DRUDGE BACKGROUNDER: Gephardt Senior Campaign Aide Joyce Aboussie
By: Administrative Account | Source: Drudge Report
December 3, 2003 4:12PM EST

DRUDGE BACKGROUNDER: Gephardt Senior Campaign Aide Joyce Aboussie
Wed Dec 03 2003 15:58:57 ET

Two powerful union leaders are demanding that Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) fire one of his top aides after she allegedly threatened to retaliate against their unions if they campaign for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in Missouri.

She is: Joyce Aboussie.

Joyce Aboussie was a volunteer for Gephardt’s 1976 campaign for Congress, and served as an intern for Gephardt in 1977. She worked on Gephardt’s 1978 reelection campaign, and has been involved in every reelection campaign from that point forward. Aboussie was the Missouri campaign manager for Gephardt’s 1988 presidential run. Her ties to Gephardt run long and deep. One political veteran says that Aboussie is “the gatekeeper for Gephardt on a lot of local issues.” She not only “has Gephardt’s ear in matters large and small,” but she also “has control over who has access to that ear.” One St. Louis City Hall “lifer” says Aboussie has Gephardt’s influence, but not his oversight.

Roll Call says Aboussie’s effort to keep Gephardt in touch with his constituents is “a crucial component” of his presidential efforts. Donna Brazile attributed Gephardt’s 1988 Iowa victory to Aboussie.

Aboussie has managed or consulted on numerous campaigns in Missouri, including Bob Holden’s gubernatorial race. Aboussie’s style combines “a mean streak with a powerful ability to get the job done.” An unnamed political operative said Aboussie has “her fingers deep into the pie and will cut you off, and you will know it was her. She’ll hurt you.” Another operative notes, Aboussie will make someone pay a price if she’s crossed, “which is usually your complete and utter destruction.”

Aboussie is president and owner of Telephone Contact Inc (TCI), a political-consulting firm that does polling and compiles frequent voter lists, which are then sold to political campaigns. Aboussie’s relationship with Gephardt and her ownership of TCI have been called a conflict of interest. Some say that Aboussie will say she’s “completely independent of Gephardt” when wanting to take on a given client or cause, but will do the opposite for those with whom she doesn’t want to be involved, saying to do so “would be against Gephardt’s interests.”

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