Mark Penn's Poison Pen

Colbert I. King points out the bottom line on Mark Penn.: [via]

We have, thanks to Penn's own hand, a glimpse into his ethics and values. We can see how he would exploit heritage, background and class and use misleading and offensive characterizations in his work. We understand how he would go about challenging and demeaning Obama's American identity by suggesting that the Hawaii-born, Columbia- and Harvard-educated U.S. senator from Illinois is not American enough.

Cynically, he would make Obama out to be a threat to American values and culture.

It's clear from the memo exactly what type of politics Penn would practice.

What is unclear, though, in an increasingly diverse and multicultural America, where merit and not lineage or class should be deciding factors, is why the salons of Washington, the boardrooms of corporate America and the doors of foreign governments are open to such a divider and fear-exploiter as Mark Penn.

It's fair to ask about his roots in basic American values. Why do business with him?

The intro to his column hits home too. Go read.