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D.C. Confidential
Pro-Union Hillary Harbors Labor Foes

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DISORGANIZED Clinton speaks to the Communication Workers of America

As Hillary Clinton bashed corporate America for union-busting this week at a Washington convention of labor-schmoozing Democratic politicians, her chief campaign strategist and pollster, Mark Penn, must've been grinning at the rich irony. He's the Worldwide President and CEO for Burson-Marsteller, an international PR conglomerate known for, well, busting unions, The American Prospect's Mark Schmitt notes.

Beware the Evil Labor Bosses, Burson-Marsteller's website warns. "Companies cannot be caught unprepared by Organized Labor's coordinated campaigns."

There's more where Penn came from, and they're not just limited to the Hillary campaign. Russ Baker exposes the little-talked about dark side of the Democratic Party with a long list of paid Democratic campaign consultants who simultaneously shill for union-busters, tobacco-peddlers, and other assorted underworld characters.

Then there's the lawfirm Jackson Lewis, full of some of the nation's best known union-busting mercenaries. Way back in 1972, the firm's partner William Krupman published an entire union avoidance handbook, a tome experts call "the best-known guide to defeating organizing campaigns." And wouldn't you know it—the same William Krupman is an official Friend of Hillary Clinton, forking over a fat $1,000 check for her campaign.

At least Hillary waited 14 years after leaving her seat on the board of Wal-Mart—one of labor's biggest foes—before cracking on corporate America.

Photo: Getty Images

By David Sirota   03/30/07 8:31 AM
Related: Hillary Clinton, Mark Penn
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