Burson-Marsteller and the Clinton Connection.

[asdjrocky]

I believe in being as informed as possible. I want to know who is behind the money. Who is behind the policy and strategy. If you feel like I do, then please read on...

European Women for Front Groups
In January 2004, the Observer (UK) reported that European Women for HPV Testing was a front group being run by B-M campaign for the US biotechnology company Digene. The Observer reported that some of the celebrities cited as endorsing the campaign on the groups website were not aware of the links of the group with Digene. <16>

Following the article B-M the list of celebrity names on the website was substituted with a message that those previously listed were being "re-contacted to confirm their continued support". B-M also sent a letter to The Observer claiming the articles was 'seriously defamatory'. <17> However, six weeks later B-M confirmed that no legal action would be taken. <18>

Carmelo Ruiz, in his article available in a link below, mentions many ventures B-M has spearheaded for clients in the past. They created a citizen group named the Coalition for Clean and Renewable Energy to create a positive image for the James Bay 2 hydroelectric dam project in Canada. They were hired by Philip Morris and then created the National Smokers Alliance to combat oncoming smoking restrictions. They infiltrated activist groups opposing the use of rBGH in dairy cows when hired by Eli Lilly and Nutra-Sweet, a subsidiary of Monsanto, to promote the benefits of the hormone. They were hired by A.H. Robbins after their Dalkon Shield IUD failed, damaging thousands of women. They also employed the talents of Otto Reich, former ambassador to Venezuela and head of Reagan's State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy (OPD) which was responsible for spreading disinformation about the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and blocked critical coverage of the Contras. The GAO found their activities to be illegal and Congress shut the office down in 1987.

Burson and Bush Men
In April 2005, Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter reported that Burson-Marsteller had joined with Quinn Gillespie & Associates to launch 360 Advantage, a public affairs shop filled with "key players in George W. Bush's successful presidential campaigns."

360 Advantage is headed by Russ Schriefer, who did advertising with the Bush/Cheney 2000 and 2004 campaigns and produced the 2004 Republican National Convention, and by Stuart Stevens, a "Bush adman and veteran political strategist." Schriefer and Stevens were also partners in the Stevens & Schriefer Group in Washington, DC, and have worked on presidential campaigns in the Czech Republic, Nigeria, the Philippines and Congo (Jack O'Dwyer's Newletter, Vol. 38, No. 17, April 27, 2005).

Blackwater USA
Burson-Marsteller has been hired by the two firms representing PMC Blackwater USA, McDermott Will & Emery and Crowell & Moring, to help with the account. <19>

According to PRWeek, Burson subsidiary, BKSH & Associates, was hired through an internal connection at Blackwater to help with Erik Prince's October 2, 2007 testimony to Congress and that this "temporary engagement has ended". <1>

Political Action Committee
According to the Center for Responsive Politics database, Burson-Marsteller's federal political action committee had raised more than $69,000 as of October for the 2004 election cycle, with 37% of the donations given at that point going to Democrats, and 58% to Republicans. In the 2002 election cycle, the PAC gave 41% of the $92,500 raised to Democrats, and 58% to Republicans. In 2000, 56% of the $83,500 raised went to Democrats, 44% to Republicans. In 1998, 31% of the $70,300 raised was given to Democrats, 69% to Republicans


And here is a short list of clients...

B-M does not publicly provide a list of its past or current clients. However, a selection of its client list, laregly based on O'Dwyers PR Daily database and other public sources (referenced separately), includes:

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a firm owned by the Abu Dhabi government; PR Week reported in August 2007 that "the contract runs through January 31, 2008, and is worth an estimated $802,250, including fees and expenses" <21>
Action Performance Cos.
Allergan: Botox
American Public Health Assn.
Blackwater USA via Crowell & Moring
CDW Government Inc.
Cephalon Inc.
Chicago Office of the Mayor
Citizens Flag Alliance
Colombia <22>
Coach Inc.
Dubai 2003
Entergy Corp.: Indian Point nuclear power plant
Foundation for Clean Air Progress
Housing & Construction CA
HP
IGN Entertainment Inc.
Indonesian Government
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity <23>
Iraqi National Congress
JAMDAT Mobile Inc.
Miller Brewing Co.
Lincoln Park <24>
Novell <25>
Optimus Inc.
Orbitz
Philippines, The
Presidential Climate Action Project <26>
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Qualcomm
R.R. Donnelley Financial
SAP AG
Sony Electronics
SRI <27>
State Farm
Stellar Internet Monitoring
T.D. Jakes, Bishop
Texas Assn. of Business
think3 <28>
UNITA (anticommunist group led by Savimbi)(Source: Julie Gozan, MultinatinalMonitor, April 1993.
U.S. Treasury Dept.
Union Banka (UB)
Wine.com <29>
YukosSibneft Oil Company

And who is in charge?

The Executive Board, as of December 2005, consists of:

Harold Burson, Founding Chairman
Mark Penn, Worldwide Chief Executive Officer
Chris Komisarjevsky, President & CEO Worldwide, Emeritus
Carlos Lareau, Chief Operating Officer, Worldwide
Ken Rietz, Vice-Chairman, Worldwide and CEO US
Celia Berk, Human Resources Worldwide
Fred Hawrysh, Director of Global Client Service
Per Heggenes, Chief Executive Officer UK, Co-CEO Europe
John Maltese, Chief Financial Officer Worldwide
Heidi Sinclair, CEO Continetal Europe, CoCEO Europe,
Bill Rylance, President & CEO, Asia/Pacific
Santiago Hinojosa, President & CEO, Latin America
Leslie Gaines-Ross, Chief Knowledge & Research Officer, Worldwide:
Pat Ford Chair, Global Corporate Practice / New York Market Leader:
Richard Mintz, Chair, Global Public Affairs Practice/Director of Global New Business Development
Jennifer Graham, Chair, Global Technology Practice:
Ame Wadler, Chair, Global Healthcare Practice:


People who support Clinton should have this informantion. If they don't yet have it, them I'm glad I could help them out.

[rinsd]

1. Nice try.

But Mark Penn wasn't even part of the firm for quite a few of the events you list.

Ya know unlike Edwards collecting his cushy salary while his hedge fund company engaged in predatory lending.

[Cameron27]

2. lol

:thumbsup:

[gateley]

3. And another lol - good one!

:headbang:

[asdjrocky]

4. Read a bit further please...

Interestingly, PSB was involved in similar charges of "American political interference in Serbia, locus of a $77 million U.S. effort to do with ballots what NATO bombs could not--get rid of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. In the run-up to national elections on Sept. 24, U.S. aid officials and contractors are working to strengthen Serbia's famously fractured democratic opposition. They have helped train its organizers, equipped their offices with computers and fax machines and provided opposition parties with sophisticated voter surveys compiled by the same New York firm that conducts polls for President Clinton" -- PSB.<10>

Jonathan Mowat has a more incisive appraisal of PSB as follows:

Penn, Schoen and Berland (PSB) has played a pioneering role in the use of polling operations, especially "exit polls," in facilitating coups. Its primary mission is to shape the perception that the group installed into power in a targeted country has broad popular support. The group began work in Serbia during the period that its principle, Mark Penn, was President Clinton's top political advisor.

I asume you have a good answer for this too. Or just another insult?

[rinsd]

6. You think someone leading the charge against Slobo is a bad guy?

Christ that's one of the few things Penn has done that don't make my skin crawl.

[asdjrocky]

8. This is what bothers me:

Penn, Schoen and Berland (PSB) has played a pioneering role in the use of polling operations, especially "exit polls," in facilitating coups. Its primary mission is to shape the perception that the group installed into power in a targeted country has broad popular support. The group began work in Serbia during the period that its principle, Mark Penn, was President Clinton's top political advisor.

The ends justify the means? I don't agree.

[eridani]

10. Yes, if they are foreigners

We don't allow foreigners to do that crap here, do we?

[asdjrocky]

12. Sorry,

I'm honestly not sure what you mean. Could you explain?

[eridani]

13. We have no business spending money on foreign elections for any reason whatsoever

We flat out forbid that here for excellent reasons, and every other country ought to have the same right.

[guruoo]

9. LOL!

[cosmicdot]

5. Carmelo Ruiz link

written in 1997

Burson-Marsteller: PR for the new world order

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/061.html

[asdjrocky]

7. Thanks for the link.

good info to have

[eridani]

11. Speaking of links, you need one for your OP n/t

[asdjrocky]

14. Sorry about that, I'm new, a perhaps a bit dim.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Burson-Marsteller

That's where I got the information, there is a lot more. Hope it helps. Everyone who doesn't know the real connection should take a look.

[eridani]

15. Thanks

Many people will want to send this material on, and you really can't do it without a link.

[asdjrocky]

16. Happy to help.

[Bluebear]

17. Welcome to DU, sorry about all the "lol's" and "nice try" posts.

[asdjrocky]

20. Np, guess we're all on the same side in principal.

[blm]

18. That's what many Dems haven't grasped yet - Penn's role is to help LEAD Dems

reluctant to follow the aggressive fascism of BushInc but who have been shown willingness to suspend their skepticism for a smiling face that wears a donkey mask over its fascist agenda.

They are the Pied Pipers playing the music they THINK Dem voters need to hear.

[asdjrocky]

19. I could not have said it better.

Thank you.