Mark Penn: SUPERGENIUS of the 1970s
By 
Mark Penn’s good advice goes back all the way to his days at Harvard, when he warned Democrats against pursuing impeachment against Richard Nixon.
Students and other citizens who have always opposed Nixon’s presidency understandably favor his removal from office. But the British form of impeachment, used to enforce ministerial responsibility, is absent from the U.S. Constitution. Impeachment on political grounds while technically possible, would be wrong. The Senate, under oath and sitting as judges at a trial, will be compelled by the public to adhere to legal rather than political principles.
The late President John F. Kennedy ’40, would have condemned a political impeachment of Nixon just as he abhorred in Profiles in Courage, the attempt to oust Andrew Johnson. Whether the issue is over secret bombings of Cambodia or a militarily imposed reconstruction of the South, the public and Congress should oppose an impeachment which places the opposition party in power.
The ground swell of public opinion over the weekend had its deepest support among citizens who dislike Nixon and his policies. The outpour of new impeachment supporters, however, came from those who felt strongly that the President was placing himself above the law by threatening to defy Judge Sirica. Nixon recognized this reality when he instructed his lawyer, Charles Alan Wright, to state simply, “This president does not defy the law.” This catch-phrase will be the cornerstone of Nixon’s Watergate strategy in the coming weeks.
If Nixon can present himself as an executive who adheres to the law, he can restore popular faith, sizably reduce impeachment sentiment, and hold onto the presidency.
I’m not sure what Penn understands less, Richard Nixon or how to count delegates. But look, since America is a true meritocracy, Mark Penn’s success is a sign of how we are the greatest nation in human history.
Penn is such a clown that sitting Democratic senators are now making fun of him on Twitter.
Hey, what does Mark Penn think the Democrats should do? Just kidding that guy is always wrong.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) July 6, 2017
I take this as a sign that the Democratic Party is moving in the right direction.