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Clinton Top Aide Working to Help Colombian Trade Deal She Opposes, Part II
April 04, 2008 1:53 PM
Last year, Mark Penn told the Washington Post that conflicts of interest like this would not happen.
"Penn said that he has been cleared of all client responsibilities, except for Microsoft, for the duration of the campaign but that he still relies on a team of about 20 employees to do most of the day-to-day work. Though running a major company and a presidential campaign at the same time would seem to provide a number of possible conflicts, Penn insists there are none," the newspaper reported.
More to the point, what does this do to Sen. Hillary Clinton's outrage about the Austan Goolsbee story?
During that kerfuffle, Clinton lectured reporters to "look at that story, substitute my name for Senator Obama. If some of my advisers had been having private meetings with foreign governments and basically saying ignore what I'm saying because it's only political rhetoric…"
That of course is not what Penn was doing. He was, for cash money, advising the Colombian government how to get the trade deal passed, how to build popular support for it in the U.S. and in Congress.
What would Clinton say if David Axelrod were advising Colombia on how to pass the deal despite Sen. Barack Obama's opposition to it?
Holding a press conference right now, I bet.
- jpt
April 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (56)
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HOW will Obama pay for all his promises if he still maintains the war in Iraq and does not withdraw the troops and cannot save the money spent on the war for other uses? Everyday we hear about a change to the Obama plan to bring troops home. Obama can't deliver what he promises. He promises something different every day. Deny, deceive and destroy.
Posted by: mpwdc | Apr 5, 2008 7:06:55 PM
I'd rather the relationship between Clinton and Penn than the one with Obama and Rezko.
Clinton campaign did not engage in talks with Colombia or with Canada. What Penn did was on his own and not in behalf of the Clinton campaign or anything to do with Hillary Clinton. Rezko is another story.
Posted by: mpwdc | Apr 5, 2008 6:58:33 PM
Hillary is such a hipocryte How can anyone trust her.
Posted by: Nadeem | Apr 5, 2008 6:46:47 PM
More to the point, what does this do to Sen. Hillary Clinton's outrage about the Austan Goolsbee story?
Its Hillary it doesn't count fore he . She is always calling the kettle balk she doesn't care shes Hillary.
Nothing applies to her or Bill they are above it all.
We don't live in United States of America ...we live in Hillaryland
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 5, 2008 12:30:33 AM
she not for NAFTA
That of course is not what Penn was doing. He was, for cash money, advising the Colombian government how to get the trade deal passed, how to build popular support for it in the U.S. and in Congress.
obama08
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 5, 2008 12:25:21 AM
Both Clintons have a decade-long relationship with Mark Penn.
The same Mark Penn that has earned millions to represent anti-union interests and companies, resulting in loss of benefits - including health care and retirement. What a slap in "the face to Hillary and Bill's so-called "base", union workers and working-class Americans.
This is also the same Mark Penn that is now pushing for a free-trade agreement in a country where union workers have been murdered repeatedly; an agreement that has the potential to result in even more lost jobs for our working-class families.
Hillary Clinton knows exactly what Mark Penn represents, which is everything she "claims" not to.
If she truly cared about working-class citizens she would have "denounced" and "rejected" her relationship with Mr. Penn many years ago.
Hillary has repeatedly denounced Obama for relationships, yet puts this man, who is the epitome of anti-Democratic values and concerns, front and center in her campaign.
I feel so sorry for the working class in this country who are being duped by Hillary. What a price they will pay if this ultra-rich, hypocritical, in-bed-with-the-Republicans, power hungry, compulsive liar makes her way into the White House at the expense of the working poor who put her there.
Posted by: nandssmith | Apr 4, 2008 9:49:39 PM
DaCoach-Penn is doing HIS day job like I work the night shift. Penn apparently met with Columbian trade officials on HIS day job and NOT on behalf of Hillary Clinton who does not support Penn in any way shape or form according to Trapper's part 1&2. If I was Hillary, and I'm not, I would have gotten rid of that guy when I suggest she do so during the Iowa primary. Even I could see back then the terrible ground game Penn had in mind. I have not been proven wrong then or later. As a Clinton supporter I have written the Clinton campaign suggesting exactly what I write here.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 4, 2008 4:07:41 PM
DEMs is gambling their own presidency by trying to use an in-experienced and non-accomplished person to regain W.H...
No wonder Dems is called "liberal"....
Reps is more conservative and they believe you have to earn it by your solid records, your hard-works, your experiences, and achievements....
Americans will judge who they will trust to lead them in Nov..
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 4, 2008 4:03:32 PM
Hillary released her tax returns!
Posted by: John | Apr 4, 2008 4:01:52 PM
Sounds to me like Penn is double dealing. If this is the case, he needs to resign or be fired! No excuses.
Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | Apr 4, 2008 4:01:14 PM
The funny thing is I make comments all the time about how Obama should start shaking up how he explains things in his rally and meetings and such...because I think they are getting boring...
the same policies, the same phrasing the same stances...
Now I understand why he does that...because he is consistent. That doesn't mean he is not open minded and smart enough to know he is setting a plan but unlike Georgie W. he realizes that openness and being able to adapt to problems is the best way to make his plan work...
Consistency of goals... openness of how to move them forward.
Posted by: dl | Apr 4, 2008 4:01:09 PM
I don't get it. This is an article about an obvious conflict of service within the Clinton inner circle. So the comments in here are littered with Clinton supporters discussing everything but the article.
Go back to the time when NAFTA was a topic and Obama's alleged dust up was unanimously criticized by Hillary's folks.
Well, if you can't remain objective about politicians and their wrongdoings, you're no better than Bushies. Now you know why so many Obama supporters insist experience when wielded by politicians who try to serve special interests is not the type experience America needs.
Posted by: DaCoach | Apr 4, 2008 3:59:54 PM
dogsoldier
I have no idea what you are talking about...I have not deciphered anything that "obama meant"... I have thrown some logic against the spin and anger coming out of the other side...
I say stop spinning doesn't mean I am explaining what he meant I am just trying to get the lies not to carry on the wind of the internet as they keep trying to do... ...and epithets.
Posted by: dl | Apr 4, 2008 3:56:58 PM
dl-See? That's the problem. People here get frustrated and say things to get folks all up in arms. Next we have more garbage going back and forth. Usually intelligence can can win the day in most cases. So I try and ignore except for someone doing a personal thing on me.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 4, 2008 3:55:13 PM
GS
The problem is Hillary says she is against them now... the biggest problem with this candidate is "where is she when it counts?"
She seems to be so for or against something when it is about polling or votes...not when it is about the citizens.
NAFTA, the WAR, Michigan, Florida...
It's the worst kind of politician whose judgement has clearly been shown to reflect her best interests... in her judgements. She may be for or against these things when it counts in her heart but she sure only gets to action when it is safe.
Posted by: dl | Apr 4, 2008 3:54:11 PM
dl- Perhaps you aught to let Obama speak for himself. Wright. Hard to pin Obama down on which policy he's following which month.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 4, 2008 3:50:38 PM
Obama as the nominee=Republican Victory
Posted by: John | Apr 4, 2008 3:47:23 PM
Ok -
Hillary needs to shut the door on her way out. This will be a tipping point for the last part of her campaign.
She needs to step aside, and let the voters support the Dems vs. McCain so we can actually have a chance at changing our government.
Posted by: Michael | Apr 4, 2008 3:45:49 PM
Gang 2010 is still within the range of drawdown of Obama's proposal and he said #1 "we are going to be as careful getting out as we were getting in"
His proposal...is like Lincolns where every idea is at the table...no one getting paid for it...but he is the final decider...and GW and Hill are similar in the fact that there are no "disagreers" at the table (unless they are getting paid by lobbyists)...
Old politics...politics that work like molasses.
Posted by: dl | Apr 4, 2008 3:45:19 PM
Obama has no exeperiences at all on ECONOMY and national security...
So please tell Americans how he can win over McCain???
Posted by: True Truth | Apr 4, 2008 3:42:36 PM
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