James Carville Advising Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan Presidential Candidate

Afghanistan is set to hold its presidential election on August 20, and the leading challenger to President Hamid Karzai, a former finance minister and bureaucrat Ashraf Ghani, is taking some guidance from U.S. campaigns.

Last week, U.S. News & World Report noted that Ghani has "embarked on an Internet fundraising campaign modeled on that run by President Obama."

The plan, says one American campaign consultant, is to appeal to "relatively young people outside the country" through a Web drive aimed at expatriates who have been contributing an average of $10 to $20. Campaign workers say that though these émigrés cannot vote, they wield not only cash but also substantial influence. "Most of them support families in Afghanistan, and those families see them with respect," says one Ghani volunteer in Kabul. "That respect influences their decision.

The U.S. News report also noted that Ghani's campaign had been in talks with Democratic political consultant James Carville. Bloomberg News reports today that Carville is headed to Afghanistan for initial strategy talks:

Carville said his advisory role to former Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani shouldn't be interpreted as tacit backing by the U.S. for a change of leadership in Afghanistan. In an interview before leaving for Kabul, Carville said he hadn't discussed his trip with [Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton, and was going for an exploratory visit as a private consultant.

Comments

[Durango]

yeah, since we are such a great democratic model for the rest of the world.

Copying Presidnet Obama's campaign? Give me a break.

Anyone informed Carville that many if not most parts of Afghanistan don't have electricity lets lone being wired for internet.

Carville and all other Americans should just butt out. We are not a good model for democracy. Our election camaigns are an international disgrace.

[sosi]

Exporting such political animals could seriously undermine the reputation of US exporting industry...

[DietrichMoody]

Why do I feel like showering, after reading this article...­........Ic­ky.

[BannedNBoston]

Carville was caught raising money for a GOP candidate (Jewish)
"We do that sometimes if the candidate is worthy"

A news item HP wont touch why?
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/660.html

[Akindles]

I am a liberal, but I simply cannot stand that guy or his wife for that matter.

[SiberianRat]

Is this ethical?

[Paladine]

That's just funny!

[mawied]

I hope Carville is better at advising Afghan politicians than he is with Americans.

[Witkacy]

Have anyone seen the documentary film "Our Brand Is Crisis"? If not, take a look, and you'll see what great, "effective" services Carville-t­he-paid-co­nsultant gives, for the money! The blackboard presentation scene is the best LOLOL

Along with our other insubstantial junk products, we in the U.S. are also exporting junk consultation (aka hucksterism) in the simulacrum of democratic government. What a joke.

[grn1]

That makes you wanna cry

[fifty8]

I think Carvilles head is one of the missing "crystal skulls".

[cadbury]

Not sure I see the problem with this. Carville is a private citizen, not a member of the government. And if his involvement helps to facilitate a real electoral contest in the political mess that is Afghanistan, I say "Go for it!"

[grn1]

Ya that would explain why bibi and shimon were regulars on our news channels a few years back

[TXfemmom]

I hope someone better than Karzai wins. Karzai has been weak, ineffective, and has permitted corruption to run rampant.

[paulfromportland]

It's the poppies, stupid.

[who38]

Good one. I thought he was just following the money.

[whodoyouvoodoo]

I nominate Carville for Afghan president.

[PKatherine]

how nice of u

[countfloyd]

Apparently he didn't get the word from Obama that Americans shouldn't get involved in other countries elections given our past roles in coups and puppet governments.