Categorized | Politics

Clinton’s campaign manager promotes Colombia FTA

Mark Penn met with Colombia’s ambassador to the U.S. four days ago
to strategize on promotion the Colombia FTA.  Bad news.  Bad,
bad news.

Mark Penn is Clinton’s campaign chief.  Not an
"advisor."  He his her campaign chief.  With pay.  $10 million
of pay so far. 

I had worked to give Clinton the benefit of the doubt on
NAFTA.  She promoted it, but now criticizes it and claims to never
have promoted it… the latter of which is untrue.  But I’ll take
converts in any form.  She could have told the truth saying she
promoted it and was wrong.  Clinton criticizes NAFTA – true -
though vaguely
with words like "renegotiate" and insufficient topics like "labor and
environmental provisions.  She also claims to oppose the Colombia
FTA – but not on the substantial grounds that these are outsourcing
agreements that decrease our democracy and increase our trade deficit.

The Wall Street Journal article by Susan Davis ("Clinton Aide Met on
Trade Deal
"), which you’ll can view if you have a subscription, says
this:

Attendance by the adviser, Mark Penn, was confirmed by two
Colombian officials. He wasn’t there in his campaign role, but in his
separate job as chief executive of Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, an
international communications and lobbying firm. The firm has a contract
with the South American nation to promote congressional approval of the
trade deal, among other things, according to filings with the Justice
Department. (Please see related article.)

Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Mr. Penn’s campaign-consulting
firm, received more than $10 million in payments from the Clinton
campaign as of the end of February, according to federal election
filings.

Mr. Penn declined to comment. Howard Wolfson, communications director
for Sen. Clinton’s campaign, said in an email that "Mark was not there
on behalf of the campaign" and referred further questions to
Burson-Marsteller. "Sen. Clinton’s opposition to the trade deal with
Colombia is clear," Mr. Wolfson added.

Clinton will be judged on how she responds to this.

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