Mark Penn Praises Obama For Handling 3 A.M. Economic Crisis

One-time Hillary Clinton chief strategist Mark Penn acknowledged -- sort of -- that Barack Obama had passed the infamous 3 A.M. test that Penn and his aides had artificially created as a criteria to be elected president.

Appearing at the Time Warner Summit conference on the 2008 election, Penn proclaimed that the state of the presidential race had broken down along the lines of which candidate voters assumed was best able to handle that late-night crisis moment.

"McCain really faltered in terms of answering the call, being contradictory and he blew a lot of electoral points that had been building up to that," he said. "The dynamic of this election is about who will be able to handle the economic crisis. They have looked to the response so far and voters have said this is the type of crisis that Obama can handle," and they don't see that with the McCain campaign.

The remark represents a full-circle moment of sorts for Penn, who throughout the Democratic primary was highly critical of Obama's experience and ability. The famous 3 A.M. ad that he engineered before the Ohio and Texas primary -- which questioned which candidate could handle a unexpected terrorism scare -- was, Penn said, the most discussed spot of the cycle.

Moreover, since the Democratic primary ended Penn has remained hostile towards Obama. On Monday he did not offer anything that could be interpreted as a measure of endorsement or support. But he did seem bullish on the Illinois Democrat's chances (at this point, who isn't)?

Penn had harsh words to say about Gov. Sarah Palin, who he said had wilted under press criticism.

"I don't think you will see her in politics again unless she goes back and gets the experience that she doesn't have right now," he said.

In addition, he admonished the media for -- among many things -- being too easy on John McCain.

"No one has really gone back on McCain and gone through the Keating Five and whether or not it is fair or unfair," he said, "which will be particularly relevant considering we have a banking crisis. And yet the background stories on that, whether favorable or unfavorable, have been zero."

Comments

[atomicelroy]

This guy is more of a clown than I, and I get paid for it... I guess so does he.

[jhw22]

It's getting awfully cold here in hell. With Ickes and Penn fawning over the Obama campaign, I don't know what to think about the world anymore. Next, I'll see pigs flying by my window (wearing lipstick, of course).

Jennifer

[Enlightened22]

Still struggling with his hair piece, as I can see.

[ICANSEERUSSIA]

Looks like the snakes are coming out to try to get a job, but the Obama train left the station along time ago.

[AggravationKills]

run the snakes over. Why are we wasting space on Mark Penn? His expiration date was up LOOOONg ago.

[BarackDaVote]

Why should anybody take advice or listen to what he has to say......His track record speaks for itself...Thanks but no thanks Mark "I helped ruin Hillary's Campaign" Penn

[barelymakingit]

Is it important that he has finally come on board? Or is he just looking for some news time? Politics truly makes for strange bedfellows. Now that Obama is winning he is becoming warm and fuzzy. The man is scary in his ambitions.

[dawlishgal]

yuk

[Academic]

Thank you for your prescient-minded observation of Mr Penn's remark. Like you I'm also sceptical of anything he has to say bearing in mind he was one of the principal architects of this slur on Senator Obama. The truth is leopards don't change their spots. And I'm not convinced by this Saul on the road to Damascus conversion by Mr Penn. We all know that privately he and those in the Democratic Party who think like him, are all hoping that Obama looses thus paving the way for a Hillary 2012 bid for president. So keep focused genuine Barack Obama supporters and don't lose sight of the real goal - getting Obama elected to the White House on November 4 2008.

Professor Dr. Stanley Collymore.

[SoupBoneJones]

After running such a horrible campaign on Hillary's behalf, how can he even show his face in public? I don't need his advice. After Hillary left the race, I did what any respectful Dem should've done. I switched to Obama.

[lochnessmonster]

This guy is just looking for room at the trough...in other words looking for a way to cash in since he ran Hillary's chances this time into the ground. He reminds me of a weasel. Good riddance to him.

[TKFraz]

Don't take the bait. Don't fall into the trap. Guard your heart and your spite. All dems are in this together, including Penn, Ickes, Wolfson, and everyone who voted for Hillary. Keep in mind, there are many voting outside their party line this year, including me.

Remember, they are on board for America. They are attempting to do what's right by choosing to unite and vote Obama for our better good.

Now is not the to time restart internal division. Let go of the past and simply embrace the future -- all included.

McCain will take anything -- and probably do anything to embrace the perceived "Obama voter" v "Clinton voter" irrelevant saga.

Please take heed.

(Repeated from my Ickes post @ 6:41 am)

[karela]

Thanks. Good thoughts. And you're right, the point to take care of America and Americans. There is no reason to even discuss Penn. He is a non issue. We're working to save the future for our kids and we need to not let ourselves be distracted. Thanks for reminding me!

[SethBLiNK]

Mark Penn was wrong? Really? What a shock.

And in finally owning up to his wrongness in judgement about Obama, he serves up another lulu, thinking Palin will be done after this race. If only.

Penn's got incredibly bad instincts for a guy who gets paid so much for his expertise.

[rhan]

Obama has shown the 3AM capability much before this financial crisis. During the primaries, he was cool and collected when the Wright affair exploded. Obama did not denounce him immediately proving he is NOT mavericky. But when Wright acted as a loose canon, he denounced him strongly.

We had the same type of calm and collected behavior with falling poll numbers with the surprise selection of Gov Palin as a running mate. Everyone was suggesting -- we should have included Hillary as a VP.

In fact, the selection of Gov Palin appears to be McCain's first 3AM Failure -- he succumbed to the right wing 'Bush Limbaugh' pressures. McCain's calculation, if any, was that he could easily sway the middle of the road by saying 'you know me, you know my record'. In fact, Bush Limbaugh called him McBrilliant. With due respects, sir, you need to communicate your record other than reiterating that you are a PoW. We applaud your services, but not all PoWs are president material. Your campaign is yet to state the top three achievements of your long 26 years -- that are policy related and not just that you are a maverick. At this juncture, we need a cool and collected thinking hand who is not afraid to be a maverick -- not just a maverick.

[FairisFair]

perfectly stated.

I belive that Obama has made the right decisions even when it was not the most popular, even within his party. I hate when I hear that he has the most liberal record in the Senate. Of Course he would, he does not have a long voting record in the Seante and they have been against the Bush/Republican policies.

[GrainOSand]

Mark come lately.

[Avembe]

what's the trick!!