Surprise, surprise--Penn wants her to stay in.

[Shakespeare]

Surprise, Surprise ...
06.03.08 -- 4:40PM By Josh Marshall
From Newsday ...

"Even if reports that Hillary Clinton will acknowledge Barack Obama has enough votes to win, one man is urging her to stay in it.
Former top strategist Mark Penn, reviled by many on Hillary's staff but still an important voice in the candidate's ear, has emerged (to no one's surprise) as the strongest advocate of her remaining in the race regardless of what happens in the next 24 hours, according to sources inside the campaign.

In contrast to the "realist faction" (which reportedly includes Penn's replacement Geoff Garin, communications chief Howard Wolfson and others), Penn is advising the Clintons to remain in the race through the convention -- just in case another Rev. Wright-type scuffle breaks out.

His argument: Suspend the campaign if you must, but don't end it, because all those Obama supers will flock to Hillary if more dirt on O emerges before the convention."


Really, on several levels, this is no surprise. Whatever bad blood there still may be between the rival camps, Garin, Wolfson and pretty much everyone else I can think of on that campaign are Democrats. On every level of meaning of the word. Except Penn.

I don't just mean that in a pejorative sense but more in a descriptive one. He has no attachment to the Democratic party or really anything it stands for, even by a very broad definition. He works for the Clintons. He's got his corporate clients. But that's basically it. From the standpoint of his allegiances, it's actually a logical call.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/198446.php

[democracy1st]

1. she needs to get rid of those scumbags(Pres Clinton) taught me that

[hisownpetard]

2. Typo: where you mention the "realist faction," didn't you mean "fiction"?

[Shakespeare]

6. No, and those are Newsday's words.

They're referring to Clinton's advisors who acknowledge it's over.

[hisownpetard]

21. I was just bustin' ya.

:shrug:

[Shakespeare]

22. Ah, ok.

In this forum lately, one never can tell.... :rofl:

[hisownpetard]

30. I know! It's been pretty dicey lately, but not much longer to go...!

[PoliticalAmazon]

3. The man who has helped bankrupt her campaign wants her to stay in....

no big surprise there.

The fact that Penn is still on her campaign speaks to her poor leadership and organizing skills.

[redqueen]

4. I can't wait for the DLC to die.

They won't go quietly though... that much is certain.

[knixphan]

10. ditto.

let 'em migrate to the GOP where they belong.

[mod mom]

25. Won't that be a time for rejoicing!

[hisownpetard]

5. And does Mark Penn still get >$100,00 per day that her campaign stays alive?

Hmm - I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

[tularetom]

14. $100.00 an hour is probably more like it

[hisownpetard]

29. Oops - I left off a zero. S/b $100,000 per day.

[Kittycat]

18. Yes, disgusting - isn't it? Meanwhile his partner is working for McSame.

[Kool Kitty]

7. Gee, more dirt on Obama?

And would the Hillary supporters, were the situation reversed, want Obama to stay in, you know, in case some more dirt on Hillary was revealed? Or something catastrophic happened? Personally, i don't give a shit who gets the nomination at this point, I will vote for either one of them. But I have never heard that used as a reason for staying in a race. (And I'm no spring chicken, believe me.)

[americanstranger]

8. He wants to ride that gravy train for a few more stops.

Hell, if i was getting paid a few million a month, I'd be urging her to stay in until December.

- as

[hisownpetard]

31. Instead of riding the gravy train, he should be eating it! What a dog...

[DarienComp]

9. Whatever one thinks of Hillary Clinton...

can all of us, Obama supporters and Clinton supporters PLEASE agree that Mark Penn is scum who should never work in Democratic politics again?

[tularetom]

11. He can probably make another brazilion dollars off her before she wakes up

and realizes he's played her for a sucker.

[doublethink]

12. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain !!!

here ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE

[EFerrari]

13. Same guy who consults for the Colombians terrorist regime.

How surprised can you be?

[bicentennial_baby]

15. Translation: give me more munny!

[VolcanoJen]

16. It's all over but the noise.

Honestly I still think she'll concede tonight. Either way, it's not her night. It's Obama's, and the nation's.

[geiger]

17. trying to be the new Dick Morris, eh? eom.

[KSinTX]

19. I'm beginning to wonder if Penn will stay in even if Clinton leaves

Now THAT would be hysterical!

[algol]

20. Well, he's been batting .1000 with bad advice so far, keeping the streak alive!

Its pretty clear he'll have a hard time hooking up on his next presidential gravy train.

[damntexdem]

23. Obama should appoint Hillary as Postmaster General.

Then she can go postal all she wants.

[newmajority]

24. Penn wants his money

How many millions does she owe him now?

[mod mom]

26. and he want the influence he gets w Hillary at the helm. Another reason not to make her VP!

[shadowknows69]

27. Penn: "I really think I could swindle at least another 100 large out of her."

[Forkboy]

28. Penn has been nothing but trouble for her, which hasn't surprised me in the least.

It was easy to see coming.