Google guy stumbles in DC

Sergey Brin came to Washington. He was dressed like an amateur. Some lawmakers treated him like one, too.

Wearing blue jeans, silver mesh sneakers and a black T-shirt and jacket, according to the Washington Post, the co-founder of Google found  that while he may be a multi-billionaire, he's nobody to some on Capitol Hill.   Four Senators passed on meetings to discuss Net Neutrality, the newspaper reported.   He was able to talk with four others including McCain, Smith (R.-Ore.), Dorgan and Obama.

Brin took the rebuffs in stride, saying his visit was kind of spontaneous. "It wasn't very well organized I apologize.  It was a last minute trip."   Although he did show up in this button-down town dressed more like an airplane maintenance man than the owner of a Boeing 767, he shouldn't take all the responsibility for the failure of the slap-dash fly-in.

He's got people here, but whether they're working and effective is now a question.  Google is, most likely, spending millions, to show its face and push its position in the Capitol.  There are four people in the DC office. Plus there is a contract with the 25-person lobbying firm PodestaMattoon.  In late March, this "top lobbying firm" touted  its being hired by Google. 

Not much bang for those bucks yesterday, Brin.

Disclaimer: I own shares of Google.

Comments

[jack katz]

he got what he deserved.
he should have dressed properly.
he was not going to the gym or to his office. he was going to the US Senate, and the proper dress is called for. i think his dress, or lack of it, showed a lack of respect for the senate and the senators.
ggod article

jack katz

new york

[jennie marigold]

If dapper and elegant dressing is all that matters,Washington surely is going to the dogs. Except for a handful few,bad taste,bad suits,ties,color coordination is the norm.
On the other hand Serge Briney.......... is a Calirfornian,in his 20's and in case you forgot a genius,just like Bill Gates !!in the 70's.He's got more brain,vision and passion than you will find in most of our politicians
Let me also add the journalist who wrote this column is a bird brain himself,
Do I own any goog shares,unfortunately no!!Missed on the Ipo.
Jennie Marigold

[ash]

Don't judge a book by it's cover. This goes for the senators as well as the Co-founder of Google. The senators and the author who judge people by what they wear are morons. Those senators are professional politicians and cannot accomplish a fraction of what Sergey has created.
I am from califoria and I dress similarly, and I am offended by what the writer of the article implies about "dress codes". Get a clue - a person's ability should not be judged by his clothes, looks, age or skin color. Doing so is called "Discrimination".

[Frank Barnako]

Maybe I am a bird brain ... I bought the shares at $405. Now they're $389.

Frank

[mark jones]

Google did evil, several times over. Their latest admission regarding the China deal and now this in D.C. Shows that money can't buy experience.

[Wade Souza]

Honolulu,HI

Perhaps he needs to learn like the aforementioned Mr. Gates, if you want to play in DC, you need to get with the program, culture, "MO". The "currency" of influence and "power peddling" is money, status, "what can you do for me", who you know, if your idea meshes with my needs/politics! MS ignored DC and lobbying, flopped similarly and learned fast. Brin needs to do the same and if he is truly smart he will learn quickly. Other than his own states reps, the rest of Congress will only care if there is something in it for them....just look at who met with him and you will understand. Especially with the more senior members(i.e 50+, non CA. reps they may see no benefit for being involved with him and probably be insulted because of the way he presented himself, last minute, no "uniform" et). Maybe his PR firm is NOT "akamai", smart as we say OR maybe he didnt listen to them? If he wants to "play" he needs to learn the game....its the way it is, pragmatic fact!

[Norman]

Next time, Brim should precede visits with gifts of campaign contribution and see how quickly venus fly-trap doors open! Doesn't Brin know the $$$$$$$$ etiquet of DC?

[William Morgan]

He should dress for the occasion. Did anyone notice Bill Gates started dressing better after he got married? He's a young man with more importnat things on his mind, but these Washington big-wigs who don't know how to put a suit and tie together with the right colors and fit half the time, should not snub a billionaire who's changing the world. They should have been gratious, met with him and taken him asside to gently advise he might think about where and who he is now. I'd rather be in jeans too - and am when not working -but when I dress I do so better than anyone I meet with not because I can but because how I dress opens the doors and makes the first impressions they need to believe I'm a serious player and trust me (stupid reason, I admit, but that's how the world works). It's your calling card no matter who you are.

[TOM KARAMUS]

WHY SHOULD ANYONE TAKE A BUSINESSMAN WITH AN "AGENDA" SERIOUS ON AN ISSUE AS IMPORTANT AS "NET NEUTRALITY". SAVVY LAWMAKERS KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET AN HONEST OPINION IS TO ASK AN "EDUCATOR" WITHOUT A STOCK OPTION OR A GOLDEN PARACHUTE. BUSINESS LEADERS, IN GENERAL, HAVE BECOME SO BLINDED BY GREED LATELY THAT SOCIETY CONSIDERS THEM A "JOKE" AS EVIDENCED LATELY BY FUND ACTIONS, LAWMAKER ACTIONS AND INVESTOR ACTIONS ON RECENT INTERNET IPO'S .... NOT TO MENTION THE 2001 INTERNET STOCK MELTDOWN. FORGET ABOUT THE WARDROBE, LET'S LOOK AT THE CREDIBILITY TRACK-RECORD.

[Sasha]

Sadly, this is yet another social faux pas for Google. Brin should've stayed in CA and let Schmidt or Kordestani lobby in DC. Every time Sergey opens his mouth, I lose that much more respect for Google.