political power. --Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley The DeMarco Factoris a must-read for these challenging times. It shows us how to bring people into the fold, rather than just folding. --Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Washington Post When it comes to the science and art of media advocacy--approaching the media in ways that propel your issue forward--Vinny DeMarco has 'written the book.' Except that Vinny has shown us all how it's done, and Mike Pertschuk has written the book. From his varied and exquisitely sensitive uses of carefully wrought polling to gaining the trust and access to the media; from inventing newsworthy events to making certain that the coverage of those events broadcasts his core messages to legislators, Vinny, in the book, demonstrates how it's done right, and Mike Pertschuk wraps it up in a lively package that both delights and teaches us. No advocate who wants to make change happen can afford to miss The DeMarco Factor. --Celinda Lake, progressive pollster; President, Lake Research The DeMarco Factor is the engrossing tale of a once powerless American building power for himself and others to curb entrenched hitherto undefeated commercial interests. This is a teaching, motivating book for all who aspire to shape a just and humane society, but do not know how. --Ralph Nader Michael Pertschuk has spent his life battling for ordinary Americans against the moneyed interests in Washington--and, along the way, has energized and mobilized countless numbers of ordinary Americans for that same battle. It's the only hope we have. Read this and don your armor. --Robert Reich Like that old Saturday Night Live routine about one person as invincible legend, Vinny DeMarco is the 'Ditka' of local grassroots organizing. My old adversary, the National Rifle Association, spends millions of dollars on slick campaigns and has lobbyists in $4,000 suits, but Vinny beats them with pocket change while wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh tie. Would-be advocates for the public interest and frustrated citizens who fear they don't have a voice will take heart from this book and learn not to fear the most powerful lobbies and beat them instead. --Sarah Brady I have known and worked with Vinny DeMarco for more than twenty-five years. In all that time he has been motivated by an unfailing passion for justice combined with an extraordinary ability to make others want to join him in action to achieve justice. They trust him because they know he's in it for the long haul, not just the day. He will do most of the work, then give them all the credit. His deep knowledge of history, which he never displays, guides him and helps make him a true leader. The lively campaign stories in this book capture the essence of that leadership. --Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor An essential guide for every citizen frustrated with the power of big lobbies to derail progressive laws that are supported by the vast majority of Americans. Vinny DeMarco is a conscientious legislator's dream. When you fight for a bill that Vinny has organized on, you know that the power of the special interests opposing you is shrinking away. --Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

I've never met a more authentic person. There is no pretense; there is no put-on with Vinny. He's an extraordinarily compassionate, committed person, a very bright person, and one who knows how to get things done. The faith community in Maryland and across the country has benefited greatly from Vinny's uncanny ability to mobilize us behind life-saving public health policies. --Bishop Douglas I. Miles, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) In 2007, we in Maryland expanded health care coverage to over 100,000 Marylanders because Vinny DeMarco built a powerful grassroots coalition that made sure legislators knew that the people wanted expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare. Vinny built the same kind of coalitions to strengthen Maryland's gun laws and reduce teen smoking. As I have, all of us can learn from Vinny how to transform public will into political power. --Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley Like that old Saturday Night Live routine about one person as invincible legend, Vinny DeMarco is the 'Ditka' of local grassroots organizing. My old adversary, the National Rifle Association, spends millions of dollars on slick campaigns and has lobbyists in $4,000 suits, but Vinny beats them with pocket change while wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh tie. Would-be advocates for the public interest and frustrated citizens who fear they don't have a voice will take heart from this book and learn not to fear the most powerful lobbies and beat them instead. --Sarah Brady When it comes to the science and art of media advocacy--approaching the media in ways that propel your issue forward--Vinny DeMarco has 'written the book.' Except that Vinny has shown us all how it's done, and Mike Pertschuk has written the book. From his varied and exquisitely sensitive uses of carefully wrought polling to gaining the trust and access to the media; from inventing newsworthy events to making certain that the coverage of those events broadcasts his core messages to legislators, Vinny, in the book, demonstrates how it's done right, and Mike Pertschuk wraps it up in a lively package that both delights and teaches us. No advocate who wants to make change happen can afford to miss The DeMarco Factor. --Celinda Lake, progressive pollster; President, Lake Research I have known and worked with Vinny DeMarco for more than twenty-five years. In all that time he has been motivated by an unfailing passion for justice combined with an extraordinary ability to make others want to join him in action to achieve justice. They trust him because they know he's in it for the long haul, not just the day. He will do most of the work, then give them all the credit. His deep knowledge of history, which he never displays, guides him and helps make him a true leader. The lively campaign stories in this book capture the essence of that leadership. --Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor An essential guide for every citizen frustrated with the power of big lobbies to derail progressive laws that are supported by the vast majority of Americans. Vinny DeMarco is a conscientious legislator's dream. When you fight for a bill that Vinny has organized on, you know that the power of the special interests opposing you is shrinking away. --Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee The DeMarco Factoris a must-read for these challenging times. It shows us how to bring people into the fold, rather than just folding. --Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Washington Post The DeMarco Factor is the engrossing tale of a once powerless American building power for himself and others to curb entrenched hitherto undefeated commercial interests. This is a teaching, motivating book for all who aspire to shape a just and humane society, but do not know how. --Ralph Nader Michael Pertschuk has spent his life battling for ordinary Americans against the moneyed interests in Washington--and, along the way, has energized and mobilized countless numbers of ordinary Americans for that same battle. It's the only hope we have. Read this and don your armor. --Robert Reich

I've never met a more authentic person. There is no pretense; there is no put-on with Vinny. He's an extraordinarily compassionate, committed person, a very bright person, and one who knows how to get things done. The faith community in Maryland and across the country has benefited greatly from Vinny's uncanny ability to mobilize us behind life-saving public health policies. --Bishop Douglas I. Miles, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) In 2007, we in Maryland expanded health care coverage to over 100,000 Marylanders because Vinny DeMarco built a powerful grassroots coalition that made sure legislators knew that the people wanted expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare. Vinny built the same kind of coalitions to strengthen Maryland's gun laws and reduce teen smoking. As I have, all of us can learn from Vinny how to transform public will into political power. --Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley The DeMarco Factoris a must-read for these challenging times. It shows us how to bring people into the fold, rather than just folding. --Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Washington Post Like that old Saturday Night Live routine about one person as invincible legend, Vinny DeMarco is the 'Ditka' of local grassroots organizing. My old adversary, the National Rifle Association, spends millions of dollars on slick campaigns and has lobbyists in $4,000 suits, but Vinny beats them with pocket change while wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh tie. Would-be advocates for the public interest and frustrated citizens who fear they don't have a voice will take heart from this book and learn not to fear the most powerful lobbies and beat them instead. --Sarah Brady I have known and worked with Vinny DeMarco for more than twenty-five years. In all that time he has been motivated by an unfailing passion for justice combined with an extraordinary ability to make others want to join him in action to achieve justice. They trust him because they know he's in it for the long haul, not just the day. He will do most of the work, then give them all the credit. His deep knowledge of history, which he never displays, guides him and helps make him a true leader. The lively campaign stories in this book capture the essence of that leadership. --Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor When it comes to the science and art of media advocacy--approaching the media in ways that propel your issue forward--Vinny DeMarco has 'written the book.' Except that Vinny has shown us all how it's done, and Mike Pertschuk has written the book. From his varied and exquisitely sensitive uses of carefully wrought polling to gaining the trust and access to the media; from inventing newsworthy events to making certain that the coverage of those events broadcasts his core messages to legislators, Vinny, in the book, demonstrates how it's done right, and Mike Pertschuk wraps it up in a lively package that both delights and teaches us. No advocate who wants to make change happen can afford to miss The DeMarco Factor. --Celinda Lake, progressive pollster; President, Lake Research The DeMarco Factor is the engrossing tale of a once powerless American building power for himself and others to curb entrenched hitherto undefeated commercial interests. This is a teaching, motivating book for all who aspire to shape a just and humane society, but do not know how. --Ralph Nader An essential guide for every citizen frustrated with the power of big lobbies to derail progressive laws that are supported by the vast majority of Americans. Vinny DeMarco is a conscientious legislator's dream. When you fight for a bill that Vinny has organized on, you know that the power of the special interests opposing you is shrinking away. --Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Michael Pertschuk has spent his life battling for ordinary Americans against the moneyed interests in Washington--and, along the way, has energized and mobilized countless numbers of ordinary Americans for that same battle. It's the only hope we have. Read this and don your armor. --Robert Reich

-In 2007, we in Maryland expanded health care coverage to over 100,000 Marylanders because Vinny DeMarco built a powerful grassroots coalition that made sure legislators knew that the people wanted expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare. Vinny built the same kind of coalitions to strengthen Maryland's gun laws and reduce teen smoking. As I have, all of us can learn from Vinny how to transform public will into political power.- --Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley

<i>The DeMarco Factor</i>is a must-read for these challenging times. It shows us how to bring people into the fold, rather than just folding. --Katrina vanden Heuvel, <i>The Washington Post</i>

Author Information

Michael Pertschuk has had a long and distinguished career in public health advocacy: as consumer counsel and ultimately chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, from 1965 to 1976; as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, from 1977 to 1984; and as co-founder and co-director of the Advocacy Institute. His previous books include Revolt against Regulation, Giant Killers, and, with Wendy Schaetzel, The People Rising.

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