Penn steps down as top Clinton strategist

Posted: Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:26 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton

From NBC's Mark Murray and John Boxley
Mark Penn, who recently met with the Colombian government regarding a trade deal that Hillary Clinton opposes, has resigned his post as the Clinton campaign's chief strategist.

"After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign," campaign manager Maggie Williams said in a statement. "Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign."

Williams added, "Geoff Garin and Howard Wolfson will coordinate the campaign's strategic message team going forward."

Per sources in the campaign, Hillary Clinton was disappointed with Penn's meeting with the Colombian government. She is a big opponent of the trade pact. Penn knew that he had made error in judgment and realized over the weekend that he would need to step down as chief strategist.

Clinton agreed.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Damage is already done enjoy the rest of your time in the Senate Hillary.

Shane Brady, Transfer, PA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:31 PM)

He should have been gone months ago. He had no idea how to run in a primary. He is another overpaid Democratic Stragtegist.

Michael (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:32 PM)

ABOUT DAME TIME... She should have gotten rid of him a long time ago. Then made her entier campaing and possibel political carerr would nto have turned into such an embrassment.....

justwaitandsee (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:34 PM)

Smoke screen. He's still advising and doing polling. I swear, that campaign thinks voters are stupid.

Mike, Ohio (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:37 PM)

I don't believe Hillary for a moment. She lies about Nafta. She just hopes this will go away.

jmc,Wa (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:39 PM)

I had a hunch this would happen. You have to do something to cover the blatant hipocrasy. The headlie should be 'Hillary steps down as Presidential Candidate.

Darron, Wadhington D.C. (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:39 PM)

If Hillary is elected president we can look forward to more staff problems because of poor choices. Poor choices seem to be a routine. There must be a reason that she hasn't figured out yet.

Staff problems can seriously threaten the effecivness of the administration and the nation as we saw with George W. I do not want more idiots or people in the White House with their own agenda AGAIN.

This habit should be enough to wake up voters. Not a good trait for a CEO or especially a president to have.

We need someone with sound judgement that can choose staff well - Obama! He has shown that he is an effective leader.

Harmony (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:46 PM)

So let me get this straight. He meets with the Columbian's, is vague about whether he's representing his slimy PR firm or Clinton on an issue she's opposed to and gets to resign?

His firm gets to keep cashing cheques for polling and continue to advise the campaign?

So basically he can't call himself "chief strategist" anymore. Another nice bit of executive management from the Clinton campaign.

I can't imagine what if feels like to give money to the Clinton campaign knowing that millions of dollars have gone to Penn and his firm.

Gary, Toronto, ON (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:50 PM)

Wow - Mark Penn is FINALLY gone. I didn't think it would be something as stupid as deciding to attend a meeting with the Colombians that would finally do him in though. I thought - well, maybe I HOPED - that Senator Clinton would come to her senses a bit and realize that this guy was probably at the top (or certainly near the top) of the list of reasons why her campaign tanked so badly. Even if this guy wasn't such a sleazy backroom dealmaker, he just looked bad. He came across as smarmy, self-righteous, and just CREEPY in every interview I ever saw him do in his role as her chief campaign strategist. I remember back when I saw him on MSNBC one day after the "Obama-cocaine-Billy Shaheen" flap and he was very adept at repeating the drug allegations over and over. He just OOZED sleaze. How Hillary could have ever hired this guy to do anything but run polls for her is beyond me. How she could CONSIDER letting him ever appear on camera for her shows that her instincts can't be trusted and that her judgement on how to run a campaign is really lacking.
When Hillary looks back and does a post-mortem on her miserably run campaign in a few months, I hope she realizes that this guy really hurt her. But I also hopes that takes ownership of what a disaster she made of what should have been a bit of a "shoe-in" of a nominating process. There's no doubt that Barack Obama was an amazing candidate and that anyone would have trouble beating him this year. There's also no doubt that Hillary Clinton's campaign was one huge miscalculation after another, and that she didn't earn the nomination largely based on the people she chose to surround herself with (her husband notwithstanding).
As much as Barack Obama went out and won this thing, Hillary went out there and just plain lost it.

JFHaley (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:51 PM)

Explain to me again how brilliant the Clintons are politically?
If this is how she runs a campaign, how will she run a White House?
It is a reminder of all the drama of the first Clinton presidency, do we really want to go through this again?
With the second fabricated story of the "Un-insured pregnant women dying" in Hillary's brain, how can she recognize the truth?
Core values applied consistently is the mark of a great leader, like Barack Obama.
Please end the madness Pennsylvania - give Obama a 1 point victory so we can close this thing down and recover from Chronic Clinton-itis.

David Kolva, MD Oswego/Syracuse, NY (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:52 PM)

So Hillary couldn't screw up her courage and fire the pig. But his snout is still in the trough, so the looting continues. Hillary has no idea how much of Mark Penn's billing to the campaign has money embedded that goes into his pocket. Does she think that a $10,000 bill for a poll is completely for polling. Here's a good question for Penn, Hillary: exactly how much of that $10,000 is actually for polling and how much is mark up or fees? (And by the way, how do you know that he actually does all of the polling he bills for? So he waltzes in with a survey of 500 people. How do you know he ever talked to anyone? Oh yeah...his polls have been sooo accurate. Ha!)

Lester (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:54 PM)

It's all done with mirrors, folks.

"Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign."

Note that he will ** continue to provide advice to the campaign.** So now he can work trade deals with Canada, India, Colombia, etc., and continue to provide Clinton with information while giving the "wink, wink, nod, nod" to other countries.

At any rate, it's a bit late: The Teamsters have already put out their Press Release regarding Clinton/Penn/Colombia.

Mary, PA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:01 PM)

It was totally embarassing for him to consult as he did with the Columbians. An amateur would not this was contradictory behavior, and so he had to go.

So, he not only lost the Columbian job, but the Clinton job, although he continues to consult.

Another campaign disaster for Hillary.

John S (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:03 PM)

Per sources Clinton was disappointed with Penn? That's a pretty gullible way to report this story, considering that Clinton's people already talked to the Canadian government last month about not really being against NAFTA after all, then created a bogus story about Obama's campaign doing the same thing to cover it up.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:04 PM)

This is completely a lie. She hopes that he can continue to work behind the scenes and her "wink, wink" deal with the Colombians will remain intact. She doesn't care about the millions of jobs sent overseas. Why did Uribe attack Obama so strongly immediately after meeting with Penn, this must be investgated by the media. These people are criminals and they have been payed to screw over Americans. Look at the MILLIONS of dollars these guys have made after he left office. These guys will make nice with anyone to be in power and position to make even more millions. The only thing HRC is upset about is that her lap dog was caught carrying out his orders.

Real Republicans for Obama

Maurice BKFLD CA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:05 PM)

I thought Penn said (a month ago?) that he wasn't in charge of anything? Also, will he sue for back monies owed?

SK, Buffalo, NY (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:08 PM)

When the Clintons move away from you...that means the one they are trying to distance them from is very close to be indited for crimial activity .
This indicates lack of loyality and also some bodies about to be accused of crimial activity...Slick Willey is about to hear the song of Mark Penn...There is no honor amongst thieves...
Somebody should be going to jail.....
I wonder if Penn Gate will be the nail in coffin of
Billary Inc.....

And Fisrt sure was slow on this news...

Bill(Hussein) Jones (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:10 PM)

Colombia...is that where all that cocaine comes from?

BJ, CA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:13 PM)

Let's just say that I know somebody who knows that Mark Penn has not seen the last of getting caught in his own arrogant tangle.

My bet is that he will end up doing time, sooner rather than later. Like this year.

Mark my words. This dude is sleaze.

Mark (my words) Thieme (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:14 PM)

A political campaign is like a house. If you build it on a weak foundation, the whole structure will eventually become compromised. It's only a matter of time.

Matt, Los Angeles (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:14 PM)

Colombia=Cocaine$$$..

For real? (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:16 PM)

Let's see - the Chief Strategist suggests coming out strong in Ohio and PA against SAFTA, while the same person lobbies for Columbia. And PA Unions still support HRC???

The key truth is: "Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign."

Grannie Annie, Knoxville, TN (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:19 PM)

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR HILLARY CLINTON !

Vince F. (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:25 PM)

The Clinton camp must be loaded with rotten tomatoes!! Every time one turns around,, its another scandal or a bum is ratted out to the media,, well, with all the lies and conjecture How would you Vote. This whole election hoax ""and that is just what it is"" is no more than pure low grade single ply toilet paper, Of course, HRC being a Washington self serving paper hanger, What else can be expected. Lies like ""Who cares"" HRC, must not live with reality, too tired, crying jag in public, oh poor me,, get me a trash can so I can puke!!!!!
The Clinton's have as much respect for America, as do trailer trash!!
We must have a strong President and not hollow experience in the White House. We need to rebuild what they took away, we are Americans and will not relive what has been. Am I right America???? A Veteran for Common Sense!!!!!

Leadership NOW! (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:29 PM)

Unbelievable!!!! Is this supposed to resolve the issue?!!! He's still on the Clinton campaign's payroll. She owes this guy millions of dollars still. That's why he wasn't fired. This is nothing but a smoke screen. He still has major ACCESS to the Clintons and he's still advising the campaign. That's the name of the game. Who do they think they're kidding?

MissW, Chicago (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:29 PM)

I hope the media doesn't think that this resignation means that Senator Clinton's many conflicts of interest have suddenly vanished. This is just the tip of the iceburg.

Nashville_fan (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:29 PM)

One has to ask Senator Clinton why she was unable to take more decisive action. His meeting happened last Monday and it seems he is only stepping down from the "official" post 6 days later (he'll still be there unofficially). Is this the type of decision making Senator Clinton is making at 3AM? Perhaps she needs to get some more sleep -- then she might make better decisions (and perhaps also improve her recall).

Mark, Vancouver, WA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:33 PM)

Too little, too late. He still works for her, right?

John, Morgan Hill, California (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:35 PM)

The fact remains that he is still in the campaign how does Senator Clinton justify that?

Karen, Iowa (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:38 PM)

Perhaps Penn saw the writing on the wall for the Clinton campaign and created the situation so that he could leave without having to tell Clinton that the campaign is over. I can imagine that giving bad news to Clinton is bad for one's health.

Murgatroyd, Umpqua, Oregon (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:38 PM)

Ok ...
Well...Another one of stories that...
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/hospital_says_story_told_by_hi.php
One More ...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/in-oregon-clint.html

LP, Maryland (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:39 PM)

this is NAFTA on drugs..

big money from such a small country..
What was the national gross income of Colombia
last year?? about 50 bucks legal, about 500 Million
illegal...
Is drug money buying the election?

don't vote for Billary (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:40 PM)

Hillary Clinton has been so sloppy. I'm so glad that we as Democrats have Barak Obama. The Democratic party would have been slapped silly if Hillary won the nomination. (This fiasco looks like the silver bullet, we'll see) How long will she allow this blood letting? All of her ugly buisness is being put on display for the world to see and these things are happening daily, as we speak. Imagine if the Republicans really got their teeth in the Clinton's past. Obama won't go there because he won't knee cap a fellow Democrat. The Republicans would grind Hillary into a fine paste with daily reminders of past discreations. Thank God for Obama!! I can't stand being lied to by our government, Bush & Co. are expert liars. The Clintons are good too but compaired to Bush they look sloppy. Bush has the American people at attention, looking for the next big lie. The Clintons keep throwing us softballs and we and the press keep knocking them in to orbit. I think the Clinton's are pumping laughing gas at the campaign headquaters, they are obviously laughing at a joke none of us find funny. If Hillary Clinton plans on continuing this campaign she needs to tighten up her act A.S.A.P. This is embarassing to Democrats.

Sick of Hillary. (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:03 PM)

I don't think any of you understand the "real" Hillary Clinton. Two things shed light on her whole candidacy.
First, her tax returns. Second, Mark Penn's secret negotiations with the Colombian government.
The tax returns are relevant, not because of the $109 million in seven years, but the source of the income. Specifically the $15.3 million from Ron Burkle's "consulting" company. That company is partially financed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Does anyone think the value of Bill's "consulting" would be anywhere near that amount if Hillary wasn't running for president?
The Mark Penn Colombian connection is more straightforward. It is obvious that this was a blatant attempt to influence a presumed future president, and obtain favorable trade status.
Why does Hillary lie? Primarily because she knows that in order for her to preserve that $109 million income, she is going to have to sell favors to foreign governments. So she will do whatever it takes to win the white house; if that means lie, or underhanded trade negotiations with Colombia, so be it. She will preserve access to that income at all costs.
After all, what else would they have to sell if they could not sell access to the Presidency. It gives a whole new meaning to the Lincoln bedroom guests/contributors.

Walt, Cincinnati (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:19 PM)

She is such a liar, and so is everyone around her in her campaign. In her rush to put herself in the top position she let herself and everyone around her handle everything in a ham-handed fashion. This is her MO people. Lies and deceit. Now her campaign is even suggesting that "maybe" she lied about that little young girl being pregnant and could not find healthcare and then died. She has told this story over and over again with gasps from her audience, then whoops, it might not be true, because, oh my, her staff did not bother to check if the story were true. Everything is run so willy nilly. Will she run the country the same way? I say yes.

Cynthia Deptford NJ (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:26 PM)

The amazing thing is Mark Penn WILL STILL BE ADVISING the Clinton campaign. He's not really leaving!

He's not (publicly) heading the Bill & Hillary campaign anymore. BUT, he will still be doing things for Clinton "in the shadows."

He's not gone. He's just hiding.

Patrick, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:35 PM)

Not surprised. Not sure if steps down or was fired,but I believe he stepped down by himself otherwise the Clinton camp would make a spin already.

Mo (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:39 PM)

They call it an Administration. What have we seen so far in the Clinton II Administration? Infighting, poor cost management, a failure to plan for contingencies (Super Tuesday was not the end of the nomination process), and senior staff more focused on their own agenda than being totally devoted to the effort to be elected to the most powerful and prestigious office in the world.

It is said Hillary believes the best ideas come out when there is rampant disagreement on an issue. Anyone else see chaos as the more likely outcome?

How does this bode for the Clinton Administration if she were elected?

I wonder what we would find if we examined Obama's campaign organization. Actually, no I don't. I know some will point to advisors off the reservation but those issues were dealt with swiftly and properly. All in all the Obama campaign has been well thought out from graphics to fundraising to cost control to state organizations to caucus strategies to the eventual nomination. I am certain the Obama Adminstration will be just as effectively organized and managed.

Obama O8

Pete The Old Vet, West Palm Beach, Florida (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:46 PM)

Thank you that Penn is gone.

You deserve better support that him Hillary.

Go Hillary 08!!!

peter, ind (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:48 PM)

No surprises here.

When will those backing Hillary wake up and smell the coffee, and, yes, it is Colombian.

The Clinton's chose Penn as their Chief Strategist. Do you really believe that they did not know who he worked for? They have paid him almost $11 million just for his work so far, and he is still on the payroll as a pollster.

Amazing.

Gunnar, Salem, Oregon (Sent Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:51 PM)

Clever by the Clinton campaign to dump Penn on the downturn of the weekend news cycle....and uses their taxes to dominate most of the headlines. But he is still a part of the team is he not? Wonder if this is over...you can't help but wonder what her true attitude..not possition on that trade deal is.

CJ (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 1:03 AM)

Now, when will Hillary step down ? This is really becoming pathetic. Yes Clinton supporters... we all know that Hillary has every 'right' to stay on ... just NO good reason at all. What she is effectively saying Now is that she is willing to sacrifice the Democratic Party's chances in November to insure her leverage to petition for the VP slot. That's pretty Sleazy politicking Clinton supporters and you know damn well it is. What does that make YOU at this point?

PulSamsara (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 1:22 AM)

I just hope the folks in PA are following this mess. She's telling the American people one thing while her campaign strategist is tellin the government of Colombia something else. As some have noted, Penn is not yet gone from the Clinton campaign - him stepping down the Clintonian way of giving the false impression that he's leaving the campaign. He's not!

Malcolm, Huntsville, AL (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 1:32 AM)

It's all about judgment. Hillary knew exactly what kinds of things Penn had his fingers in the whole time but she hired him anyway. The only reason he's "out" now is the press caught him.

I repeat, judgment. How big does the writing on the wall need to be before people start to see it?

Daniel, New Jersey (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 2:38 AM)

He's still 'polling' for the campaign, he'll take a Carville-like 'friend-of-the-campaign' role, so he'll still be lurking around behind the scenes. The vaunted Clinton loyalty seems largely about gathering people who will do or say anything to further the Royal Couples' ambitions to power. Look how Ickes and Carville came skulking back when they thought their lieges were in trouble. There's something very Nixonian about the Clintons, I swear.

There's more in the upcoming newscycles that may yet open Senator Clinton's eyes to the precariousness of her situation. Her campaign finance disclosures, due out two days before the April 22nd PA primary won't be good news. $20 million raised, indeed, but only a portion of it will be available for primary spending, and a good portion of it transferred from her Senatorial war chest, not gathered from donors. Her money is drying up, her campaign is being waged in a time warp, and, as evidenced by the polls, the more people are exposed to her, the higher her negative numbers climb. If she retains any of her experience as a lawyer, she'll soon have to admit the weight of evidence is against her, and try to plea bargain her way out of this so she can at least retain enough political clout to beat back any Senate challenges in New York. Losing to a freshman Senator on the national stage should give at least some hope to possible contenders in her 'home' state and she might have to run against something more the two zombies she ran against before.

Russ Elba,NY (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 5:15 AM)

The Clinton campaign seems to be going downhill.

I can understand Hillary keeping Penn on as an adviser but he seems to be working in his own self interest in mind which is hurting Clinton - aren't the millions he earns from the Clinton campaign enough?

sweeetback, london, UK (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 5:46 AM)

He's still just as much part of the camp. this as all a ploy to try to get the MSM to buy into it so they would not cover the story of his Columbia meetings. Even Columbia wasn't sure if Penn was meeting on behalf of Clinton or not!!! Nice Cover up to get the media to talk about things other then the Penn story, the I'm opposed the war before Obama, the Hostpital story, the she got fired working on watergate story and more!!!

What would she cover up like this is he let her in the white house? She is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR

mom (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 6:00 AM)

So how many times is HRC going to get a free ride from the press. This is a major story because she never said if he was representing her or not. I believe that she will give a press confrence today to try and get ahead of the story. Later to change the story after the big interviews today.

She has so many problems now with her negative poll numbers, I am sure this will not help.

Flow, Asheville, North Carolina (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 6:43 AM)

Surely, he mis-spoke. Clinton and her representatives mis-speak alot.

Ladean (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 7:26 AM)

David Gergen, and the Secretary and Under Secretary of Commerce during the Clinton Administration have all stated that Hillary was against NAFTA and had to be persuaded as part of the administration to appear to back it. As far as judgement goes - Barack Obama''s decision to have his name removed from the ballot in Michigan was just another method he used to silence the voters in Florida and Michigan while claiming to reach out to those who feel their voices have not been heard. Unless the votes in Florida and Michigan are counted this election will be an illegal and illegitimate election because it will be an election comprised of 48 rather than 50 states.

Bonnie Nipple, Gulf Breeze, Florida (Sent Monday, April 07, 2008 7:32 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=864645