Mark Penn has resigned as Chief Strategist for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Some will say it is about time. Other's will say it's only right, given the conflict-of-interest between his role as political consultant with his role as a lobbyist/consultant for the government of Columbia at his firm Penn, Schoen & Berland.

The real truth, at least from my perspective, is a dirty little secret that Mark Penn ain't the only partisan "strategist" with ties to entities that would pose a "conflict of interest." For a very long time, I have recommended folks look at the expenditure reports of the presidential candidates. The round-robin of shock about Mark Penn is laughable. A brief glance at the expenditure report + a cursory Google search of the firms found in said report = "Chief Strategist Resigns."

The intellectual laziness of many interested parties blows my mind. Inside the Beltway, I can name a half-dozen "lobbyists" who are also "consultants" or "strategists." Lobbying pays the bills. Keeps them in Armani. And since Jack Abramoff ain't around, it might as well be the Columbians paying for box seats at the next Nats game.

---Media Lizzy

Statement from Maggie Williams

After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign.

Geoff Garin and Howard Wolfson will coordinate the campaign's strategic message team going forward.