Re: Wash Post story -- Sorry to write this on a Saturday night

From:john.podesta@gmail.com To: jbenenson@bsgco.com CC: robbymook2015@gmail.com Date: 2015-02-22 21:12 Subject: Re: Wash Post story -- Sorry to write this on a Saturday night

Agree. Happy to talk to the David's. Call me crazy, but I think if we can survive the next month, it will be possible, maybe even straightforward to get our arms around this once there is an actual campaign. I'm definitely for making an example of a suspected leaker whether or not we have any real basis for it. JP --Sent from my iPad-- john.podesta@gmail.com For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com > On Feb 22, 2015, at 5:56 PM, Joel Benenson <jbenenson@bsgco.com> wrote: > > John, > We are in massive agreement that we need a strategy and process now to enable and disable as you say and I think this is worth spending some time making it practicable. I would strongly recommend either one of you or both talking with Plouffe about he and Axe created that culture from the start in 07. > > Here are some thoughts but I realize this topic will take a dedicated conversation to figure out what will work. > > I do believe that this starts with alignment on our campaign culture and a paradigm shift in the old Clinton M.O. I know HRC believes the more people you talk to the better but it simply isn’t. Especially for her. We really need to tighten who she talks to and make sure that Huma/schedulers route most people through high level folks on the campaign so that they are being listened to. > > I think Robby rightly says that a lot of our leaks are coming through job searches we’re doing. I think every conversation has to either begin or end by telling people if you’re name appears in print as a result of the conversations the job is off the table. > > I think we have to make examples now of people who have violated the trust of HRC and the rest of the team. People going forward need to know there are stiff consequences for leaking, self-promotion, unauthorized talking with the press. No one – literally no one talked to the press in either Obama campaign without clearing it with campaign brass. > > Joel > > From: John Podesta [mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com] > Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2015 10:47 AM > To: Joel Benenson > Cc: Robby Mook 2015 (robbymook2015@gmail.com) > Subject: Re: Wash Post story -- Sorry to write this on a Saturday night > > Joel, > I generally agree with the point, but we need a strategy on this that goes beyond internal discipline. This story could have been written without any of these big mouths blabbing. The mere involvement of Wendy gave them license to write this. The only thing in the story that indicated that someone on the inside was talking was the reference to the H, although one of Peter Sealey's big clients is Coke so we probably know where that came from. We can and should try to shut this down, but it is going to be tough until we get to a point where someone can actually talk on behalf of the campaign. One particular challenge is Spence. He's worked with them for 40 years. He's like Harold Ickes-Reporters will think he's inside even if he's not. We need a strategy to enable people who are real and disable those that aren't. > John > > JP > --Sent from my iPad-- > john.podesta@gmail.com > For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com > > On Feb 21, 2015, at 10:12 PM, Joel Benenson <jbenenson@bsgco.com> wrote: > > But this is by far the most damaging story and most damaging type of story we can have. > > The press will love writing these. I did when I was a reporter. > > I think we need a paradigm shift in how this world operates we have to convince HRC and probably WJC that her meeting with 200 people doesn’t help her. Hiring corporate wizards has never been a successful strategy in campaigns. And anyone whose name is in the paper 48 hours after they meet with her needs to be cut off completely from her campaign. . > > Almost everyone on this team that has been assembled has been busting their tail to make this work and to work against this kind of stuff and it’s going to get demoralizing in a hurry. > > I’m open to all and any alternatives on how to truly solve this but I really feel that when she is back from CA we have to solve this. > > Thanks, > Joel > > > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-making-of-hillary-50-marketing-wizards-help-reimagine-clinton-brand/2015/02/21/bfb01120-b919-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_story.html