More on Mark Penn’s Demise


April 7th, 2008

This Monday morning brings more information about the demise of Mark Penn. What started as a conflict of interest story with Penn lobbying the Colombian government on a trade deal Clinton disagrees with, has blossomed into a full window view of the world within team Clinton.

First from ABC News:

Sources said that the Clintons were angry to learn about Penn’s work, especially because they had been told that Penn had recused himself from controversial clients and would restrict his private work.

Though Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said, “After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign,” sources told ABC News Penn was pushed.

The New York Times reports “Mrs. Clinton was said to be furious when she learned that he was employed by and consulting with the Colombians on the trade treaty.”

Also from the ABC News piece:

The work a Burson Marsteller subsidiary did for controversial war contractor Blackwater, and Penn’s work for the union-busting corporation Cintas were other instances in which the Clinton campaign didn’t appreciate having its name associated with Penn clients.

But it was a bridge too far for Penn when Sen. Hillary Clinton heard the news that Penn had met with the Colombians on the trade deal.

Penn also was regarded by many in the campaign as too self-serving, particularly after a Los Angeles Times profile of the campaign written after her horrible month of February, when Penn was quoted saying that he had “no direct authority in the campaign,” describing himself as merely “an outside message advisor with no campaign staff reporting to me.”

Reactions

Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis, who had been a spokesman in John Edwards’ campaign, said Penn’s departure was needed to help the candidate.

“The worst kept secret in the whole Democratic race was that Penn’s campaign strategy was not working and that the Clinton campaign has unfortunately paid the price,” Kofinis said. “The truth is this the best move the Clinton campaign could have made and something that I imagine most Clinton supporters wished had happened months ago.” (From the Associated Press

Obama campaign manager David Axelrod on MSNBC’s Morning Joe

Former Edwards advisor Joe Trippi: “The only real question was, why did it not happen sooner?”

Teamsters Union President James Hoffa reaction as reported in the NY SUN: “said through an aide tonight that the change is of little significance, since Mr. Penn will continue to advise and poll for Mrs. Clinton’s presidential bid.”



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