The Nation Magazine: Hillary Clinton Campaign Strategists Closely Tied to Union Busters, GOP Operatives, Conservative Media

● Update: Barack Obama has taken the lead over Hillary Clinton 45-43 in
Pennsylvania, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling! (hat tip 99)

Big Dan: This is from LAST YEAR, this is old news that needs to be brought up again! Due to WILK's Steve Corbett's blatant anti-Obama campaign! Setup like an infomercial, a union member "happens" to call into Steve's show, and then Hillary Clinton's brother Hugh Rodham "happens" to call into the show! Does Steve Corbett think we're stupid??? One might think this had all the hallmarks of a professional set-up...

The Nation: Clinton Campaign Strategists Closely Tied to Union Busters, GOP Operatives, Conservative Media

A new expose in The Nation magazine finds that while Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is publicly trying to win support of unions in her presidential campaign, behind the scenes she is being advised by a team of strategists closely affiliated with unionbusters, GOP operatives and conservative media. We speak with the reporter who broke the story.

In campaign news, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton reached out to members of the Culinary Workers Union on Wednesday during a stop in Las Vegas.

The union represents casino and hotel workers. Senator Clinton said it should be easier for unions to organize and that private equity firms should honor union contracts after buyouts.

While Clinton is publicly trying to win the support of such unions, behind the scenes she is being advised by a team of strategists closely affiliated with unionbusters, GOP operatives, conservative media and other Democratic Party antagonists.

This according to a new expose in The Nation magazine titled "Hillary Inc." written by Ari Berman. Much of Berman’s article focuses on Senator Clinton’s top strategist, Mark Penn, who heads the public relations firm Burson-Marstellar.

Among other things, the company helps firms fight unionization efforts. Up until March, the labor section of Burson-Marstellar’s website read: “Companies cannot be caught unprepared by Organized Labor’s coordinated campaigns.”

Mark Penn’s list of previous and current clients reads like a who’s who of Corporate America: Texaco, Eli Lilly, Microsoft, Proctor and Gamble, Monsanto.

Ari Berman, contributing writer for The Nation magazine and a Puffin Foundation writing fellow at The Nation Institute.

Watch this video: Hillary, Inc.



The Expose by The Nation Magazine, Clinton Campaign Strategists Closely Tied to Union Busters, GOP Operatives, Conservative Media, Mark Penn: Union Buster! (click here)

● Obama wins all possible scenarios (click here/hat tip to GWN)

● The Nation: The PR firm run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's top strategist, has a new client: Blackwater.

● Client of the day: Blackwater. The firm of which Mark Penn remains president, Burson-Marsteller, has raised eyebrows for straying a bit from core Democratic Party issues, with its involvement in an anti-union campaign and for representing a leading, troubled subprime lender. But ... Blackwater?!

I guess Democracy NOW!, The Nation Magazine, and Politico.com are not credible websites, according to Steve???

● Even as Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign was blasting Sen. Barack Obama for his ties to the Exelon Corporation, the firm of Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist, was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from the very same nuclear energy giant. This past week, Burson Marsteller, Penn's powerhouse consulting agency, was paid more than $230,000 by Exelon to help renew a nuclear energy license in New Jersey, the Huffington Post has learned. The payment was for work that took place over several months, and Burson is still employed by the company.

Big Dan's Big News Apr 2, 2008

● Latest Poll: Obama Closes Pennsylvania Gap To 47%-42% (bd: It is OVER!!! b/c it's not "winner take all"; Obama just had to keep it close...)

The "Comeback Kid" won on Super Tuesday II !!! She's right back in it !!! WHOOPS !!!

● Remember when the corporate media told us that Hillary won Texas? Well, she didn't! Obama officially won Texas...where's all the retractions? I guess they "MIS-SPOKE!"

● Clinton backer: Obama will win

● Hillary compares herself to "Rocky"…hey! Rocky is from Philadelphia! And Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania! Wow! What a coincidence!

Hillary & Obama were in Wilkes-Barre yesterday:

● They’ve been making their way around the state. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Harrisburg. • And, on Tuesday, they met in Wilkes-Barre.

● wilkes-barre counts. The distance separating Democratic presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has for months been measured in delegates, superdelegates, states and arbitrary ticks along the political spectrum.

● …and so was rightwing troll Robert Novak

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Other News:

● The Bush administration plans to use its authority to bypass more than 30 laws and regulations in an effort to finish building 670 miles of fence along the southwest U.S. border by the end of this year, federal officials said Tuesday. Invoking the legal waivers — which Congress authorized — would cut through bureaucratic red tape and sidestep environmental laws that currently stand in the way of the Homeland Security Department building 267 miles of fencing in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, according to officials familiar with the plan.

● The Permanent Republican Majority, Part IV: How corporate-GOP interests sought to topple Democrats in Mississippi; The US Attorney who wasn't fired: How Bush pick helped prosecute top Democrat-backed judge

● The Bush administration announced Tuesday it will require states to report high school graduation rates in a uniform way instead of using a variety of methods that critics say are often based on unreliable information. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced the change at a news conference at which a report was released showing that 17 of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent.

● On the eve of a House vote on controversial wiretapping legislation last month, the nation's intelligence director, J. Michael McConnell, convened a secret weekend meeting in northern Virginia with members of the House Intelligence Committee. The two-day session was designed to promote a calmer atmosphere for discussing an array of intelligence issues, including the nation's eavesdropping laws. But participants said the event ended with a series of acrimonious exchanges. Democrats accused McConnell of making exaggerated claims and of doing the bidding of the Bush administration, according to officials who attended the event. McConnell bristled at the Democrats' charges, and chastised members of the committee for failing to defend the intelligence community amid a barrage of bad press.

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What? What did Mukasey just say?

● Mukasey hints US had attack warning before 9/11

● ...caught by blogger Glenn Greenwald...




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Bless O' Potamia: "It's All Good!". The Daily Show uncovers that Bush says "the Surge" is good when violence id DOWN...and "the Surge" is good when violence is UP !!! So, "It's All Good!" Don't they know we have videos ???



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Democracy NOW! DISH channels 9410 & 9415, DirecTV channel 275!

If you have DISH or DirecTV, you could be watching the REAL news!

Take a look at these 3 in-depth stories on Democracy NOW! today, now THIS is REAL news, real IMPORTANT news!

1. After Adverse Publicity, Wal-Mart Drops $400,000 Healthcare Claim Against Former Employee Disabled in Traffic Accident

After tremendous adverse publicity, retail giant Wal-Mart has announced it is dropping its effort to collect over $400,000 in healthcare reimbursement from Debbie Shank, a former employee. Debbie lost much of her memory and ability to communicate or walk in a car crash in May 2000. Her family successfully sued the trucking company involved, and after attorneys’ fees and expenses, the $417,000 from the settlement was put in a trust for Debbie’s care. That’s when Wal-Mart stepped in and sued the Shanks to recover the medical costs. Wal-Mart won the case in court. The story generated a public outcry after it was recently featured on several national news networks and newspaper editorials. We speak with Debbie’s husband, Jim Shank.

AMY GOODMAN: It was a terrible thing. In May of 2000, Debbie Shank was driving home when she made a U-turn on Highway 177 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri and got broadsided by a semi truck. She suffered a brain injury that took her memory and left her with very little ability to move or communicate. She has lived in a nursing home ever since. Debbie’s medical bills were covered by a health insurance program at Wal-Mart, where she had worked nights stocking shelves.

Debbie’s family later successfully sued the trucking company whose driver was involved in the accident. After attorneys’ fees and expenses, the $417,000 from the settlement was put in a trust for Debbie’s care. That’s when Wal-Mart stepped in and sued the Shanks to recover the medical costs. Wal-Mart won the case in court. Last summer, the family appealed the ruling, but Wal-Mart won. One week later, their eighteen-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed in Iraq while serving in the Army.

Refusing to give up, the family appealed to the Supreme Court. But last month, the high court said it would not hear the case. The family’s financial situation became so dire that last year Debbie’s husband, Jim, divorced her, so she could receive more money from Medicaid.

Debbie’s case generated a public outcry after it was recently featured on several national news networks and in newspaper editorials. Then, yesterday afternoon, Wal-Mart announced it had reversed its decision and said it no longer will seek the money. In a statement, Wal-Mart said, “We have decided to modify our plan to allow us more discretion for individual cases, and are in the final stages of working out the details. Wal-Mart will not seek any reimbursement for the money already spent on Ms. Shank’s care, and we will work with the family to ensure the remaining amounts in the trust can be used for her ongoing care. We are sorry for any additional stress this has put on the Shank family.”

DN! transcript or DN! video

2. Oil Execs Asked to Justify Huge Profits at Congressional Hearing

The executives of the five biggest oil companies–Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP, ConocoPhilips, and Chevron–were called to testify at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday. Lawmakers took them to task for making enormous profits but investing next to nothing in renewable sources of energy. They were also called to justify why they got $18 billion in tax breaks last year when their profits had hit $123 billion and oil prices had reached runaway highs. We speak with Steve Kretzmann of Oil Change International.

DN! transcript or DN! video

3. Record Number of Food Stamp Recipients Projected

Government officials are projecting the number of Americans receiving food stamps will reach a record 28 million later this year. Over the past year, more than forty states saw the number of food stamp recipients rise. A ten percent jump in food stamp recipients was recorded in six states: Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, North Dakota and Rhode Island. In West Virginia, one in six residents now receive food stamps. We speak with Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center.

DN! transcript or DN! video

The first 10 minutes of Democracy NOW! is all you need to watch every day for all the important news, here's what it looks like every day:

● ’03 Justice Dept. Memo Said Military Interrogators Could Ignore Law
● Admin to Waive Environmental Laws for Mexico Border Wall
● Senate to Introduce Foreclosure Assistance Bill
● Business Donors Favoring Democrats over Republicans
● McCain Economic Advisers Under Scrutiny
● Britain Delays Troop Withdrawal from Iraq
● Iraqi Civilian Deaths Rise 31%
● Pakistani Minister Calls for End to US Air Strikes
● Embassy Bombing Widow Calls for Trial of Gitmo Prisoner in Civilian Court
● “Fossil Fools Day” Protests Target Coal-Linked Banks
● Police Shooting Survivor Describes Sean Bell’s Last Moments

Are these stories on corporate controlled ANBCBSNNX today?

DN! transcript or DN! video

Big Dan's Big News Apr 1, 2008; April Fool's Day! Obama & Hillary are in Wilkes-Barre right now!

Special commentary by Big Dan: "WILK callers have a problem with Sen. Casey saying he wasn't going to endorse anyone, and then endorsing Obama...but have no problem with Hillary saying she was under sniper fire in Bosnia! Hillary mis-spoke...Casey didn't!"

Click below to hear NEPA's WILK local radio coverage of Obama & Hillary in Wilkes-Barre & Dunmore today! You won't hear this anywhere in the nation, only here!

● Listen LIVE! To NEPA's local radio coverage of Hillary & Obama today!

● Breaking News: Obama begins speech inside Marts Center. Obama supporters are filling the lull before the senator's speech with quick bursts of chants inspired by the candidate's name and campaign slogans. "Fired up." "Ready to go." "Yes we can! Yes we can!" "O - BAM - A. O - BAM -A"

● WILKES-BARRE — People of all demographics lined up at Sen. Barack Obama’s headquarters on South Main Street on Monday to pick up tickets to see the Democratic presidential candidate today at Wilkes University, the same day that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak at King’s College.

● IF YOU GO……….

● Obama bus tour looks for NEPA voters to join ride. ALLENTOWN — Barack Obama’s tour of introduction to Pennsylvania voters rolls into Dunmore and Wilkes-Barre today, with the Illinois senator preaching change, healing and a new politics.

● Wilkes crowd ready for Obama

● W-B: Dem Party central . WILKES-BARRE – For the second time during the Democratic presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will make public appearances in the same city on the same day.

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Democracy NOW!:

Military Considers Recruiting & Hiring Bloggers

In media news, new questions are being raised over the relationship between the Pentagon and bloggers. Wired.com has uncovered a 2006 study written for the U.S. Special Operations Command that suggests the military should clandestinely recruit or hire prominent bloggers. The report stated “Hiring a block of bloggers to verbally attack a specific person or promote a specific message may be worth considering.” The report also suggested the Pentagon hack blogs that promote messages that are antithetical to U.S. interests. The report went on to say: "Hacking the site and subtly changing the messages and data—merely a few words or phrases—may be sufficient to begin destroying the blogger’s credibility with the audience. "

● A study, written for U.S. Special Operations Command, suggested "clandestinely recruiting or hiring prominent bloggers."

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Other News:



According to AAA, retail gasoline prices set a new record in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area over the weekend, with unleaded regular averaging $3.28 per gallon. The previous record, set in September 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, was $3.26 per gallon.

● Schwarzenegger Aide: McCain’s Climate Plan Gets An ‘F’

● McCain Re-Embraces Supply-Side Theories That Are ‘Beyond The Reach Of Economic Science’



● Evidence That the CIA Murdered RFK. A new BBC documentary supports the conclusion that the CIA planned and executed the assassination of Robert Kennedy. The new video and photographic evidence -- the result of a three year long investigation --"puts three senior CIA operatives" at the scene of the murder.

● Undisputed Facts Point to the Controlled Demolition of WTC 7

● Is an International Financial Conspiracy Driving World Events?

● Global Gridlock: How the US Military-Industrial Complex Seeks to Contain and Control the Earth and it’s Eco-System

● Financial Meltdown: U.S. Treasury Regulatory Reform Proposals: Hapless, Helpless, Hopeless

● April Fools: The Fox To Guard The Banking Henhouse

● New World Order. A Planned World Economy

● Republicans and “Free Market” Zealots Bring Death to America. by Paul Craig Roberts...former REPUBLICAN official under Reagan!

● Home Price Decline Steepest in 21 Years

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Democracy NOW! DISH channels 9410 & 9415, DirecTV channel 275:

EXCLUSIVE…Bush’s Law: Eric Lichtblau on Exposing the NSA’s Warrantless Wiretapping Program and How the White House Pressured the New York Times to Kill the Story

In a national broadcast exclusive, we speak with New York Times reporter Eric Lichtblau about his new book, Bush’s Law: The Remaking of American Justice. Lichtblau won the Pulitzer Prize for exposing the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program in December 2005. He reveals the inside story of the New York Times’s decision to delay publication of the story for more than a year after intense lobbying from the White House.

DN! transcript or DN! video