« Marijuarmulke | Main | Global Warming Dead-Enders »
March 29, 2007
Why Is Mark Penn's Company Funding Republicans?
When I first started looking at the activities of Burson Marsteller, the PR firm run by top Hillary Clinton adviser Mark Penn, I found a lot to dislike. Ezra has already mentioned the firm's union-busting services. Other unsavory clients include Philip Morris and Dow Chemical (for whom BM tried to shut down criticism of the Bhopal chemical disaster). But these events happened before Penn became CEO, so maybe it's not fair to tar him with their nicotine- and methyl isocyanate-tinged brush.
But here's some more recent information on Burson Marsteller: Even in the 2005-2006 election cycle, Mark Penn's company gave 57% of its campaign contributions to Republicans, and only 43% to Democrats. (You can see the list of recipients here.) Why is Hillary Clinton's top pollster running a PR firm that donates mostly to Republicans?
March 29, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
As Atrios would say, "Oh my." DeLay? Dreier? Sensenbrenner? Good googly moogly, this looks B-A-D.
Posted by: Passing Shot | Mar 29, 2007 12:27:55 PM
"Why is Hillary Clinton's top pollster running a PR firm that donates mostly to Republicans?"
Triangulation rears its three ugly heads once again.
DU
Posted by: The Mechanical Eye | Mar 29, 2007 12:36:44 PM
Actually, this is fairly easy: it's because the GOP controlled both houses of Congress last cycle. Burson-Marsteller is a global firm within a global firm within a global conglomerate. They're bound to be affected by congressional activity, and by looking at the contribution list you linked to, it appears that they gave 99% of their contributions to incumbents (I see only one non-incumbent contribution). Alas, the dark side of lobbying.
Posted by: dry_fish | Mar 29, 2007 1:11:01 PM
Dark side of lobbying? It's simply how government is done, they're all rent seekers.
Posted by: Tim Worstall | Mar 29, 2007 1:26:26 PM
You're only saying this because you're a man.
Posted by: Cadence Franken-Berry | Mar 29, 2007 1:29:53 PM
how about using the kos/atrios/ezra excuse:
they're using bad republican money to fund good democrats! stickin' it to the man! right? uh...right?
Posted by: christian | Mar 29, 2007 1:34:05 PM
My guess is that the PR firm doesen't make who you vote for a qualification for employment. Seems like the simplest answer.
Posted by: DRR | Mar 29, 2007 1:46:14 PM
Not requiring people to vote a certain way is one thing, DRR. Donating lots of money to Republicans is another thing entirely.
Posted by: Neil the Ethical Werewolf | Mar 29, 2007 2:30:12 PM
Actually, Bhopal happened on Union Carbide's watch, in 1984, though UC was bought by Dow in 2001.
Posted by: LauraJMixon | Mar 29, 2007 3:36:00 PM
Ezra has already mentioned the firm's union-busting services.
It's more accurate to say he alleged such services, based on their advertising that they help companies deal with union troubles, which includes a connection to Jarol B. Manheim.
Why is Hillary Clinton's top pollster running a PR firm that donates mostly to Republicans?
Dry fish answered that part well enough. How many large companies can you find who didn't donate that way while the Republicans were in power?
Posted by: Sanpete | Mar 29, 2007 3:38:13 PM
Of course, now that I'm reading about some of existing damage, and what Dow has been doing since the acquisition, I can see the concern.
Posted by: LauraJMixon | Mar 29, 2007 3:53:14 PM
Keep in mind that Penn has been there about 15 months.
Posted by: Sanpete | Mar 29, 2007 4:01:17 PM
Not requiring people to vote a certain way is one thing, DRR. Donating lots of money to Republicans is another thing entirely.
Ok, we won't prhohibit you vote for, but you can't donate money to the candidate of your choice?
Posted by: DRR | Mar 29, 2007 6:02:05 PM
hillary is almost a republican anyway. I'm sure her and Penn share alot of common views.
Posted by: vwcat | Mar 29, 2007 9:45:04 PM
"Ok, we won't prhohibit you vote for, but you can't donate money to the candidate of your choice?"
Huh? We're not talking about individuals, we're talking about Burton-Marsteller's corporate PAC. Which Mark Penn, in essence, has a lot of control over (though he's only been there since December of 2005) . This is unrelated to the donations of individuals who happen to be Burton Marsteller employees - I assume (hope?) Mark Penn's personal donations are mostly to Democrats.
And nobody's talking about prohibiting Burston-Marsteller from doing anything. Rather, what people are commenting on the wisdom of Hilary Clinton's choice of Mark Penn, a choice that certainly should be partially based upon his beliefs and acts (just as, say, George Bush's choice of campaign manager should likely be conservative).
Posted by: burritoboy | Mar 29, 2007 9:47:05 PM
then why is josh marshall pimping ann coulter?
oh, he has no control over ads. he's sticking it to the woman. etc.
whatever. hypocrites.
Posted by: christian | Mar 30, 2007 5:14:34 PM
My mind is like a complete blank, but so it goes. Basically nothing seems important, but I guess it doesn't bother me. I've just been letting everything wash over me , but pfft. I haven't been up to anything. Such is life. I can't be bothered with anything.
Posted by: 300 cigar humidor | Aug 8, 2007 6:09:38 PM
I grandi vecchi delle dittature mondiali si spengono. Fidel è grave e ieri è morto Pinochet, ironia della sorte nella
Posted by: book border in michigan store | Aug 12, 2007 5:15:07 AM
I've just been letting everything happen without me these days. I've pretty much been doing nothing , but oh well. More or less nothing notable going on to speak of. I just don't have anything to say these days, but maybe tomorrow.
Posted by: candy sample free movie | Aug 13, 2007 4:30:26 PM
I feel like a fog, not that it matters. I've pretty much been doing nothing , but eh. Today was a loss. I haven't gotten much done for a while.
Posted by: vinyl tote bag | Aug 14, 2007 2:50:05 PM
Males should be allowed to go shirtless at home only - Or vary with places for another persuasive speech topic
Posted by: homer simpsons dad | Aug 21, 2007 12:58:05 PM
We are killing the rainforest
Posted by: ford detroit locker | Aug 22, 2007 12:30:06 PM
Blame the parents of a murderer parents for the crime
Posted by: archive florida lottery | Aug 23, 2007 3:55:35 PM
Sex offenders should be, should not be castrated
Posted by: bed frame poster | Aug 25, 2007 1:53:39 PM
Sex offenders should be, should not be castrated
Posted by: bed frame poster | Aug 25, 2007 2:02:29 PM
