WTF! Clinton Advisor Mark Penn Met to Discuss Free-Trade Pact Fought by Clinton

[mod mom]

Clinton Adviser's Colombia Talks
Penn Met to Discuss
Free-Trade Pact
Fought by Senator
By SUSAN DAVIS
April 4, 2008

Hillary Clinton's chief campaign strategist met with Colombia's ambassador to the U.S. on Monday to discuss a bilateral free-trade agreement, a pact the presidential candidate opposes.

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 help promote congressional approval of the trade deal, among other things, according to filings with the Justice Department.

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.

-snip
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120726769569388303.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news

[gateley]

1. K&R nt

[Thrill]

2. hmmmmmmmmmmm

[mod mom]

3. READ THIS-it really pisses me off (ties to Mortgage crisis and Blackwater)

"The firm represented mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., at the same time Sen. Clinton was heavily critical of the mortgage industry. And it advised private security firm Blackwater as Sen. Clinton called for a ban on the government's use of the controversial company in Iraq and Afghanistan"

Clinton contributors-doesn't it piss you off that your campaign contributions are going into this man's pocket as he undermines what your candidate epouses? Something doesn't pass the smell test!

[DJ13]

4. a pact the presidential candidate opposes.

she may claim to be against it to try and keep the blue collar voters on her side, but the Clinton's were bigger free traders than the GOP through the 90's.

[mod mom]

6. Yep:

Hillary Clinton has made statements unequivocally trumpeting NAFTA as the greatest thing since sliced bread. The Buffalo News reports that back in 1998, Clinton attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and thanked praised corporations for mounting "a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of NAFTA." Yes, you read that right: She traveled to Davos to thank corporate interests for their campaign ramming NAFTA through Congress.

On November 1, 1996, United Press International reported that on a trip to Brownsville, Texas, Clinton "touted the president's support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would reap widespread benefits in the region."

The Associated Press followed up the next day noting that Hillary Clinton touted the fact that "the president would continue to support economic growth in South Texas through initiatives such as the North American Free Trade Agreement."

In her memoir, Clinton wrote, "Senator Dole was genuinely interested in health care reform but wanted to run for president in 1996. He couldn't hand incumbent Bill Clinton any more legislative victories, particularly after Bill's successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA."

-snip

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/hillary-clinton-pretends-_b_86747.html


NOT ONLY DID HER HUSBAND PUSH FOR NAFTA, BUT FOR MOST FAVORED TRADE STATUS WITH CHINA-DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP-WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF SO MANY MIDDLE CLASS JOBS:



Clinton to renew Normal Trade Relations with China


June 2, 1999
Web posted at: 4:51 p.m. EDT (2051 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 2) -- President Bill Clinton will notify Congress Thursday that he is renewing China's most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status -- now known as Normal Trade Relations (NTR) -- for another year, CNN has confirmed.

MFN/NTR status offers low tariffs and treats countries as normal trading partners.

The formal notification, required by the Thursday deadline, is expected to trigger a major debate in the House and Senate due to allegations of Chinese espionage against the U.S. and other recent diplomatic tensions, including charges China tried to influence the 1996 presidential election with illegal campaign contributions.

One of the first speak out against Clinton decision, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), derided the president for making the decision near the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

-snip

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/06/02/china... /




Clinton Proposes Renewing China's Most-Favored Trade Status

Congressional reaction mixed amidst larger China policy issues

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 3) -- President Bill Clinton on Wednesday proposed renewing most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status for China, saying it was "clearly in our nation's interest" as he urged Congress to support the request.

-snip

House Speaker Newt Gingrich welcomed Clinton's recommendation for renewing MFN status for China, and vowed to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that China receives it from Congress.

Gingrich, joined by Reps. Bill Archer (R-Texas) and Philip Crane (R-Ill.), made his comments in a letter to Clinton.

-snip

House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt issued a statement Wednesday opposing Clinton's plan to extend China's trading status for another year.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/06/03/china.trade /

[quakerboy]

5. But

I'm sure there is no connection whatsoever. I mean, business and money is totally separate from politics, generally.

[Pisces]

7. WHy Hillary hasn't fired this guy is a testament to her poor judgment and leadership

[olkaz]

17. You said it. Totally agree.

This is what really steels my resolve against Hillary.

The people she surrounds herself with are vile, vile people. The DLC crowd will **never** get my support, ever.

Now if she had actually surrounded herself with real top-notch progressives, I'd be supporting her over Obama. In an instant.

[papau]

8. Seems Hillary does not listen to Mark Penn on trade policy - she opposes Colombia's pact

[mod mom]

9. perhaps she finds it politically expedient to do so.

[anigbrowl]

12. But she's cool with him lobbying for it - no conflict of nterest there

Mind you, if I was in Congress and Mark Penn suggested something to me, I'd do the opposite of whatever he suggested based on the way her campaign has been going.

[blm]

25. Would she if she was the nominee by Super Tuesday as she expected?

Get real - she certainly WOULDN'T be talking about pushing gay rights or being against Colombia trade deals if she were the known nominee the last two months. The more apparent she is NOT the nominee the further left go her statements and speeches.

[Peace Patriot]

10. Unfriggingbelievable! Colombia has one of the worst human rights records in the

world. Its president, Alvaro Uribe--the go-to guy for the Medellin Cartel, in his early career, now the go-to guy for the Bush Cartel--the recipient of $5.5 BILLION of our money in military aid, for a corrupt, murderous, failed "war on drugs" that never ends, has rightwing death squads that have murdered thousands of union leaders, political leftists, small peasant farmers, human rights workers, journalists and peaceful protesters, and just tried to start a war with Ecuador, using U.S. surveillance and ten 500 lb. U.S. "smart bombs"--and probably U.S. aircraft and personnel--and Mark Penn works for these fascist pigs, trying to get them a "free trade" deal (free fire zone to kill union leaders). And right next door is a very good democracy--one with transparent elections that put our own to shame--one in which the country's oil profits are used to benefit the poor, with a government that has harmed no one, invaded no one, killed no one, and jailed no one unfairly--the government of Venezuela, headed by President Hugo Chavez--and Mark Penn's firm, Penn and Schoen, tried to OVERTHROW that government, by creating a false poll that was to be used to stir up rightwing riots, and coordinate with another rightwing coup attempt, in the last presidential election, in 2006, which Chavez won with 63% of the vote, in a transparent, highly monitored election.

What the hell is this jerk doing in Democratic Party politics?! He is a scumbag. He is a Karl Rove. He is a Bushite fascist. Got a line to Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia, does he? Planning to be a kingmaker?

Well, here's who Mark Penn agrees with--another big shark for the Colombian "free trade" deal and economic warfare against the poor of South America, and--believe me--plans for Oil War II: South America...

"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html

[mod mom]

14. What's more important human rights or the almighty $? Think of how members of our own

party pushed for most favored trading status for China knowing their history:

Clinton to renew Normal Trade Relations with China



June 2, 1999
Web posted at: 4:51 p.m. EDT (2051 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 2) -- President Bill Clinton will notify Congress Thursday that he is renewing China's most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status -- now known as Normal Trade Relations (NTR) -- for another year, CNN has confirmed.

MFN/NTR status offers low tariffs and treats countries as normal trading partners.

The formal notification, required by the Thursday deadline, is expected to trigger a major debate in the House and Senate due to allegations of Chinese espionage against the U.S. and other recent diplomatic tensions, including charges China tried to influence the 1996 presidential election with illegal campaign contributions.

One of the first speak out against Clinton decision, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), derided the president for making the decision near the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

-snip

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/06/02/china.mfn/



Clinton Proposes Renewing China's Most-Favored Trade Status

Congressional reaction mixed amidst larger China policy issues


WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 3) -- President Bill Clinton on Wednesday proposed renewing most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status for China, saying it was "clearly in our nation's interest" as he urged Congress to support the request.

-snip

House Speaker Newt Gingrich welcomed Clinton's recommendation for renewing MFN status for China, and vowed to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that China receives it from Congress.

Gingrich, joined by Reps. Bill Archer (R-Texas) and Philip Crane (R-Ill.), made his comments in a letter to Clinton.

-snip

House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt issued a statement Wednesday opposing Clinton's plan to extend China's trading status for another year.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/06/03/china.trade/

[Forkboy]

11. LOL...too funny.

[anonymous171]

13. w..t...f

:wtf:

[mod mom]

15. Josh Marshall describes Penn: international man of mystery-cum- PR-lobbyist-cheeseball

Josh Marshall describes Penn:

international man of mystery-cum-PR-lobbyist-cheeseball

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/187264.php


cheeseball! :rofl:

[quantass]

16. k&r

[antigop]

18. K&R n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

19. Huh? n/t

[stillcool]

20. I am not surprised...

"We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe, that' all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss"
**The Who

[ORDem]

21. Clearly he sees his future and needs to keep his PR resume' warm.

He'll soon be out of a job with the HRC campaign, they are running out of money.

:dem:

[mod mom]

23. Mark Penn on his Colombia trade deal lobbying: It was an "error in judgment."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/187381.php

His whole career has been an error in judgement!

[slinkerwink]

22. kicking

[DemReadingDU]

24. evening kick