Clinton Chief On Colombian Payroll Now Strategizing On Free Trade Deal

Ten months ago, I posed a very simple question right on this site: Can the Clinton machine deliver another NAFTA? I noted at the time that an army of former Clinton administration officials had been put on the Colombian government payroll to push a NAFTA-style free trade deal. These people -- many waiting to get back into government should Hillary Clinton win -- are making up to $100,000 a month from a murderous right-wing regime that is one of the worst human rights violators in the Western Hemisphere. Now, today, we see how high up the Clinton machine this corruption really goes.

Here's the Wall Street Journal's report today:

"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 promote congressional approval of the trade deal, among other things, according to filings with the Justice Department...A spokesman for Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe said the ambassador met with Mr. Penn to discuss the bilateral agenda. ..The spokesman said he didn't know if Mr. Penn was representing Sen. Clinton or Burson-Marsteller, which signed a $300,000, one-year contract with the Colombian Embassy in March 2007 to work on behalf of the trade deal and anti-drug-trafficking initiatives, according to the Justice Department filings." (emphasis added)

So there you have it -- the person running a major American presidential campaign is simultaneously on the payroll of a foreign government pushing a bill that the next president would have to confront. And what's truly telling about this is the part about the Colombian government not knowing whether Penn was representing the Clinton campaign or his business clients. Put another way, the two interests are apparently so similar, there's almost no discernible difference -- even to the foreign government lining Penn's pocket. Clinton for President is the same thing as Burson-Marsteller for President, with Mark Penn as the Secretary of State-in-waiting.

There was a whole media storm over Barack Obama's economic adviser meeting with the Canadian government. That storm erupted even though the story was leaked by a right-wing, pro-NAFTA government, and even though we have no idea what was said in that meeting. We will see if a bigger media storm erupts over the Clinton-Colombia connection, considering money is changing hands, and also considering Colombia is a far cry from Canada when it comes to human rights. It's one thing to meet with Canadian officials, it's another thing to be on the payroll of a government that is one of the murderous in the entire hemisphere.

The fact that this disgusting Clinton-Colombia pay-to-play relationship is happening, and nobody -- not the media, not rival campaigns, nobody -- has said a thing about it for almost a year shows just how rampant the culture of corruption is in Washington.

For more on Colombia's record, see this post I did yesterday refuting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (which, of course, is trying to ram the Colombia agreement through Congress).

UPDATE: I forgot about this self-righteous nugget from Clinton during the Obama-Canada flap as reported by the Tribune:

Peering at the 50 or so reporters packed into a small hotel conference room here, [Clinton] added: "I would ask you to look at this story and substitute my name for Sen. Obama's name and see what you would do with this story... Just ask yourself [what you would do] if some of my advisers had been having private meetings with foreign governments."

I guess we will see what the media will do...

Comments

[marthlois]

It is dispicable that this story is now flying under the radar!!!!! It is like Nafta right before Ohio! Please please get this out in the media. Doesn't anyone realize that the Clintons chose today to release the tax returns to cover this story. If this story sleeps - after what happened in Ohio regarding Nafta - this would be such a disservice to Pennsylvania and the following primaries to come.
All the media has done over the past 6 weeks is to talk about Wright. This is critical information - not heresay - not what if's!!!!! THIS is factual information and I'm so astonished that it is taking a backseat to the news of the day. How shameful.

[PrdAmerican]

It's the MSM hand picking the stories to keep the campaigns virtually tied, to extend the blood bath so as to line their wallets. Democracy or Integrity be Dammned!

Can you imagine a Cronkite, a Wallace or a Murrow allowing such an explosive story to sit on a burner and simmer....CNN/MSNBC/FOX and other MSM outlets are jokes...Journalistic integrity has been sacraficed for entertainment.

[MRINSPIRED]

Exactly... And that is probably the reason WHY they have been holding out from releasing their tax returns. Wait until I real bombshell of a story is about to hit the airwaves and then try to deflect it by releasing potentially 'bigger', but less damaging news.

On the one hand I have to hand it to them, they certainly now how to play politics, on the other hand, I'm beginning to think that the collective I.Q. of the MSM is less than that of my little pinkie.

But then I wonder what would have happened had this been David Axelrod or David Plouffe who had made these contacts with a Colombian ambassador. I'm sure the Clinton campaign would have been all over this and it would have been everywhere in the news. So what's up with the Obama campaign? It's frustrating to watch their lack of response to these golden nuggets that are lobbed their way from time to time by the Clinton campaign.

[lincat]

Why isn't the media giving more attention to this.? I want the people of PA to know about this since the people in Ohio never had the chance.. The thing about Hillary is she'll lie straight to your face without a flinch and just keep on lying. I don't think the media covers this enough and I've asked this question before; why do her supporters stick by her when there is proof of her lies? There are still people that believe that it's okay to get down and dirty in politics and don't value integrity in their president. If this country is dumb enough to vote for another dishonest president then we deserve it.

[hipocampelofantocame]

lincat: I agree with you entirely. Of course, This is only the tip of the iceberg, and
something thaT I've been aware of for some time. Mr. Clinton also gets quite a bit
of money from the Arabs. But, if you really want to be shocked, go to YouTube.com
and type in Bill & Hillary Clinton: Their Secret Life and watch all twelve episodes.
It may take a while to recover. Someone once said that the voters always get what
they ask for. "Yes! We can." hipo

[guajiro]

It's time for the liberal media to play this up in Pennsylvania. She's in bed with the same cadre of wealthy scions that populate conservative circles. She has lost her way.

[mawrm]

Folks we're going to have to hit the media over the head with this story because they're going to be so engrossed in the tax returns, they'll ignore how obscene this story is. The conflicts of interest in this case are so glaring, there is absolutely no way one can intelligently accept this as a "mistake". The fact that Mark Penn has the arrogance and audacity to even contemplate engaging in such an activity is mind-boggling and indicative of the sort of morally bankrupt environment that the Clintons allow to thrive around them. I mean, this is the same woman who made a big fuss about NAFTA in Ohio and falsely accused Obama of telling the Canadians one thing and telling the American people another. And the sad part is we'd be pushing this Clinton gang of profiteers into the White House right after our Treasuries have been pillaged by the Bush gang of war profiteers. Sad to say this, but I'm starting to understand why even the corrupt Republicans have a bone to pick with the Clintons- the stuff the Clintons do makes them look like amateurs.

[rosal]

The corrupted Clintons are showing their true colors. I wonder if all this deal is related to Frank Giustra. oil and uranium projects. Does Pacific Rubiales Energy, rings a bell?
I just hope the people in PA will do their homework. The couple that "cares so much" about blue collar workers, nothing but hypocrisy.

[Countess]

Penn is also still working for Blackwater and is so typical of the Clinton's hypocrisy.

[RFI]

As far as I can see, this story has been picked up on the CNN Ticker, but I don't see it on Google News/Elections or anywhere else. Considering the huge deal made about the Obama staffer's alledged comments to the Canadians, it's hard to imagine why this is not all over the media. Did the deflection of the released tax returns really eclipse this story? Is the media, which the Clinton camp constantly says is anti-Hillary, under-reporting this to keep the race going/ratings going?

[rosal]

The media (good ratings) and the Republicans (salivating on running against her) are keeping this thing going. Its up to regular people to let others know what this pair is all about. Nothing but hypocrisy. No wonder they want it so bad. They must have every other country lined up waiting for "trade" deals. People in PA inform yourselves!

[PioneerKing]

the woman + the former president + the campaign staff + the lies + the hypocrisy = a great waste

RALPH NADER 2008

[December7]

Looks like the right wing Colombia president knows who to watch, and who is the ally

BOGOTA, Colombia—Colombia's president sharply criticized U.S. presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday for opposing a trade deal with his country, calling the Democrat out of touch with the realities of the South American nation.

"I will oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements," Obama said Wednesday at a meeting of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO in Philadelphia.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/02/colombias_president_criticizes_obama/

[goodspeed]

Hummmm, Very interesting !

[SubparDude]

:

Checkmate.

:

[maria1253]

So sad. We lost 80,000 US jobs in March. Do I hear a campaign imploding...

[Toerag]

And to blunt the blow of this huge story, Clinton decides to release her tax returns today.

[moodpost]

I am concerned about the enormous personal wealth that the Clinton's enjoy and the potential to buy off super delegates. Personal finances aren't subject to the same tight accounting controls that political campaigns are forced to follow. It's one thing for one campaign to give money to another campaign, but another thing entirely for a personal deposit to be made to a Swiss account.

[ddc]

Thanks for pointing that out. That's exactly why she released them today. Some one on David Gregory's show asked why she released them today. She knows that this will destroy her campaign's chances in PA.

[Nancyann]

Almost anything having to do with the Clintons is quasi illegal or down right dishonest. It is a beautiful thing to see the Clintons dissembling. Only God can help us if those horribly dishonest people end up back in the White House. They will pay whatever they have to if they have to buy it from China and then give them more secret technology to finance her maniacal quest for the White House. I think they have both lost their marbles. This Penn guy never gave up his day job and is seriously legally suspect in his dealing in Colombia while he is working for the Dragon Lady's campaign!!!!!

[fedupnburnin]

I never liked Bill Clinton. Never believed him. He fooled everybody just about. NAFTA means the end of the U.S. as we have known it. I wonder if his fees for pushing NAFTA or CAFTA behind the scenes, has been included in all the millions he's made since being president?

[biglover]

I used to love Bill Clinton, blindly. I honestly think he felt NAFTA would be good. It didn't start with him. It was being pushed by the rehug, repig GHWB and Co. first. In retrospect, he may have made a deal, given all the crap that was coming upon him because of his sexual pecadillos. Who knows. I don't begrudge him the money he or she has made since. They left the White House $6 million in debt due to legal fees, so good for him if he made money.

Having said that, I am not so fond of them anymore. I think they have displayed an arrogance of entitlement which I find extremely distasteful and it appears they will sink as low as they feel they have to to win at any cost.

[whatsmyname]

RIGHT ON! FEDUP, AND I KNOW A TON OF "D's" THAT NEVER TRUSTED HIM AND THAT COUPLE SMELLS OF SULPHUR. BUT THE SAD, SCARY PART OF THIS --IS THE CURRENT PREZ, LIKES HIM BECAUSE HIS POPPA LIKES HIM (THEY BONDED IN MAYLASIA) AND THAT SOWS UP AND FREEZES OUT THE DOJ, FROM EVER LOOKING INTO HIS FOREEEEEN DEALS AND SO HE JUST ARROGANTLY PUSHES ON AND OVER EVERYTHING DECENT IN THIS COUNTRY.... HE AND CARVILLE ARE 2 OF A KIND, IF YOU WANT A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE; THEY LOVE PLAYIN THAT GOOD COP, BAD COP TRIP AND DON'T THINK ANYONE SEES THRU IT.

[ijgibson]

BDD

"Hillary,
BOW OUT NOW."

With such blatant evidence of an already corrupt candidacy, why does the Democratic Party wait for her to 'Bow Out" ?

Clearly, if it wants any credibility, it should throw her out - now !

[vipersdad]

Here is a question I would like for Hillary to answer:
The subtext of the "experience" argument that Hillary's supporters keep making is that Hillary got a boatload of experience from being first lady. The other unspoken but perceived benefit Hillary supporters think they are going to get is that when the "Clintons" are in the White House, Bill will be the invisible hand helping Hillary make judgements about how to run the country. The so-called "co-presidency" argument.

So stick with me on the logic here - If Hillary truly disagreed as vehemently with Bill on NAFTA as she now says ("yellow flag?"), then you will have to accept that there are probably substantive philosophical and therefore policy positions that they would take.
Ergo - the notion of the "Clintons" in the Whitehouse is really a fallacious one. Since Hillary is claiming to have disagreed with Bill on NAFTA, what are the other policy divisions that exist between the two? Since we are getting beat over the head with the argument that "The Clintons" will bring experience to the White House, I want to know WHOSE experience and WHOSE policies we are voting for..... Because it seems that on a FUNDAMENTAL principle (so-called "free trade"), Hillary and Bill disagree. This is not a minor policy disagreement here folks.