- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Mark Penn Fired - By Government of Colombia
April 05, 2008 2:09 PM
ABC's Eloise Harper reports: The Colombian government has fired Burson Marsteller, a firm run by Mark Penn (Clinton chief strategist), for calling his deal with them an error in judgment.
The story is that Mark Penn was hired by the Columbian government to ensure that a Colombian trade deal was passed -- one that President Bush supports but that Sen. Clinton has made clear that she opposes.
When it was revealed publicly that Penn was involved in helping the Colombian government secure the passage of the trade deal, the Clinton campaign released a statement from Penn Friday saying, "The meeting was an error in judgment that will not be repeated, and I am sorry for it."
Here is the release from the Columbian government:
The Colombian Government announces its decision to terminate the contract with Burson Marteller. This firm conducts public relations and communications consulting services on behalf of Colombia in the United States for the approval of the Free Trade Agreement and the continuation of Plan Colombia.
Mr. Mark Penn, President and CEO of Burson Marsteller, reponded to claims by Union representatives who questioned his relationship with the Colombian Government by declaring that it was an "error in judgment" to meet with his client the Colombian Ambassador on March 31. The Colombian government considers this a lack of respect to Colombians, and finds this response unacceptable.
The firm was retained by the Colombian Embassy in Washington in March of 2007 based on its track record in the field of Public Relations.
The Colombian Government will continue its efforts to show to different sectors in the United States, the dramatic improvements in the country's economy, social and security indicators, and will continue its efforts to obtain a favorable vote on the pending Free Trade Agreement with the United States, for greater wellbeing and prosperity for all.
April 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (32)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Yikes Lauren, I think perhaps I got what you were trying to say about hospitals. Translation: All hospitals mark up bills to the uninsured by 300 %. Do I understand you that THAT makes it right - all hospitals do it! I thought the Obamas were the change candidates!
Tell that to people in Chicago fielding collection calls from Michelle's old employer while he tries to convince voters that he really, really, really wants to improve things for the uninsured.
Posted by: morningside | Apr 5, 2008 4:25:41 PM
and Lance, both campaigns have used stories not "vetted" to illustrate their positions. You Obama people just can't stand that stories about Mark Penn and Clinton's income and taxes aren't getting any traction.
Did voters care about Teresa Heinz Kerry's billionaire status 4 years ago? No, but I seem to remember that they really couldn't stand her personality. Could the Democratic Party be ready to make the same mistake twice - nominate someone -not only who hectors people but is anti-american to boot? Stay tuned.
Posted by: morningside | Apr 5, 2008 4:32:18 PM
Lance D,
Nothing but the facts dude. I'd rather have BKMC's spin about the sniper comment from Hillary's Bosnia trip, than Obama's judgement about placing the hate-speakig Wright on his campaign for ONLY A YEAR!
========================================
Obama kept Wright on campaign for a year
Obama is judgement-challenged!
Obama is politically immature!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 5, 2008 4:35:03 PM
How many of you blue collar voters got any money from the Clintons in the past 7 years? The Clintons averaged over 14 million dollars a year. The only thing that Hillary has in common with the blue collars workers of america;is when she wears clothes with a blue collar. This promise about a poverty czar' well this is would be another nonfunctional governmental bureaucracy with a lot of kickbacks unfortunately not in the direction of the american people.
Obama 08 !
Posted by: merle7 | Apr 5, 2008 4:36:59 PM
Yeah, I'm really getting that Obama is the candidate of the working class. Where did you get that idea? When information about his financial supporters is revealed it will show huge amounts of money from people employed by registered lobbyists as well as wall street types. You know, those who are gaming the market at the expense of working and middle class people.
The teenybopper Obama supporters have no clue that an Obama presidency will reward Wall Street. Kids like you will be bunking a lot longer with Mom and Dad - unable to get out on your own. He is incapable of pushing an economic agenda to help average people.
Posted by: morningside | Apr 5, 2008 4:45:19 PM
Lauren:
do we believe hill? Yes, we do.
Do we thinks she is on the takes ? No, we don't.
Do we think she is fit to be President? Yes we do.
Will hillary help the poor? She has for years.
Will Barack change the way things are done with the Peoples help? Nope, cause he won't be elected. At least not with the help of Hillary's supporters.
Will Barack take money from Lobbyist?He has 9 of them on his payroll, and takes money from them already.
Will Barack be a strong commander ?Nope. Catch the interview on Hardball last night? Says 9-11 wasn't predictable, when Bill Clinton had already told them Al Qaeda was the number one threat to the US, and the FBI has already reported suspicous activity involving planes, and the list goes on and on. Still says you can't predict what they will do. I think it is pretty predictable they will hit the US and our interests whenever and wherever they can.
Posted by: tiredofthiselection | Apr 5, 2008 8:41:35 PM
Westcoast messenger,
Remember the rules. If Obama was able to campaign in Michigan and Florida, he might have well won them. Hill has name recognition. Ok, then let us forget about those for a minute. If Hill is so concerned about Michigan and Florida getting their say, then why is she advocating that delegates can vote against the will of the people? What's the point in the any state voting?
Posted by: gayle in California | Apr 5, 2008 10:48:10 PM
Obama had an AD in FL eventhough he did not campaign overthere.
Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 6, 2008 12:08:13 AM
Crisis08,
And thank goodness he did have just ONE ad, since Hillary didn't follow suit with all the other candidates. Imagine what the vote would have been without the one ad. Now, just imagine, if he would have had a fair shot at winning. LOL
Posted by: gayle in California | Apr 6, 2008 1:16:28 AM
She's totally bungled her own campaign. We should be grateful is not the country the one she's wrecking.
Posted by: alreds | Apr 7, 2008 2:27:49 AM
Penn is right!
Clinton and Obama and Pelosi are wrong.
When the Democrats do something really stupid - they have no equal.
Colombia is not our enemy - Venezuela is.
The Democrats have a huge problem with enemy identification. They make Gump look bright: Stupid is what stupid does!
Posted by: Lance | Apr 7, 2008 7:04:28 AM
If the media doesnt sweep this one under the rug, this Colombia deal should be the nail in the coffin for the Sillary and Bill
show. This is major stuff. Why did Daddy Bush initiate the Colombia Plan and why did Bill make sure it was signed into law? Does it go back to the Iran Contra days and the smuggling at Mena Airport while Bill was governor? This is deep caca, folks!!! Google away!!!
Posted by: TNP | Apr 7, 2008 4:24:37 PM
Post a comment



