Execs can't win in testifying on Capitol Hill

Toyota's president is likely to learn what other corporate kings have when appearing at congressional hearings.

By Kathleen Hennessey and Walter Hamilton
LA Times
9:14 PM PST, February 23, 2010

Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington

When Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corp., testifies Wednesday before the House's oversight committee about his company's massive recall efforts, he'll probably learn a lesson many other powerful top executives have figured out the hard way.

The televised hearing is theater, and the corporate chief is not the hero.

"The purpose of these hearings is to grill these people, to use them, essentially, as props to make a policy or political point. You are there to be a fish in a barrel," said Jack Quinn, who as White House counsel for President Bill Clinton testified before Congress and now advises corporate clients on the fine art of being an easy target.

Quinn's firm, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, is one of several with expertise in preparing congressional witnesses, evidence of the prevailing wisdom that a good hearing on Capitol Hill isn't too bad -- but a bad hearing can haunt a company for years.

(More here.)