The (Ex) Washington Realist

So what exactly does it mean to be a "foreign policy advisor" to a candidate?

Senator Obama had this to say about former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who in the press has been identified as an "advisor" to the candidate, to a gathering in Cleveland over the weekend:

"He's not one of my key advisers. I've had lunch with him once. I've exchanged e-mails with him maybe three times. He came to Iowa to introduce ... for a speech on Iraq."

(Coverage of that Iraq speech from last September from an outlet that might be deemed less than sympathetic to either Obama or Brzezinski).

This doesn't sound like ongoing contact. But is the definition of an advisor predicated upon frequency of contact?

The official record--which can be accessed via TNI's Foreign Policy Advisors Index, is that the former NSA has endorsed Senator Obama; there is no mention of any official campaign role. Intermediaries have sometimes suggested that Brzezinski has been consulted by Obama only on questions related to Iraq and not larger foreign policy questions.

What we are seeing again is the shadowy usage of terms meant to enhance or conceal relationships as they prove advantageous or disadvantageous. A campaign has official spokesmen who represent the candidate and speak for the candidate, that is clear. "Advisor" is more nebulous. Does it imply, as HRC supporter Congressman Eliot Engel told the Sun, "People are going to say if you are advising Obama, you are representing Obama"? Can a candidate consult with people without having to take responsibility for everything that person says or stands for?

On the flip side, however, is the use of "lists" and "endorsements" as a way to enhance a candidate's own standing. It certainly helped a junior senator to have two former national security advisors endorsing him and certifying that he was qualified. It also raises questions about who exactly is a foreign policy expert and how expertise is determined and its relevance to a campaign, a subject Dan Drezner has been discussing in depth.