Reply #22: Penn, Schoen & Berland, Mark Penn a pollster for Hillary. Just in Venezuela.

[madfloridian]

Boy, I sure have been naive. I found this while searching Our Brand is Crisis, the movie about Greenberg Carville, Shrum's group working around the world.

Trailer:
Greenberg,Carville, Shrum...Our Brand is Crisis Trailer..Bolivia

Now about Mark Penn and company, said by this article to be a similar type thing like that mentioned in Our Brand is Crisis.

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/503/1 /

"In 1999, when the U.S.-led bombing campaign in Serbia didn't get rid of Slobodan Milosovic, Washington changed its strategy. U.S. intelligence organized a $77 million effort to oust Milosovic through the ballot box. They sent in CIA front organizations funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Instead of guns and bombs, these U.S. forces were armed with fax machines, computers, and perhaps most importantly, sophisticated surveys done by the Washington-based polling firm Penn, Schoen & Berland.(1) Their mission: to take down Milosovic by strengthening opposition groups."

In his article, "Coup D'etat in Disguise," Jonathan Mowat described how these "polls" work:

"Penn, Schoen and Berland (PSB) has played a pioneering role in the use of polling operations, especially "exit polls," in facilitating coups. Its primary mission is to shape the perception that the group installed into power in a targeted country has broad popular support...the deployment of polling agencies' "exit polls" broadcast on international television...give the false impression of massive vote-fraud by the ruling party, to put targeted states on the defensive."(4)

The U.S. is already firmly entrenched in Venezuela with "democracy promotion" organizations such as the NED, USAID, and yes, once again, Penn, Schoen & Berland. These actors have teamed up with major opposition groups to map out and execute their strategy. The objective will be to create a situation like in Ukraine in 2004: huge protests against the elections and against the government in order to cause chaos and instability. Basically, it comes in three parts."

Last week, Mr. Schoen, of Penn, Schoen & Berland, released the findings of his latest survey on the Venezuelan evening news. As expected, Penn's survey showed that Chavez's opposition, Manuel Rosales, was nearly tied in the polls with Chavez. Chavez, it showed, had only 48% support, and his opponent Manuel Rosales had gained significantly up to 42%. This poll is now being reported across all the major Venezuelan media, to a huge audience, showing that Rosales was gaining more and more everyday, and could possibly win. Mr. Schoen added his personal opinion, "The momentum is clearly with Rosales."(10) With the help of the mainstream media, almost all of which is vehemently opposed to the popular president, these fake polls have reached a wide audience."

Fascinating article, you need to read it.

And more on the subject from the Miami Herald, December 3;

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/16151906.htm

"Sudden change at U.S. polling firm startles Venezuelan oppositionBY PHIL GUNSON AND STEVEN DUDLEY
[e-mail]
CARACAS - A sudden change in the management team of a U.S.-based polling firm working for opponents of President Hugo Chávez has raised eyebrows on the eve of presidential elections today.

Penn, Schoen & Berland, (PSB) a Washington firm that has been polling during the campaign and will be conducting exit polls for opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, confirmed that Mark Penn and not Doug Schoen will lead its team here.

Two members of Rosales' team, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the record, expressed surprise over the sudden change in managers and weren't sure how it would affect polling.

Another Rosales advisor, Diego Arria, said there was no turmoil and that Schoen was ``retiring.''