At a recent lunch, three experienced African-American lobbyists -- Robert Drummer of Drummer & Associates; Ainsley Gill, who runs his own lobbying firm, Ainsley Gill and Associates; and Julius Hobson of Powell Goldstein -- said that although connections to prominent Democrats can be an advantage, minorities should be wary of identifying too closely with just one party. All three K-Streeters are registered independents. When they were on the Hill, Drummer and Hobson worked for Democrats -- Drummer for Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., and Hobson for then-Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va.

Hobson says that a black lobbyist can't assume that he'll only work with Democrats or CBC members. "If that's your perception, you're on the floor, waiting for the crumbs to fall off the table." Hobson says that when he worked at the American Medical Association, a senior staffer who dealt with the Georgia congressional delegation quit the summer before the 1994 midterm elections. "I inherited Newt Gingrich. When the Republicans took over the majority after the election, who do you think [worked with] the Republican leadership for the AMA in the House? I did."

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