Clinton Camp Furious Over Strategist’s Meeting With Colombian Officials on Trade Deal
Sources in the Hillary Clinton campaign told FOX News Friday that staff “outrage” is hitting a boiling point over senior strategist Mark Penn’s meeting Monday with Colombian officials to discuss passage of a trade deal that Clinton vehemently opposes.
Penn has apologized to Clinton, who knew nothing of the meeting until it was revealed Friday in The Wall Street Journal. Sources said Clinton discussed the matter directly with Penn and expressed displeasure.
“The meeting was an error in judgment that will not be repeated and I am sorry for it. The senator’s well-known opposition to this trade deal is clear and was not discussed,” Penn said in a public statement.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Penn met Monday with the Colombian officials as part of his job as chief executive of the lobbying and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller Worldwide.
Other Clinton officials are furious Penn would divert attention from Clinton’s campaign to curry favor with the Colombian government on behalf of the free trade deal. One chief concern is that Penn’s meeting conflicts with Clinton’s statements denouncing Colombia for using violence against union organizers.
“It makes me sick to come here hour after hour and fight for this campaign while Penn is off doing something that hurts the campaign and makes him a bunch of money,” said one aggravated Clinton loyalist.
Penn’s campaign position, however, seems secure.
Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said earlier Penn’s meeting does not reflect the campaign’s stance on Colombia.
“Sen. Clinton’s opposition to the Colombian trade deal remains pretty clear,” he said. Penn’s “meetings were not in any way on behalf of her campaign. … It does not affect her opposition whatsoever to the trade bill.”
Both Clinton and Barack Obama oppose the Colombian trade deal. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe earlier in the week called Obama’s opposition the product of “political calculations.”
The Colombian government is trying to secure congressional passage of the agreement signed in 2006 by Uribe and the Bush administration. According to Justice Department filings, Colombia last year agreed to pay Burson-Marsteller $300,000 to help “educate members of the U.S. Congress and other audiences” about the trade deal and secure continued U.S. funding for the $5 billion anti-narcotics program Plan Colombia.
In economic terms, the deal would largely open up the Colombian markets for American goods without many of the duties that now exist. Colombia is already able to send most products to the United States duty-free, but the deal would cement that preferential access.
Penn has come under criticism for other Burson-Marsteller clients, including tobacco giant Philip Morris and corporate clients accused of union-busting activity. While Penn says he does not personally work on any accounts that could be construed as anti-labor, labor leaders including Teamsters president James Hoffa have publicly expressed concern about his involvement with the campaign.
Penn’s political consulting firm, Penn, Schoen & Berland, has been paid $10.8 million so far by Clinton’s campaign.
Click here to read the story about the Colombia trade deal talks in The Wall Street Journal.
FOX News’ Major Garrett, Aaron Bruns and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
How does Sen. Clinton expects Americans to believe that she doesn’t know anything about this, after the Bosnia sniping flap? Well, I can’t trust her. Sorry
Once again another shady partner, hah clintons. Do I indeed believe there are some back room deals being made - of course. Makes perfectly good sense. Pretend that you know nothing about penn’s involvement, lie to us, show you’re unhappy with this, but keep him on your campaign. This is just like the NAFTA that played out in Ohio.
I do not like any of the company that the clintons keep. Everyone in their circle is corrupt one way or another and yes everyone, these will be the future partners that will her/his followers. We’ll have 4 more years of corruption, 4 more years of this back room dealings, 4 more years of trials and atty fees that we the people will pay for. I’ve HAD ENOUGH ALREADY.
Don’t tell me you knew nothing about this. Don’t tell me you’re angry Hillary. This is a pattern to well repeated and we won’t stand and watch idly anymore. So tell us, what deal did you propose to columbia if you and bill are president?
The media needs to follow this story all the way to columbia. After all, they were quoted as saying they didn’t know who penn was representing - Penn or hillary.
Ummmm - are they furious the meeting occurred, or that the staffer got caught? It’s hard to tell with the Clintons.
Sorry, but I’m not buying the story that HilLIARy knew nothing about this! She got caught, so now she has to make up another lie! Of course, all the comments from HilLIARy supporters will be that it was her adviser that had the meeting, not HilLAIRy, but when it comes to Rev. Wright, every word he said was held against Barack. I don’t know how anyone can continue to support her! The Clinton campaign meets with Canadian leaders about NAFTA, but spins the story to make the voters in TX and OH think that it was Obama, which is probably why he lost those two big states. (So, she didn’t win those states, she stole them!) How are they going to spin this one against Barack. To all the voters in the states that have yet to vote in the primary - do your research, what HiLIARy is doing now is shameful, but her past scandals are even worse. Check out hillary_the_movie.avi. She can’t be trusted. I think she’s showing early signs of dimentia!
How is Hillary going to explain this? She is against free trade agreements, but has a lobbyist for the Colombians and a pro-free trade head strategist. The longer this goes the deeper she sinks.
Everything stops unless it’s for Hillary>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is another PLOY by the Clinton’s. Another Clinton tactic, just like the NAFTA lie, to make people believe she is innocent in all this. GIVE ME A BREAK. She will do and say anything to make sure that she gets all the votes - whether honest or not. And, she probably does want to make a trade agreement with Columbia anyway.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!
You need help. Its politics and I don’t know who you are supporting, but I can guarantee I can find some problem with him or her. No person is perfect. We should judge politicians on what they get done, and whether it has improved America and American lives.
Also, it is the American dream to work hard and make lots of money. I am in the top percent of this country and I work hard…like so many Americans, including the Clintons. But I also try to help those less fortunate. My success in earning a high income does not make me less capable of helping others.
Show a little respect.
God Bless America.
God Bless Hillary Clinton.
I judge each candidate by their voting record and what they have actually done for America. Hillary Clinton has done a lot of good for Americans and I applaud and support her.
Mark Penn should resign from the campaign. I recognize he has his own firm and was not acting on behalf of the campaign, but given the constant media attacks on Hillary, it was selfish act and the campaign has reason to be angry. Given the money he is making, he should be devoting all his time to the campaign.
I have voted Republican most of my voting life, and I support Hillary. If Hillary is not the dem nominee, then I will vote for McCain.
GO HILLARY!!!
Seriously, imagine this woman as President. She doesn’t even know what her employees are doing! And when they screw up in a major fashion, she doesn’t get rid of them!
A different article I read on this said the Clinton campaign had actually donated money toward this endeavor.
I think Clinton did know about this, and it’s just another lie. Penn blew his cover and the press found out about it, so now she has to appear outraged!
LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!