Colombia fires Penn - "lack of respect to Colombians, and finds this response unacceptable."

[jefferson_dem]

Colombia fires Penn

Mark Penn yesterday called his meeting with Colombia, a client of the firm he heads, a "error", and the Colombian government, in a statement from its embassy, calls the notion that its hired gun won't meet with it "unacceptable," and fires the firm.

Here's the statement:

The Colombian Government announces its decision to terminate the contract with Burson-Marsteller. 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.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Colombia_fires_Penn.html#comments

[Adelante]

1. The plot thickens

Thanks :hi:

[KittyWampus]

4. kind of a lucky break for Penn and Hillary.

[Adelante]

5. I don't know

This emphasizes her top guy has been representing a foreign government all along. It can't be good.

[anigbrowl]

22. "Yeah, I wanted to get fired from that job anyway, cuz it sucked."

I wouldn't put it past him. the guy is clearly in love with what he considers his own cleverness.

[Muttocracy]

2. so now the Clinton campaign isn't linked to the trade deals? as of a few hours ago?

[davidinalameda]

3. the Bushies are behind it

:sarcasm:

[AnnieBW]

6. They went and hired Teller instead

n/t

[cliffordu]

13. ROFLMAO

:rofl:

Oh, yeah, K&R for the OP....


:kick:

[C_U_L8R]

7. So the top strategist of the Clinton campaign

was not only working for a foreign government
but he then goes out an insults them??!! HA!

Way to go Hillary. A real world-class team you got there.
bwahahahaha

[40ozDonkey]

9. Add Colombia to the list.

Canada, Bosnia, Colombia.

Usually campaigns wait until they're in the White House to start stirring shit. Looks like she's ready on Day -230.

[roguevalley]

11. way to improve our standing in the world, hillary.

[PoliticalAmazon]

16. ITA. After 4 years of Bush Jr international humiliation, we don't need another 4 of HRC doing it. nt

[quantass]

23. .

[bunnies]

8. Columbia fires him but the Clinton camp has no problem with him.

Doesnt that just beat all.

[jefferson_dem]

17. It would be sad.

But, given the smarmy figures involved, it's just par for the course.

[karynnj]

10. I was hoping that HRC would fire Mark Penn

It's hard to believe that the despicable Columbian government has better judgment on whether to continue employing him than a possible Democratic President.

[panAmerican]

12. Is it worse that Colombia fired him first instead of HRC?

[PoliticalAmazon]

15. Obviously Columbia has more ethics than Hillary Clinton. n/t

[IsItJustMe]

21. It sure seems that way.

[PoliticalAmazon]

14. Jesus, Hillary's already pimping the Oval Office. n/t

[woolldog]

18. I wouldn't be surprised if the Columbian government did that

to help out Penn and the Clinton campaign out of an awkward position.

[kwenu]

19. It seems the Columbians are better at handling their affairs than Penn is at running a campaign.

[quantass]

20. k&r

[eleny]

24. What's that saying? The harder you push agaisnt the world, the harder it pushes back

Something like that.

If this is the kind of people she surrounds herself with - enough is enough already.