Guilt By Association Day: Mark Penn

Yesterday, we reported about how Hillary Clinton's chief adviser, Mark Penn, decided to recuse himself from managing any of his PR firms' clients involved in anti-labor activities. Penn was the subject of several articles lambasting his work for corporations and questioning whether Hillary Clinton should take the advice of the CEO of a company that has helped to thwart labor organizing drives. The Nation's Ari Berman asked Clinton adviser Harold Ickes how one recuses oneself from work one claims not to be doing?

Ickes's response: "

The logic of the question has considerable merit. Mark has told us that he is taking extra steps to assure people on the outside that he does not engage with clients that may be involved in controversial issues. The phrase 'Chinese wall' has been used."