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.
Why isn’t this story all over the cable network running 24hours a day, I bet Hilary has the cable network and CNN, ABC, MSN on her payroll. They ran Obama’s Jeremiah Wright story so often you can’t help but not forget.
What up with this picture
O’Reilly, factor and BET why don’t you talk about this.
Billary, Billary, Billary, gotcha again. Wait until we go through the Billarys taxes and contributation list for the library….gotcha again….BUSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why are we surprised?? The Clintons have always supported NAFTA. Will she denounce and reject him?????
There are truths that are difficult to believe. One of them is, the United States is one of the “most hated” countries in the world. It’s a fact, as sad as it may sound. The enemies of this country seem to be growing at incredible speed. Our politicians do not seem to realize and understand that Colombia is probably the ONLY real friend the US has in this continent. And one of the FEW in the whole world. If one of the democratic candidates is elected president of the United States, we will NOT have any friends in the American continent. None, whatsoever. I wonder if Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have any first hand knowledge about the Colombian situation or they are acting according what they have “heard” or “read”. Do they even know WHERE in Latin America is that country situated? More so.. have they ever been there??? what’s the Capital of Colombia? Do you think that if someone asked them about these things and and they didn’t have the opportunity to find out or ask anyone… they would know??? No. They would not. They have NO idea. On the other hand, maybe it would be good for Colombia not to have any trade deals with the US, considering the huge recession that this country is about to suffer… or… is suffering already?
Hillary Clinton needs to get rid of Mark Penn - and get rid of him fast.
It’s 3am in the morning…..and you still can’t control what your advisors and surrogates say!!
This is again Hillary’s politics ..you never kow what Clinton campains thinking!
For all the political talk about a variety of issues the democrats make about being for the “common man”, they may talk to the talk, but they don’t walk to walk. Both Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton have lobbyist on their campaign staff, that do their bidding for the highest bidder. They are hired guns, just like Mark Penn. You have a bunch of millionaires, who want you to believe they can relate to the average voter.
Hillary mis-peaks, mis-hears and now her chief guy makes a mis-take…good grief, this woman can’t even run a good./decent campaign……she is not ready to be commander in chief of usa…the clintons need to take their MILLIONS and disappear off the national scene….they’re sooo over. Bring decency back, vote McCain.
HILLARY CLINTON IS A LIAR. Now we are expected to believe she “didn’t know” her SENIOR $10 million dollar Campaign Advisor was working a NAFTA trade deal with Columbian officials!?!? She talks out of both sides of her LYING mouth.
Since THE BILLARY has been making millions since leaving the White House, they arrogantly think the rest of the world can be continued to be duped by there “supreme” charade. They are LYING evil people plain and simple, “from day one”.