Mark Penn and Karen Hughes... on the same team

By GottaLaff

Somehow this doesn't surprise me:

They may seem like a political odd couple, but Mark Penn, the former strategist for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Karen Hughes, a trusted adviser to President Bush, are joining together to provide crisis communications consulting and advice to corporate clients.

Mr. Penn, the president and C.E.O. of the public relations powerhouse, Burson-Marsteller, is hiring Ms. Hughes as his vice chairwoman, according to the firm. She will “focus on providing clients with senior level communications strategy and counsel,” and serve as a member of Burson-Marsteller’s new client Strategy Team, according to a statement. She will be based in Austin.

“Karen is one of the leading communications strategists working today,” Mr. Penn said in the statement. “She brings enormous strategic insights coupled with the ability to drive successful campaigns at the highest levels of the political, governmental and corporate arenas. I cannot think of anyone better suited to counsel our clients.” [...]

The deal to hire Ms. Hughes was reportedly brokered by Washington lawyer Robert B. Barnett, who also recently helped former Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson sign on as a commentator with Fox News.

Barnett's just a big bag of yenta, isn't he?