The wires are humming just now with the news that Mark Penn, Head cook and bottle washer for the Clinton campaign, has quit. One such story comes form the Washington Post:
ALBUQUERQUE, April 6 — [1] Mark J. Penn quit Sunday as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s chief strategist, the second shake-up in her campaign’s top ranks since the onetime front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination began trailing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Penn had been a polarizing figure within the Clinton campaign for months because of his personality as well as his strategic vision, but his departure came as a result of another continuing controversy — the conflicts of interest that resulted from his representing major clients as president of Burson-Marsteller, the giant public relations firm, while working for Clinton.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Penn had met with Colombia’s ambassador to the United States to discuss promotion of a free-trade agreement, one that Clinton opposes. Penn apologized Friday for an “error in judgment,” and the Colombian government responded a day later by firing Burson-Marsteller.
Clinton is now looking for a scapegoat, and Penn seems a likely enough target. Penn’s job, after all, was putting lipstick on a pig…. Hillary Clinton is a product that is about as popular as raw sewage. Granted that Penn didn’t help that image, but what could?
Hey, I’ve got an idea; Maybe Obama can use him in the General Election, huh?
Addendum: (David L)
As to Mark Penn’s departure, did he jump or was he pushed? Does anybody care?
However, I have got to quibble with the suggestion that Mark Penn is looking for work. Apparently, working for the Mrs. Clinton was Penn’s part time job. Penn’s not out of a job, as in real day job, just a part time gig.
As to Mrs. Clinton is fair to say that Mrs. Clinton is not exactly the smartest chick in the world and is not exactly the smartest person ever to seek the presidency. Mrs. Clinton hired a part time campaign strategist and then expected full time, read day job,, performance and loyalty. It is kind of like expecting your favorite waitress to only flirt with you.