WTF!?! Forget Colombia! Mark Penn's lobbying shop is headed by John McCain's top adviser!

[berni_mccoy]

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/02/mark-penns-lobb.html

Update, April 6, 2008: The Clinton campaign today announced that Mark Penn would take a less visible role within the campaign. Also, last week Charlie Black resigned from Penn's firm to go work for McCain full-time.

Let's say that the Democratic nomination battle had been winnowed down to two candidates, and that one of those two candidates (let's call him Barack Obama) was a huge favorite to win. Meanwhile, the GOP nominee has been all but decided. (We'll call him John McCain.)

Now let's imagine that Obama's opponent (we'll call her Hillary Clinton) was desperately slinging every piece of mud she could at him without regard to whether or not her attacks would help John McCain.

Finally, imagine that you found out that Clinton's chief strategist was not only her campaign's leading advocate for these attacks -- but was also the CEO of a public affairs firm whose DC-based lobbying subsidiary was headed up by John McCain's top adviser.

Would you say this posed at least the appearance of a conflict of interest for the strategist in question?

What would you think if you found out that it's all true?

Well, it is true.

Hillary Clinton's chief strategist is Mark Penn, and Charlie Black, John McCain's top adviser, is chairman of BKSH, the DC-based lobbying subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller -- of which Mark Penn is CEO.

Much...much...more at the link.

[Andy823]

1. It just keeps getting better!

No wonder Hillary and her camp have been saying so many "nice" things about McCain!:crazy:

[MindMatter]

62. And people get pissed when it is suggested there is no difference between Dems and the GOP

Well, there isn't a hell of a lot of difference between Hillary, Lieberman, Evan Bayh, the rest of the DNCers, and the GOP.

I mean, in what universe could it be considered normal for Matalin and Carville to be married? Talk about a cynical contempt for the intelligence of the public. These DINOs don't even ACT like they are an opposition party.

Fortunately these people are not the Democratic Party. We are the Party, and this is the year when we fully wrestle control back. Only then will people see a Democratic Party that isn't fully interchangeable with the GOP, only a lot less competent.

[berni_mccoy]

64. You're close... but not Right. Substitute DLC for DNC and then you've got it

The DLC has been sabotaging the DNC for decades now.

[MindMatter]

86. Sorry. My mistake

That's what I meant. Typing too fast, I guess.

[InfiniteNether]

75. Yeah, I had a feeling Penn was a neocon.

[King Coal]

77. Next? I'll tell ya. The Clintons will be found to be heavily invested in defense and arms firms.

[anigbrowl]

2. Look, what does this have to do with the fact that Hillary would be ahead if we used RNC rules?

Well? WELL?!

[Life Long Dem]

5. It's unbelievable but felt Hillary was helping McSame long ago with the Bill Clinton video

on McSame's site.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

26. and if my Grandmother had wheels, Hillary would be president

but my Grandmother does not have wheels.

[PoliticalAmazon]

43. As my mother used to say..."If I had that man's Mercedes and he had a feather up his butt...

...we'd both be tickled."

[Forkboy]

53. I would have liked your mother I bet.

:rofl:

[AldebTX]

81. But we don't

But we aren't republicans and we don't use their rules.

[FrenchieCat]

3. As the world turns.....the "vetted" Clintons become less and less of a mystery.

but there is so much dirt under those covers, once you go in, you may not find your way out.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. LOL!

[redqueen]

4. God Almighty...

:puke:

[quantass]

6. LOL! THis is crazy!!! Gotta go make more popcorn -- helluva movie

:popcorn:

[berni_mccoy]

17. heh. You said it!

[cliffordu]

24. Wait for me, I LOVE popcorn!!!

:popcorn:

[libnnc]

8. *sigh* kick

It's over Hillary.

[quantass]

9. k^r

[tekisui]

10. And Hillary is still employing him!

[mod mom]

74. It's ok-he's not "Chief Strategist" only "Advisor"

:sarcasm:

[BuyingThyme]

11. What kind of stuff d'ya guys think Penn is doing for Hillary now?

Painting signs? Getting the coffee? Murdering union members in Colombia?

[berni_mccoy]

12. I'm all for him staying in her campaign: he's a failure and an albatross around her neck.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

27. his main job - divert media from Clinton tax returns, pretend to appease unions

when his own firm, Burson-Marsteller is known for its Union busting work.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. Y'know, at the outset when there are 20 candidates out there you might >

> accept that 2 hotshots from one big deal agency and/or its subsidiaries might wind up advising for 2 different campaigns. But half a year later when the field is down to 1 repub and 2 Democrats, someone on one side or the other should have been let go. McCain and Clinton are equally unethical on this one.

[Az_lefty]

14. it's all connected....sorry, but the clinton's have to go.

[jordi_fanclub]

15. k&r

:popcorn: :popcorn:

[TBF]

80. k&r - more popcorn please!

:toast:

[Barack_America]

16. Blech. Washington is so incestuous.

It's really sickening.

[crankychatter]

18. gawud I need a shower

ewwwwww

[berni_mccoy]

20. LOL

[tekisui]

19. And Hillary still owes him $2.5 Million!!!

[Recursion]

78. BREAKING: Hillary Clinton trying to bankrupt McCain's top advisor!

I always try to look on the bright side.

[BlueIdaho]

21. Really nothings broke in DC - everything works just fine there... Really... nt.

[myrna minx]

22. Oh, good lord.

This has to be the most mis-managed campaign I've ever seen.

[berni_mccoy]

23. It gets more incredible every day. Imagine what a General Election campaign would be like for her.

[PoliticalAmazon]

45. Nuclear train wreck? n/t

[berni_mccoy]

48. You are on a roll tonight!

[quantass]

25. kicked for being a great story

[zulchzulu]

28. You want a graphic?

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_QRFwK_r34

[berni_mccoy]

40. Very nice. Thank you. We need to get this story in the MSM.

[catgirl]

29. And check this one out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5421060

Clinton ties to Colombia don't stop with Penn.

[DrFunkenstein]

31. That's Nothing. Check Out The Real Mind Blower

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5419716

[berni_mccoy]

34. WTH! It's so incredible and even more dirt is suddenly being uncovered!

[PoliticalAmazon]

46. Mark my word, James Carville will be linked to this. n/t

[Zhade]

69. CHALABI???

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

[babsbunny]

30. Keith Olbermann!

:bounce:

[berni_mccoy]

32. I'm missing it, what are they saying?

[biggerfishsmallpond]

33. This is why Clinton SHOULDN'T drop out

the longer she stays in, the more dirt, lies, deception, green, deceit and duplicity is exposed, aired and opened for all to see.

A few more weeks of this and the DLC, the corporatists and DINOs power within the party will be dramatically reduced.
They will have a choice, join the revolution or join the Republicans.

[berni_mccoy]

35. After this incredible series of info, I think she's toast.

And presently, the toast is on fire.

[GoldieAZ49]

36. PR firms are not political partisans

and they are involved with companies besides political parties

I don't get why anyone thinks there is no crossovers between parties, or are shocked that there is

Party affiliation is not the end all be all of a person

[berni_mccoy]

38. Oh, here we go. So, it's expected then. Right, I'm sure David Plouffe isa RW Tool too.

NOT.

[SOS]

63. PR firms are not, campaigns are

The fact that Penn shills for Blackwater, subprime mortgage vampires and Colombian free trade is his business.
It is Clinton's business to make sure this blatant conflict of interest is not a part of her political campaign.

[Zhade]

70. You're never heard of a CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

Fucking seriously?

[uponit7771]

37. I've not even gone through the post I just know I didn't trust Hillary's advisors from the beginning

...because they were trying to lean right when it would've done her no good.

[Duder]

39. Imagine...

Why Hillary was never my favorite candidate.

[shellgame26]

41. A caller on the Randi Rhodes show

mentioned the Penn/Mccain connection a few weeks back. Remember Randi Rhodes? All this time she was free to criticize Bush without fear of reprisal until she DARED to criticize Hillary Clinton. I never would've thought it would be someone supposedly on our side who would bring us down.

[ClayZ]

42. Spring Cleaning! K and R

[PoliticalAmazon]

44. Sweet Baby in the manger! When she goes neocon, SHE GOES NEOCON! n/t

[berni_mccoy]

47. Snicker. That response made the Catholic in me LOL.

[unkachuck]

49. cozy, very cozy....and, kick....

[antigop]

50. Who's lobbying for FISA for AT&T?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2956109

[berni_mccoy]

51. Very nice find. Thanks for the link!

[ORDem]

52. K

:kick:

[berni_mccoy]

54. kick for the morning crowd

[cyberpj]

55. K&R to keep it UP. nt

[berni_mccoy]

56. Thanks for giving it visibility.

[JayFredMuggs]

57. I can't tell whether I am living in 2008 or maybe I'm some...

character in a Kafka play, or reading Alice Through the Looking Glass.

This Clinton Presidential campaign is definitely something from the theater of the absurd or a Lewis Carrol novel.

[berni_mccoy]

58. LOL. I love Lewis Carrol.

[berni_mccoy]

59. LOL. I love Lewis Carrol.

[uponit7771]

60. Someone will write a REALLY good book about this election cycle

[berni_mccoy]

61. Maybe Clinton will be able to pay off her campaign debt with the book proceeds.

[FlyingSquirrel]

65. I would like to recommend......

That this remain on the front page for awhile.

Wow.

[berni_mccoy]

66. Thank you.

[Maine-ah]

67. K&R

[Zhade]

68. Yet more evidence for the clinton-is-conservative docket.

Add in her lies, machinations and decidedly illiberal stances on everything from NAFTA to the war, and it's pretty clear she's pulled the wool over the eyes of her dwindling supporters.

[SlingBlade]

71. Clinton has learned well

She accuses others of what she herself does.
While her husband plays golf with Bush Sr.
She does her best Republican impersonation, And she has all but endorsed
McCain a Republican over a fellow Democrat, Obama.

This wont go unnoticed in the General Election by the Repukes
But then I believe that is the intent.

Fuck all Repukes, Even the one's that call themselves Democrats.
:dem:

[Kurovski]

72. I think it's time for The Clintons to do a Lieberman.

Well past time.

Or, Sen. Clinton would also make an excellent Republican in the manner of an Olympia Snowe.

[Major Hogwash]

73. Charlie Black, wasn't he a GOP finance chairman at one time?

I knew he was Penn's boss, but what is his history with the GOP?

[ladywnch]

76. it makes perfect business sense. Hillary was thought to be the

nominee last year enter Mark Penn. McCain is now the GOP nominee so, put someone on his campaign. NOw your assured that no matter who wins, you company has an inside tract. No one counted on there being another Dem candidate in the mix this late in the game. It's just good business.

[formercia]

79. It's not a conflict of interest

if they are really all on the same corporate lackey team.


Hillary is a Trojan Horse.

[David Zephyr]

82. K&R.

:thumbsup:

[Phred42]

83. Rather Incestous isn't it.......... Can you say OLIGARCHY?

I knew you could......

This explains why Bill and Hill have been promoting McCain as a better President than Obama.

How the hell can anyone still support this?

[IsItJustMe]

84. One of those light bulb moments. Scary what they are doing to the Democratic Party.

[bagrman]

85. Just different sides of the same coin.