Will Mark Penn Give Obama an Advantage with Voters?

Having been flagellated for his association with Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama is now presented with his opponent's questionable associations. Long-time Clinton advisor and chief campaign strategist Mark Penn has the double disadvantage of being unattractive physically and socially. The media loves a villain and will seize upon all available fodder to build a case for hypocrisy and evil. The big question for the Democratic primary is whether or not Obama will do the same, and whether or not voters will follow suit.

Who Is Mark Penn?

Mark Penn's relationship with the Clintons can be traced back to the Dick Morris days. When Bill Clinton was trying to position himself in the political center, Penn's reputation as a moderate and his corporate success provided the desired credentials for an advisor. Morris brought Penn onto the team, and when Morris fell from grace Penn was handed the baton and a good portion of the credit for Clinton's success.

The Monica scandal cemented Mark Penn's position as a confidential Clinton advisor. According to CBS News, it was Penn who concocted the strategy of reassuring Americans that Bill Clinton was still hard at work for them and above political distractions. When Bill Clinton emerged from the scandal bruised but in tact, Penn scored a crucial victory in a battle that could have easily gone either way.

The Benefits of a Bad Reputation

Having a disdain for liberals and the excesses of the left are odd qualities for a Democratic advisor. Add to this a reputation for arrogance, apathy toward consensus, and the habit of publicly labeling dissenting colleagues "idiots", and you have a firebrand. Then from a corporate perspective, Penn secured very lucrative business deals with no regard for politics on either side. If Mark Penn was no ordinary advisor, the Clintons were no ordinary clients. In the end they valued his direct opinions both for their honesty and their relativity to the greater circle of advisers. In the highest levels of power and the deep valleys of scandal, arrogance can be interpreted as the ability to be unwavering in the face of determined enemies. Even a lack of social skills lends to the stereotypical genius as being out of step with the masses but exceptional nonetheless.

Mark Penn's Fall from Grace

It was Penn's penchant for business success that proved to be his undoing. The Wall Street Journal reported that Penn recently met with Colombia's ambassador to the U.S. to discuss a bilateral free-trade agreement. This agreement is clearly opposed by Hillary Clinton's campaign. The issue caught fire in the media and Penn's many detractors smelled blood. He was dismissed as Hillary's chief campaign strategist, but it is universally acknowledged that he will remain discretely involved in the campaign.

Will Obama Take the Bait

In short, Obama has already taken the bait. As reported in USA Today, the Clinton campaign attacked Obama back in March over a campaign adviser who discussed the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canadian officials. Hillary complained that the press was glossing over the incident due to unfair coverage of the campaign. The Obama campaign responded to news of Penn's dismissal with a poignant reminder of Hillary's criticisms and hypocrisy.

Will Mark Penn Affect Voters

Hillary Clinton's chief concern will be the affect of Mark Penn on voters. For a campaign slipping toward defeat, any bad news is very bad news. Pragmatic voters and Clinton loyalists will most likely see Penn as a lamentable necessity in the power-play of presidential politics. Idealist voters who have stood with Hillary will find it easier to jump ship with a clear conscience.

Michelle Cottle, "Why The Clintons Held Onto Mark Penn", CBS News
Susan Davis, "Clinton Aide Met on Trade Deal", The Wall Street Journal
Mark Memmott, "Clinton strategist Mark Penn is working to promote trade deal she opposes", USA Today