The Washington Post's In the Loop reports that Mark Penn, former chief campaign strategist for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign was spotted at lunch Wednesday at the pricey D.C. restaurant Il Mulino with none other than President G.W. Bush's longtime aid; Karen P. Hughes, White House counselor and State Department public diplomacy czar.
According to the report, the Power Luncheon was arranged by mutual friends of Penn and Hughes and characterized as a "get-to-know-you lunch" while she was in town for a State Department public diplomacy award.
Penn is a long time Clinton campaign strategist and CEO of the DC public relations firm; Burson-Marsteller. He is also the President of the polling firm; Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates.
Last week Penn was demoted from his position as chief strategist of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign amid reports that he was working with President Álvaro Uribe (Colombia) to help him with lobbying efforts for expanded trade privileges with the U.S. - a plan that Sen. Clinton opposes. On April 5, 2008 the Colombian government terminated its business with Penn and his Burson-Marstellar firm.
According to published reports, Penn remains a major player in the Clinton campaign. Although his title has changed, Penn continues to monitor polls and participate in daily conference calls between the press and the Clinton campaign.
At first glance, Penn's Power Luncheon with a close friend and confidant of President Bush may seem a bit unusual especially in view of his relationship with the Clintons. But upon closer observation it becomes apparent that Penn has well established relationships with major power brokers in the Republican Party.
Burson-Marsteller owns a subsidiary, BKSH. BKSH which is run by Charlie Black. Black is a longtime Republican politico, and a top adviser for John McCain for President.JebReport dissected the relationship between Clinton's chief political strategist and Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in a diary on DailyKos.
And Ari Berman of The Nation wrote this last Spring:
A host of prominent Republicans fall under Penn's purview. B-M's Washington lobbying arm, BKSH & Associates, is run by Charlie Black, a leading GOP operative who maintains close ties to the White House, including Karl Rove, and was a partner with Lee Atwater, the consultant who crafted the Willie Horton smear campaign for George H.W. Bush in 1988.
This is the breakdown of the Penn/Clinton/McCain connection.
Penn works for Clinton.
Black works for McCain.
And Black works for Penn.
Penn, Clinton, McCain and Obama
On Friday, April 11, 2008 several statements made by Sen. Barack Obama during an April 6 fundraiser in San Francisco were pounced on by McCain, Clinton, Republican activists and Party officials. They all cherry picked his words, twisted their meanings and accused him of elitism, condescension and of being "out of touch with" small-town voters. Also on the evening of April 11, while on a campaign stop in Terre Haute, Ind. Sen. Obama added context to his original statements and explained what he meant by his remarks. When Sen. Obama's finished speaking his audience responded with a standing ovation. Here is his response .
In Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton, Mark Penn has a client on both sides of the political aisle. However, he does not have a stake in Sen. Obama's presidential campaign. If Clinton becomes President, Penn benefits. If McCain becomes President, Penn benefits. But if Obama becomes President, Penn loses.