Fox News Channel - Your World with Neil Cavuto: Mike Paul, President, MGP & Associates PR –Interview Regarding Bank of America Illegal Immigrant Crisis

Fox News Channel
February 19, 2007

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Meanwhile, as I mentioned, we have been trying, repeatedly, to get someone, anyone, from Bank of America to come on this show to discuss the program for days now. Since then, there have been calls for a boycott and an investigation -- one guy even cutting up his bank card on this show. Remember that?

Well, is Bank of America making a mistake by not speaking out and simply answering questions?

With us now is Mike Paul. Mike is a crisis management consultant extraordinaire.

What about that, just -- just do just that...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: ... come on shows like mine and talk?

MIKE PAUL, PRESIDENT, MGP & ASSOCIATES PR: Well, I think that they're making a big mistake by not responding to the opinion of the public.

It's not just an elected official who is upset about this. There are various consumers and there are various people that are utilizing their services and those who are thinking about utilizing their services who are very upset.

CAVUTO: Well, I think they have weighed all of this, Mike. And they said, well, you know, we might get a few people cutting up their cards.

But it obviously hasn't occurred in the volume or to the degree that would compromise their -- their strategy.

PAUL: And, if I were counseling them right now, I would say that volume takes time. Every day that it is in the news, that volume will grow. And your brand is getting mud thrown on it every single day that you're not responding, openly, honestly, directly to the question: Is this something that you are trying to target, the illegal -- the illegals that are in the United States of America, with your product?

CAVUTO: Are they thinking the American people, then, Mike are agreeing with them that this is not targeted at illegals, so that they're getting the better part of this P.R. debate?

PAUL: I think there's two things that's going on.

Number one, I think that the P.R. and the corporate communications, sadly, is being led by the legal department, which I think is a mistake. You have to weigh both the court of law and the court of public opinion.

And I also think that they have studied it from a political perspective, and said: You know what? There are those in this country who agree with the immigration issue from one side, and those who agree with it from another. We will take our chances.

CAVUTO: We will take our chances.

All right, now, we should tell you that the bank did come out with another statement today, if we could just show that. Essentially, what they're saying is: "The issue of customers' citizenship is not any bank's focus. Compliance with any government required documentation is our concern", which is effectively saying: Look, this is not illegal. If you have got some proof, with a taxpayer I.D., that sort of thing, that is good enough. You're off to the races. We have done our due diligence.

PAUL: That is a classic example of legalese.

You're trying to reach the masses. Allow the corporate communications department to do their job. I'm sure there is a great staff there that isn't getting even in the room at times with some of these discussions. And that's a shame. It is their job to be reporting directly to the CEO and to the board of directions -- board of directors -- excuse me.

I also think that the board is going to get very active within the next week. My prediction is, within the next week, the more that they're getting phone calls directly, and being associated with it -- this is also ego-led. You know what? Enough, guys. Time for us to do something about it.

CAVUTO: Yes. But, you know, I look at things as a tempest in a teapot. If it stays just a tempest and doesn't explode the teapot, most institutions decide to live and let live.

I think it grows when it appears to have grown. And if it is limited, that a number of customers haven't quit, or that it hasn't had a deleterious P.R. effect on them, to the degree that many of them feared, I think everything stays the same.

PAUL: That is one perspective.

The other perspective is, how many times do you have to read a negative story on the front page of a major newspaper or to be on cable news, a program like yourself...

CAVUTO: But the newspapers have dropped it. Other cable stations have dropped it. We stick with it, but I got to tell you, Mike, the other have dropped it. It ain't a story anymore.

PAUL: Well, there are local groups that are continuing it.

CAVUTO: Yes.

PAUL: And how many voices are too much?

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: If you have a customer who is unsatisfied, it is time to listen to them.

I also want to bring up another very important point.

CAVUTO: Really quickly.

PAUL: There are competitors who are going to utilize this information against them. It's not just news organizations...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: Unless the competitors are also doing the same thing.

PAUL: Well, there are some competitors...

CAVUTO: OK.

PAUL: ... who are not, who are going to say: Choose our bank. Trust us. This is a bank that is not trustworthy right now.

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: If you don't agree with them, come to us.

CAVUTO: Yes.

And, also, answer the questions. That is -- that is all. Some of the best and brightest do just that. They come on and they answer the questions. And, you know, they do OK afterwards.

We will see.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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Copyright: Fox News Network, Inc. 2007