The Clinton restoration project

Posted: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The New York Times covers the Atlantic Monthly story about the Clinton campaign. "While Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigned for president by offering herself as a sure-handed, competent successor to President Bush, her campaign team of highly paid advisers was riven by back-biting, poor management and conflicting strategies that contributed to her loss to Senator Barack Obama, according to a magazine report released Monday."

More from the Atlantic piece: "Clinton's top campaign strategist advised her to cast presidential rival Barack Obama as having questionable ‘roots to basic American values and culture’ and use the theme to counter the image that his background is diverse and multicultural. 'I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values,' Mark Penn wrote in a March 2007 memo to Clinton."

Just as the Atlantic writes up those memos, Mark Penn has an op-ed in The Politico defending negative ads. Penn seems unimpressed with Obama's campaign so far. "So far in the 2008 contest, neither candidate has connected with any ads that explosive. But fresh information about their past views in their own words could shake up the race. Obama’s commercials so far have been very positive. He has used advertising mostly to amplify his speeches and some of his programs. And he has a Rubicon to cross: He has presented himself as representing a new politics -- uplifting, inspiring and not negatively driven -- though he has been willing to go after his opponents sharply on the stump."

More Clinton and Penn: "… Hillary Clinton has been privately enumerating her doubts about Obama to supporters, according to people who have spoken with her. Clinton’s pollster Mark Penn recently unveiled a PowerPoint presentation red-flagging Obama’s lukewarm leads among white female voters and Hispanics -- while predicting a five-point swing could turn a presumed Obama win into a McCain landslide."

The San Francisco Chronicle looks at the push to get Clinton's name officially nominated at the convention.

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Comments

Mark Penn is an odious, nasty, sad human being.

But he's not entirely wrong about negative ads.

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:25 AM)

Clinton's top campaign strategist advised her to cast presidential rival Barack Obama as having questionable ‘roots to basic American values and culture’ and use the theme to counter the image that his background is diverse and multicultural.
*******************************************************

Wow. I'm speechless. Wait, no I'm not.

Is anyone TRULY surprised that Mark Penn was trying to run a Karl Rove-style campaign during the primaries?

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:26 AM)

yeah i read the memos, mark penn is the worst. he also said that diversity should wait til 2050. basically he though that americans weren't ready for Obama. apparently he was wrong.

New Dem Ad: Exxon John
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or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:29 AM)

To quote the famous words of VP Chenney... "SO"!

MIA in Miami (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:29 AM)

Ahhhh, the plan is moving forward.....

If I was Obama, I would seriously be watching my backside. He is smart enough to know that a wounded Clinton is a dangerous Clinton.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:30 AM)

Mark Penn continues to show he is a poor strategist! If he was so good hewould have won. If he was a true Democrat he would be co-oping pieces about how smooth Obama campaign is running and how they are following their plan on how to win... In addition, to a co-oping a piece on how un-organized McCain campaign is and their only plan during this re-launch is to be negative.

Jane - Ohio (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:31 AM)

FR...
This is juvenile nonsense at its finest. Who really cares what Penn thinks and why is it always the same Clinton supporters who refuse to see what's right for America sitting ack criticizing Obama.

These are the most idiotic people. What democracy are they for? Most of America have already established the fact of McCain being a 3rd term of Bush and they are sitting on the sidelines of democracy doing nothing but being a critic. Well they can either lead follow or get the heck out of the way. Enough already!
I hope when Obama becomes the next POTUS that those very same sad culprits will not have a front row seat in his administration...I say let em' kick rocks.
Adults acting like preschoolers, who are these idiots? They should be ashamed of themselves.

Michelle Zee (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:32 AM)

Hillary Clinton's team should be sued for malpractice. But, the reality is that she picked them and kept them despite numerous questionable decisions. As a Presidential candidate, the buck, and all the responsibility, stops with her.

SW, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:33 AM)

I'm glad I didn't support Hillary Clinton in the primary. My instincts were right on. I wanted to support her, believe me, but then I sensed she was too conventional, too rigid, too cautious, to be the leader I think we need. Now, you get the feeling she can't imagine white America will vote for a black man. She can't visualize the future, and she is busy trying to make her lack of confidence in our future come true. Hillary has her strengths, I don't hate her, but she is not the leader we need after Bush. Speaking as a voter, I would think journalists would listen to my opinion, not the failed candidate's.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:34 AM)

Hillary Clinton has been privately enumerating her doubts about Obama to supporters, according to people who have spoken with her

If true, totally unforgivable. Reinforces her failure to be a team player, which was a huge reason she was resoundingly rejected in the caucus here. To Howard Wolfson: Dude, no chance in hell Hillary Clinton would have gotten a single additional delegate sans Edwards. In my (heavily attended) caucus, the older women stood militantly in their corner of the high school library, barely able to muster 15% 'viability.' When the Biden, Richardson, etc people moved, it was NOT to Clinton---about 2/3 to Obama, 1/3 to Edwards. I'm pretty sure if the Edwards folks broke up (a pretty hardy but throwback group), it would have been a similar split, or maybe greater to Obama. Bottom line, Howard: Put a sock in it. Hillary: You, too, and tell Red Nose the same while you're at it. You are yesterday's news, and get used to it. Make way.

iowan (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:34 AM)

I'm sure the Obama camps wants to know Mark Penn's opinion on how to run his campaign since he did such a stellar job with Hillary's........right!
And Hillary is really walking on thin ice here. She isn't actively campaigning for Obama as she promised; she's encouraging her supporters to cause a rukus at the Convention and she's making it pretty obvious her intentions on running in 2012. In order for her to do that, McCain has to win in November. IF McCain wins, people will look back at how Hillary positioned herself for 2012 and derailed Obama and they won't be happy with her. I, for one, will NEVER cast a vote in her direction for any office she chooses to run for; I lost all respect for her during the Primaries. She's not going to have the support in 2012 that she thinks she will have. Obama '08

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:35 AM)

if Clinton thinks that by bad-mouthing Obama and hoping for him to lose she can run again in 2012 and win - she is sadly mistaken. We have long memories of her and Bill and their antics.

bernadette, harrisburg, pa (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:38 AM)

Of course the rats are turning on each other- it was only a matter of time. I was so disappointed in Hillary Clinton's management of her campaign. I truly believe she- as a candidate- was better than that fiasco would suggest; yet her judgment in who she chose to surround herself with showed how the H. Clinton White House would have functioned- horribly.

Senator Obama said way back at the start that his leadership would be demonstrated in how he managed his campaign. Respect, discipline, and a true team approach- what a welcome change from the past 8(+?) years.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:40 AM)

We tried to tell you the Clintons were soulless slime.

the democrat party is full of them (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:54 AM)

The Clintons are playing true to form. It's all about them. They are true works of art; although real examples of kitsch. No wonder she never divorced him...they're matching book-ends for a shelf of books about of self-aggrandizement. And, Mark Penn is their perfect foot soldier. Their back stabbing for the purpose of self-vindication is repulsive. I am a loyal Democrat and I will never vote for a Clinton for any office again. The queen (and king) is dead... long live the king.
Obama/Webb '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:55 AM)

As said in your First Thoughts, this shows what an incompetent manager Hillary is which apparently was true in her White House years. but , of course, in typical Clinton fashion , they will blame campaign managers and aides and now they have a new blamee----John Edwards. Nothing is ever their fault and the Clinton psychodrama will continue.

GW, Vancouver ,Canada (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:55 AM)

Mismanagment, yeah, she was ready for Day One. Can't run a campaign, paralized, indecisive, just the right material for president.

Thank god for Obama,at least we have a choice this election. How come we never hear about his glass ceiling?

Diane M (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:57 AM)

Stupidity will rule this election, I see it coming and it is sad. While a vast majority of Clinton supporters understand the process, there are some who simply cannot accept the facts. Fact 1. The Nomination is based on Pledged and Super Delegates. Fact 2. Neither the Primaries or the General Election is based on the popular vote, they should have learned that in the 2000 General Election. Fact 3. Those who say Senator Obama stole the nomination need to check the facts, read the legislative records for Florida and Michigan, read the DNC rules and bylaws. I understand that will take some time and may involve some critical thinking and reasoning skills but you will be surprised what you will learn.

If we loose this election then so be it, maybe we should simply for being stupid, greedy and self-centered. What is really sad is Clinton is not speaking out against this, she knows if this goes bad it could end her political career. Hide and watch, if Democrats have a floor fight and loose the General Election, Hillary Clinton’s political career is finished, all out of greed and arrogance. For those who will call me an Obama supporter, you need to know one thing, I supported Clinton until Obama became the nominee. She ask her supporters to support Obama and I respected her enough to abide by her wishes. The fact she is not speaking out has lessened my respect for her, if this turns into a floor fight and she doesn't stop it then I will loose all respect for her.

Michael, Sparks, Nevada (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:59 AM)

I have always believed this to be and this just validates it. Obama has always been running against the Clinton-McCain ticket and still is. This support she is showing is just a facade. This is coming out now like the previews and trailers you see when you are watching your favorite movie. This is to let you know what kind of campaign McCain is going to run. Clintons are going to get back at all of those that turned on them. Now we know for sure where the picture of Obama in the turban came from. They will strategically paint Obama as a foreigner, un-American and the boogey man for your kids. McCain's latest commercial is proof of that.

He has said he only plans to run for one term- which is just a major setup for Hillary. Can you imagine four more years of what we are enduring. The US involved in another war, more jobs and homes gone. All those that didn't like Hillary before would welcome her with open arms.
____

Check out the story on Senator Byrd and the book he just wrote for the new president. Very interesting!

Angela, Toledo, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:08 AM)

Only idiots will listen to mark Penn. The guy is a nut case that shouldn't be count as human being. He is a big fat idiot. Obama is not American enough, who they heck is American then? I guess Sean Sanity and Bill O'reily are the only Americans in this country.

I am glad Hillary lost the election.

Obama'08

Bee (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:08 AM)

I can't wait for this election to be over. I hate the Clintons with all my blood. I just don't see how i am going to bring myself to vote for her.

Going by this memo, i am glad the African American community calls Clinton bluff off. The Clintons are disgusting and Obama shouldn't have them close to the white house. The two Clintons are dangerous human being that are not worthy of my attention

Bee, Manchester (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:13 AM)

Keep it up, just 2 days to go till O is back.

Between this non issue and Edwards, McCain had the media to himself for a week and did nothing.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:17 AM)

The Clintons are the most narcissist human being on earth. I am tired of their psycho drama. For Christ sake this country is bigger than this egotistic family. We don't want any restoration of Clinton, period.

They’ve never admitted mistake and they always apportion fault to others without looking at themselves. I hate them

Bee (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:17 AM)

Wow, Penn is still committing malpractice. He did a powerpoint touting Obama's "lukewarm" leads among Hispanics and women? In the polls I've seen, Obama is comfortably ahead with white women and absolutely obliterating McCain among Hispanics. Penn is an idiot.

While I admire Hillary, these memos make me really glad she isn't going to be President. Imagine the infighting and ineffectiveness and fiscal mismanagement - yikes. Obama's campaign has been run with professionalism, focus, and competence throughout, while also being flexible and creative (see the current "paint your barn" grassroots campaign in Ohio).

Ruth, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:19 AM)

I believe Mark Penn knows more about Obama than the public knows. He is very good at screening people. According to investigated records submitted on the internet Obama was born in Kenya, his mother denied passage to Hawaii but where is his Kenyan birth certificate. His mother later took him to Hawaii and registered him there. The public is not interested in where he was born or if he is a real American citizen and don't seem to care. All they know how to do is vote. I believe what Mark Penn is saying and its time for the public to think before they vote or this country will go down in a disaster. Obama is only interested in making history like MLK and he is very desperate to do it. He lacks the experience and knowledge of foreign policy and thought his world tour would give him a big bounce but he got fooled. McCain is the best qualified to run this country.

Mariann Pepitone, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:27 AM)

Iowan, well said.

Angela, like the way you think.
___
Never trusted HRC, never will. And now she's backtracking on her promise to throw her support to Obama. Yet another reason.

HotRodMama4Obama (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:39 AM)

The Clintons are SICK with GREED for POWER. For them,it's not about the money or service to this nation, it's wanting the prestige of a HUSBAND/WIFE TEAM of rulers for historical reasons. It's not going to happen. Because even if Obama losses, nobody (except those few hundred PUMAs) will put any faith in a campaign for her again. We know too much nagative info about her and will know even more in 2012. AAs will NEVER trust her and Bill again.

judy ovilla tx (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:44 AM)

i will not be caught up in all this drama enough of this . i can't wait for the convention it will be great. whatever clintons are up we will just have to wait and see obama will deal it. hill and her supporters will do the right thing . time will tell if bill will get on board or not we have to wotk hard to get obama elected. howard and the memo and penn are just distractions just like edwards . we have to focus on getting obama elected as president let the gop steal all of hill's trash
or whatever they can use against obama . he is on message and let's go on to the white house.

SANDRA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:50 AM)

Hillary hurt Obama's chances and the party by running a slime campaign for so long. I feel her attempts to move her supporters to Obama has been disingenuious, feeble and lackluster.
If Obama loses, she should bear a big part of the blame. She gave a head start to the Republicans by being so negative even knowing that she was losing and we need a Democrat in the White House even if it wasn't her.

Harmony (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:16 AM)

I would at least give Hilary credit for NOT agreeing with Mark Penn on how to attack Obama. She didn't go that low folks.
Sure, she's attacked him on his lack of experience and seemingly all words - even copied some of them. But they're not at low as Penn would have her go.

I give her credit for that. It's too bad that these were the people around her. I believe no matter what, at the end of the day, Hilary wants a democrat in the white house. I wish people would stop portraying her as the wicked witch because she's not. She's fought with the Repubs (who called her a witch) for many years and stood her ground.

It's a shame that her campaign was run by people like Penn. So please folks, no matter how she pleads with her supporters to throw their support towards Barrack, don't tick them off into voting the other way. Enough of the mud sling. Like it or not, it would tip the balance the other way should that happen. And we don't want another Bush leading us.

Joyce, NY (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:20 AM)

Hillary Clinton is morphing into Glen Close!

JIM WHITTAKER, Hemet, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:22 AM)

I saw Wolfson on the O'Reilly show on Fox the other night. That and the memos tell me Hillary's faux nomination should be laughed out of the convention.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:22 AM)

Please - all this shows is that Hillary exercised much restraint during the campaign. If she wanted to pulverize Obama she could have, but she chose the higher road. All of you Hillary critics out there are seriously pathetic - get a grip. When Obama tanks in November - and he will tank - the country can thank you for nominating one more elitist candidate but this time one with no experience.

Eric, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:36 AM)

It is sad that there are still stories (true or not) about Clinton (either one I guess) questioning Obama and his ability to lead. This really puts back the Democrat's hope to win the White House come the fall. I would hope that there would be plenty collective organization towards this goal. Don't defeat the party simply because you want someone else at the top of the ticket.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:44 AM)

Mark Penn - hey isn't he the guy that thought that Clinton will get all the delegates from CA - didn't realize that both Obama and Clinton had to share?? And didn't have a strategy after the real Super Tuesday? Gee - yeah I sure would take advice from him.
Obama 08

SAM, USA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:47 AM)

The Clinton campaign featured incompetant and mean spirited staff lead by Mark (The Swine) Penn, an executive afraid to make the tough calls (Hillary) and a Joker backstage (Bill).

So is anyone surprised that they:
1) Lost in spite of their "inevitability"
2) Keep playing games with the media and Obama's people
3) Have a steath plan for '12 assuming they can help Obama lose.

As usual, it's all about them. Move over Clintons; your time is past. We need Change We Can Believe in! not more antics and cigars, lol

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:47 AM)

I am fed up with the Clintons. I will never vote for another Clinton. They are so self involved...all that matters to them is themselves. They are hurting the Democratic Party and they don't even care. The Democratic Party needs to tell her and her ignorant spouse to shut up. If Obama had lost and was acting like the Clintons, I am sure the Democratic Party would tell him to knock it off. They lost and they better deal with it! Also being from PA., I really had hoped that Gov. Rendell would have thrown his support behind Obama as much as he did for Hillary in the past.

Beverly Mowrey, Warren, PA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:52 AM)

For one reason or another there are people in the Clinton team that continue to try to undermine her. Just how did these memos make there way into the news papers? And is the purpose here to make it harder for her to place her name in nomination? I would say that is the strategy of whoever is behind this. I have always believed that Hillary had a traitor on her team...I am not sure if it is Penn or someone else but someone is enjoying stabbing her in the back. I for one hope her name is placed in nomination so all these Obama supporters can shake a bit in their shoes...wondering if she will get the votes needed.

Eliot, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:59 AM)

These news stories about the Clinton primary campaign just go to show the obvious -- for Hillary, the campaign was all about her: not the party, not the voters, not the country, not anyone, but her! And, now, she wants the Obama campaign pay her debts, while her campaign followings continue to trash Obama and look for ways to damage him just enough to loose in November without making it look too obvious! The Clinton's are, indeed, OLD politcs!

JasonT (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:05 PM)

"Hillary Clinton has been privately enumerating her doubts about Obama to supporters, according to people who have spoken with her."

The Clintons are totally disgusting. As others have mentioned, I believe the Clintons are up to no good in Denver. Obama should be afraid, very afraid, of the Clintons.

Hana, Saline, MI (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:16 PM)

So Hillary does have a say in whether her name is placed in nomination. From what I heard she says it's her delegates choice to do so or not but the telling thing here is that Hillary refuses to release her delegates which continues to cause conflict and is bringing the obvious front and center, Hillary doesn't want respect, she wants it all and will stop at nothing to get it even if it disrespects Obama's accomplishments. Obama is not appearing such a leader after all as he lets the Clinton's continue to walk all over him, push him around and disrupt what I was looking forward to, a united convention. I'm disappointed that Obama can't get the Clinton's under control instead of letting this be the Clinton's DNC Convention. The Clinton's have shoved themselves down our throats long enough and it sickens me that they're getting away with it. The male and female PUMA'S are running the convention to give Hillary her way, forget the Obama's, who are they anyway?

LJ (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:18 PM)

FED UP w/osama (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:22 PM)

The fall of Obama and the last minute win for McCain will be breathtaking. Not because McCain is a great leader, but Obama is such a risk. There's not a reasonable person out there who believes that Obama is not a suit who can slump at any minute. Great speaker? Sure. Leader? Most are skeptical. The winner of this election won't be determined by any stupid speeches at the conventions, but by the last days' events on the world stage that prod at people's fears of a world at risk and a risky choice - Obama.

Mark in IN (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:24 PM)

I've said all along that McCain should ask Hillary to be his running mate ! What a landslide VICTORY that would be !
obama with 18 million votes
McCain 35 million + Hillarys 18 million

FED UP w/osama (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:34 PM)

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