PR powerhouse Burson-Marsteller picked up a political heavyweight by hiring a longtime former adviser to President Bush. Karen Hughes joins the team as global vice chair (AKA advising corporations in crisis) with a boss who has ties to the left side of the aisle.

Who's the boss? Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn. He's the same guy who admitted to contributing to Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's failed bid.

This PR mastermind says in the release that “Karen is one of the leading communications strategists working today,” and goes on to say “she brings enormous strategic insights.”

Whatever that means... just a bunch of garble in a press release. But hey, now they're joining forces to conquer the bipartisan consulting world!

While the match-up raises eyebrows in political circles, Penn assures The Wall Street Journal that “we agreed that we won’t let politics interfere in our business.”

It seems like a good deal for Hughes. She'll be based in Austin, near her family, and likely earn a fat paycheck.

This news comes a few weeks after Penn tried to spin his way out of Clinton’s camp by blaming the loss on being outspent, not in delivering the message.

Penn might have lost out with the Clinton campaign, but picking up Hughes will surely attract some high-profile conservative clients.