Mark Penn and Karen Hughes team up (Bush/Clinton lobbyists)

Two hard-charging political operatives are teaming up to create a bipartisan consulting organization to advise corporations in crisis -- as they work to burnish their own reputations as well.

Former Clinton strategist Mark Penn, chairman and CEO of public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller, is hiring former Bush adviser Karen Hughes as a vice chairman, the principals say. The political combatants, known for their partisan efforts, decided to combine forces to offer a one-stop crisis-communication and public-affairs shop to corporations caught in front-page headlines or faced with a changing Washington.
Mark Penn, former Clinton strategist, is hiring former Bush adviser Karen Hughes in pursuit of bipartisan success at Burson-Marsteller.

It's a comeback effort of sorts for both players. Mr. Penn, 54, who served as chief strategist and pollster for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, has been blamed in recent months for her failed candidacy. Ms. Hughes, 51, who came to Washington with President George W. Bush as his communications director, left her State Department position several months ago after making little progress on her mission to improve the U.S. image around the world.

"Mark and I share a vision that communications people should be strategic advisers ... and an understanding of the realities of the political process," Ms. Hughes said. "And we also share the same lawyer."

The deal was brokered by Robert Barnett, a Washington superlawyer who earlier represented each of them on their books. Mr. Barnett is increasingly a broker between strange bedfellows. He is currently negotiating between the campaigns of Sen. Clinton and likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama over relieving her campaign debt, determining her convention role, and making joint appearances.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/09/clinton-adviser-penn-team_n_111585.html

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[exenrontexas]

I first met Karen Hughes when she had an office next to Karl Rove at the ENRON CORP headquarters in Houston. She and Rove had an unholy relationship with KEN LAY, the convicted felon at ENRON who stole the life savings of 24,000 employees. She is definitely BAD for honest government.

[dancharter]

I agree too. She never apologize for that vote. Instead of admitting to that vote being a mistake, she blames the President for mishandling it. She also voted for the Iran war resolution.

[TechnicolorSky]

i vote for clinton. not brack obama

[Y2ANJ]

I don't agree with this whole thing about passing on the problem of the Clinton campaign to Mark Penn (or to other claims of "sexism"). Yes the campaign wasn't run in the best way but she didn't lose because of that she lost because she voted for the war and nothing she could say could reverse the impact of that decision.