Mark Penn Finally Fired
Late Sunday evening, the Clinton campaign confirmed that Mark Penn was stepping down as chief strategist in the wake of his dust-up with the Colombian government. That his tenure at the helm of the campaign ended because of a connection to a Burson-Marsteller client is not terribly surprising. But there were plenty of reasons, far better than this one, to have fired Penn many months before.
Penn presided over a top-down campaign in which, to the surprise of most observers, he was responsible for both crafting the message and polling its effectiveness. Normally frowned upon, such an approach often leads to self-fulfilling polling that validates the assumptions of the strategist, rather than providing an objective assessment. Perhaps that is the best explanation for a series of horribly misguided message strategies that Penn employed.
There was the now infamous inevitability argument, a message that ramped expectations to heights that Clinton could never have expected to meet. There was the change vs. experience message, one that helped validate Obama's persona as the change candidate. And of course, when times got tough, there was the "Let's get real" message. Showing a clear sign that the campaign did not understand its opponent, this message criticized Obama supporters rather than Obama himself, driving the wedge further between the candidate and the voters she needed to persuade.
But Penn chose not to confine his incompetence strictly to messaging, allowing it to invade all parts of the campaign strategy. His decision to forego caucus states demonstrated a glaring misunderstanding of the delegate allocation process. In a system in which losses must be minimized and wins inflated, Penn surrendered essential turf. It is equally surprising that someone who perceived his candidate as having enormous weaknesses in caucuses would have steered the campaign directly into the Iowa caucus. Had Deputy Campaign Manager Mike Henry's recommendation been adopted -- that Clinton forego Iowa -- she may well have earned the nomination months ago.
As a chief strategist, Penn consistently proved to be a disappointing spokesperson. His mannerisms and tone on television suggest an abiding arrogance; he is often described as unsavory and unpleasant. While on Hardball, he was chastised by Joe Trippi for invoking the word "cocaine" while talking about Senator Obama. When paired with Obama strategist David Axelrod, Penn seemed unable to control his disdain.
Even when he wasn't speaking for the campaign, he too often found himself at the center of the story. Private infighting with staff was often public and unprofessional, with uncomfortable details making front page news on multiple occasions.
Having not taken a leave from being Worldwide CEO of Burson-Marsteller, Penn set himself up for a number of potentially harmful situations for the Clinton campaign. His moonlighting for anti-union companies and other controversial organizations were an issue throughout the campaign, culminating this past week when he met with the Colombian Ambassador. The Colombian Embassy had hired Penn's firm to help pass a trade deal that Clinton opposes. Last night's resignation was the eventual result.
There were a number of reasons to fire Mark Penn, not the least of which was his obvious incompetence. But more than anything else, Mark Penn deserved to be fired because he viewed Hillary Clinton as just another client. Who wouldn't want a chance to elect someone president, a chance to leave a permanent mark and a lasting legacy? But for Penn, the Clinton campaign was just a client who purchased his services, no different than the Colombian government, or Exelon, or Blackwater.
So much of what was wrong with her was him.
Mark Penn should have been fired back in September and again in January. He should have been fired after Super Tuesday, and fired after the 11 contests that followed. He should have been fired before Texas and Ohio, and fired twice after. Instead, he wasn't fired until April 6th, two weeks before the Pennsylvania primary, when no change in strategy could possibly change the outcome.
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And of course, he worked for one of the most rotten governments in Latin America - Columbia - a proxy murderer and spy for the CIA, that has killed many of its own people and foments trouble for any democracy in the area that doesn't bow to Washington and our corporate interests.
SAAAYYYYYY
$3 million of DEMOCRATIC DONOR MONEY gone to the creep - and still counting.
I THINK THE DONORS HAVE A LAW SUIT HERE!
"Taxation WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"
A truly D L C management moment.
DLC reminds me more of BUSHCO every day.
People, Mark Penn has been "fired", the same way Karl Rove has "left the White House".
He needed to get out of the spotlight, and the Clinton campaign needed a scapegoat for all the alienation they've caused. Mark becomes the "bad guy", now "gone", who continues to strategize for Hillary, under the radar.
(Where's the mystery, here?? They as much as took out a billboard for this, when they revealed that he's still getting a fat paycheck from the Clinton Kamp!)
Let's see... same playbook as Karl Rove's... HMMMM... would that be the same Karl Rove, who doesn't miss an opportunity to tell you what a formidable candidate The Evil Hillary is? Cut to the chase: Rove's helping the Clinton campaign on the sly. Hillary is accepting the help on the sly.
Rove is looking to do a "Lucy and the football" number, when she gets the nomination, by turning around and screwing her. Hillary knows this, and figures she can take it, as long as she gets the nod, in the first place.
So, what's gonna happen? All the more reason Obama should get the nomination
"Had Deputy Campaign Manager Mike Henry's recommendation been adopted -- that Clinton forego Iowa -- she may well have earned the nomination months ago."
DREAM ON ...
How can we expect Clinton to be a good president when she can't even manage her own campaign? The hypocrisy of the Clinton's is perfectly illustrated by this latest episode with Mark Penn taking money from the Columbian's to push another ill advised trade deal while Clinton is on record as being opposed to it. Democrats have a right to be outraged by their leadership continuing to act like they are auditioning to run as Republican's. FDR and Truman would be embarrassed at the way Democrat's have sold out to big corporations just like their Republican counterparts did decades ago. No wonder Ralph Nader keeps cropping up as a candidate. Our political system has been hopelessly disfigured by corporate interests.
While I agree with your comment I have to say not all Democrats have sold out to big business.
But we should note which ones have: Reid ,Schumer, Feinstein, Debbie W Schultz, and Leiberman.
Anyone want to add anybody to the list?
Ah, yes, the Obama team wants us to believe that because Dubya obviously ran a better campaign than Al Gore in 2000 and a better campaign than John Kerry in 2004, Dubya was better qualified for the presidency than either of these two men, noted for their intellects, ability, and experience.
Here's the deal: It's taken the Bush Administration eight years to figure out there is a difference between campaigning and governing and that in a nutshell explains the failure of the Bush presidency.
Let's judge Obama and Clinton on their qualifications for the presidency, including their support for the democratic process. I think it's the Obama campaign and supporters who are trying like mad to force Clinton out of the race and disenfranchise millions of voters. I don't want a president whose supporters apparently have no clue what it means to participate in a democratic society.
Mark Penn was not fired. He is still with the Clinton campaign, & as Jim Hoffa says, his demotion won't much alter his influence. I think his shift in campaign jobs was largely cosmetic, just to make it look as if there was an iota in Clinton's sincerity about her opposition to an anti-labor international trade bill that her best buddy Mark Penn just handed over to George Bush for shepherding thru the Congress.
Whatever Penn's position in the Clinton campaign, even if he had been fired, the real danger is the influence he & the Clintons' other seedy, greedy billionaire friends would have if Clinton were to be elected President. The country deserves better than this arrogant, hypocritical clan.
"providing an objective assessment" ???
WHAT A JOKE! Polls are TOOLS used by opinion makers. And when the polling results match reality, it is an accident. The ONLY "objective assessment" that can be made from a poll is that it represents the opinions of those people who were asked, nothing more.
I cannot believe that people to not understand the INCREDIBLE SIGNIFICANCE of this.
Hillary's association with Mark Penn was such a remarkable display of bad judgement.
1. She sat in his church for 20 YEARS!
2. He performed Bill and Hillary's marriage.
3. She named her book after sage advice that she gave him.
4. He christened Cheleas.
5. He ADVISED her!
Wait a minute, strike that. He was a nobody,
Who the hell cares except the Hillary-Haters?
Now, THAT was amusing!
Thankyew.
I'm not a Hillary Hater. I just want to thank Mark Penn for helping us get Barack elected
Obama Schmobama. Whatever! What has he ever done, but campaign. What is the big deal about this guy? Just because Oprah said so, you all jump on the Oprahbama bandwagon. It's ridiculous.
As a Hillary supporter you should care. He has burned through her (donar’s) money, has provided poor advice - she stuck with him. Sounds just like the Bush administration. Stick with your cronies. Loyalty over competence. Trying to tie Penn's influence on her campaign to that of Wright on Obama is very weak. He was a paid employee providing worthless direction. What other incompetent people would she hire that we as tax payers have to pay for. She and McCain both represent 4 more years of Bush type cronyism.
HE WAS CHIEF STRATEGIST FOR HER CAMPAIGN!!!!!! And was paid millions of dollars by her. Reverand Wright was one of several pastors at Barack's church. Penn was the highest payed person on Hillary's payroll and was in charge of her campaign's strategy. Wright is not associated with Barack's campaign, but Penn was in charge of Hillary's.
Hillary took his strategic advice.
Hillary paid him tons of money to give that advice.
The red phone ad was 100% his.
The Clinton's have a very long relationship with him and his dirty politics.
Who cares? Poor people in Colombia that gets used and abused by Corporate America. And poor people in the United States that loose jobs to other countries. And people that gets disgusted when Mrs. Clinton claims to advocate for "blue collar workers"
This is who cares. Anything else?
They have tried to create the appearance of walking away from NAFTA and CAFTA. They are also trying to distance themselves from outsourcing in China. Wish it were true! We would need to have Hillary say so, and then more than musical chairs.
He could use the twinkie defence.
I wasn't sad to see Big Fatty go, but unfortunately he's just a symptom, the whole trade deal thing, well didn't Bush just do some kind of trade thing only just today? All a very goofy business. How about the North American Stay Home And Make Your Own Stuff Agreement? LOL
Bert08
At some point, the cost of moving cheap Chinese crap around the world might just eliminate the price advantage imports enjoy now. Then we'll have to start making things in the USA again.
"Fired"?
I like factual, smartass, or punny HuffPo headlines - but wishful thinking?
One picture tells a thousands words. Just look at Penn -- he's a fat-cat pig. He looks like a Tammany Hall cartoon character from the 1900s. All that's missing are a well-chewed upon cigar and bowler hat. Oink.
Please change the name of this article. Mark Penn wasn't fired. Just a title change.
Let me get this straight.
Hillary accepted his resignation but he'll still be advising the campaign, which is what he was doing before he resigned.
My conclusion: Just words, nothing has changed.
And here's what's interesting about this --
So he hasn't been fired; he's still working for Hillary (and still working on behalf of Colombia). So, same ole' double talk continues to be resident in Camp Hillary.
And as to your statement of "Just words, nothing has changed." Interesting conclusion given that Billy earned $50-some million in giving speeches -- which Hillary herself has said are "just words," not the change we really seek.
Hmm. Interesting double standard. It's like they took a highlighting pen to their campaign in the last couple of weeks, just to illuminate their own idiocy.
LOL, yeah..HE decided to "resign"..
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