Latest Posts
- Notice to “Spectator” readers
- So Long. Farewell. Auf wiedersehen. Goodbye.
- Magazine maven Bonnie Fuller poised to market her toughest brand yet: Herself
- John Macfarlane grabs The Walrus’s tiller
Tools
Categories
- General
- Bay Street
- Black Watch
- Television
- Radio
- Internet
- Newspapers
- Gossip Hound
- Egos
- Across the Ocean
- Over the Border
- Books
- Magazines
- American Election
- New York Times vs Wall Street Journal
- Gaffe of the Week
- Livent Trial
Postings by date
Mark Penn’s sleaze machine links Clinton to Canada
Posted on April 8, 2008 by Douglas Bell
Yesterday’s coverage of Hillary Clinton tossing her chief strategist, Mark Penn, includes—shock of shocks—a Canadian angle. Penn, acting in his role as CEO of global flacks Burson-Marsteller, was jettisoned for personally servicing a contract with the Colombian government that would help grease the wheels for a pending free trade deal with the States (a deal that Hillary, in an effort to suck up to working-class voters, has repudiated vociferously). Turns out that Burson-Marsteller is the same outfit that contracted with a Canadian company, Spin Master (yes, that’s really their name), to do damage control over a toy they were distributing.
In November 2007, The Atlantic’s Web site reported that:
The bead toys [include an] adhesive coating that too easily turns into the date-rape drug, GHB.... Several children who swallowed Aqua Dots lapsed into comas, promoting a worldwide recall. The company blames manufacturers in China for putting the wrong coating on their products.... An official of the company said that Penn has no role in the Aqua Dots contract. ‘There are over 2,000 clients,’ a company official said. ‘Mark had no contact with them in any way.’
Whatever.
Penn never recused himself for one second as Burson-Marsteller’s head honcho. And the suggestion that he couldn’t influence the firm’s more decidedly sleazy mop-up operations beggars credulity. A call to BM’s exec VP (and former Clinton White House official, natch), Josh Gottheimer, got me his assistant, Jason, who said, “He’s kind of busy today with the Clinton stuff. I’ve never heard of this thing but I’ll try to get back to you.” Thanks, Jay.
Meantime, after the shit hit the fan with the Clintons, the Times reported that “on Saturday, the Colombian government fired Mr. Penn’s firm, saying his efforts to distance himself from them were an insult.” Surely the Canadians were more polite than that. Calls to Spin Master in that regard were not returned.
• Top Clinton Aide Leaving His Post Under Pressure [New York Times]
• Senior strategist for Clinton steps down [Daily News]
• Lobby for Colombia Trade Pact Casts a Wide Net [New York Times]
• Mark Penn's Firm, Burson Marsteller, Helps Aqua Dots Company [The Atlantic]
- Back to Spectator Home
- Categories: General, Gossip Hound, Egos, Over the Border, American Election
- Permalink
Comments
Neither the author nor Toronto Life necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Editors will not correct spelling or grammar. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. Read our full policy
You must register to post comments. Please register here.
GravityLevity2 April 8, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
I doubt that Mrs. Clinton is any more opposed to "free" trade deals than Mr. Clinton was.
Interesting that she had a white businessMAN as her chief strategist--given the people she is trying to get to support her for the Democratic nomination. Even more disturbing was that he was s CEO of a lobbying firm--having him as strategist is downright disgusting. Hilary Clinton was one of only two first ladies of the US since 1960 who I thought would make a worse President for the US than her husband (the other was Barbara Bush).
Casey April 8, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.
" Hilary Clinton was one of only two first ladies of the US since 1960 who I thought would make a worse President for the US than her husband (the other was Barbara Bush). " - GravityLevity2 April 8, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
What about Nancy Reagan? Yuk.....
GravityLevity2 April 8, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
Nancy would have made a less bad President than Ronnie, in my opinion--as an outsider to the country.
GabeGomez April 8, 2008 at 2:40 p.m.
This doesn't surprise me about Penn. The guy is as arrogant as they come. How else can you explain the pathetic bumbling of Hillary's campaign? "Oh, no; we don't need the small states. We don't need to compete in caucus states. We don't need to raise money online. We don't need a cohesive, far-reaching message. Etc., etc..."
I like that this guy thinks he's some kind of revolutionary in the field of political strategy. I read an interesting historical take in the SJ Merc today (also available here: http://www.clintreilly.com/?p=164 ). It showed how these guys are just the latest and greatest, not some kind of omnipotent gurus that they're made out to be. The problem starts when guys like Penn start to believe the BS that's written about them.
Casey April 8, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
GravityLevity2 April 8, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
" Nancy would have made a less bad President than Ronnie, in my opinion--as an outsider to the country. "
Now that I think about it, anyone, even Spiro Agnew ( lol ) would have outclassed the ex Cali Gov...
jade_lee April 8, 2008 at 6:04 p.m.
GabeGomez: The problem starts when guys like Penn start to believe the BS that's written about them.
So true....make me think of what others have said about Conrad Black.
Post a comment