Some Questions About The History of Mark Penn

The more I read about the man who may be the top advisor to Sen. Clinton beyond her husband, the less comfortable I feel about him. I tried going to the source, the least biased voice I could find to speak on the subject - Penn's own website. Here's what I found:


Mark Penn



As much respect as I have for people who earn their living working with "corporate reputation issues," I cannot help but look at the list of corporations and think back to some of the least reputable practices in recent history.

Here's Merck, for starters:



What was Mark Penn's role in changing the "branding and corporate reputation" of Merck? Did it involve Vioxx or other unethical practices?

A very quick look at BP:



What was Penn's role in the "greenwashing" of BP? Moreover, what other corporations are listed among his "client relationships?"

Finally, I would love to know what international campaigns had the Mark Penn touch. Anyone who has watched "Our Brand is Crisis" will be familiar with the self-serving ethical considerations of some of the more "liberal" consultants.

What campaigns in Latin America and Asia witnessed Mark Penn's own brand of consulting? Were there any regimes in the Middle East that benefitted from his consultations?

I am sure that at least some of the Hillary Clinton supporters here can answer my questions about one of her most trusted advisors. I haven't the least doubt that Penn was never involved in any ethically suspect campaigns, and that his work in fixing "corporate reputations" was strictly for companies that had mended their ways.

I look forward to having my worries calmed with the truth, however murky things may appear to a citizen uneducated in the ways of the consulting class.

There have been lots of threads here about him lately. One in particular that I remember is about the anti-union activities of his PR firm. Post 30 of that thread provides an informative screen capture of his PR firm's website, from before it was scrubbed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1987870#1990277

the warm and fuzzies either.

:hi:

Good to see you (so to speak), and I'm less than thrilled with Mark Penn, too.

If that is what it's come down to - that we have to employ (vote for?) sleazeballs who will do anything to win - it's a sad indication of the state of our electoral system.

I still haven't gotten a comforting response to the problems with one of HRC's top advisors, and ethical questions seem to continue about the people that the Senator has chosen to surround herself with on the campaign.

That said, great to hear from ya! :hi:

"facts". Some hate those. Mark Penn is a huge reason why I can't support Hillary. Who a candidate surrounds themselves with says a lot.

Once you read about it you will know why, even with his union busting and his dealings with Blackwater, is even a worse thing. He is a dirty player and our primaries are being messed with and don't think those voting machines are safe.

It scares me that there are at least 3 stories that link Hillary to people who would never be described as honorable - Hsu, Penn and Berger. When corruption was second only to Iraq in 2006, nominating Hillary might lead to endless scandals rearing their ugly heads.

I suspect that there may be many who long for the last election - where the scandals were all easily provable lies and the candidate a man of exemplary integrity. 2008 will be a nasty campaign.