Clinton talks about Penn resignation
Hillary Rodham Clinton says the resignation of her chief campaign strategist shows she “will follow through’’ on promises she’s made about international trade.
Clinton comment Monday afternoon came in an interview with Gannett News Service reporter Maureen Groppe as they discussed the upcoming Indiana primary.
Mark Penn resigned as campaign strategist Sunday in the wake of news that he had met with the government of Columbia regarding its effort to gain congressional approval of a free trade agreement negotiated with the Bush administration.
Penn attended the meeting in his capacity as the top executive of of the international public relations firm Burson Marstellar, even though he was also working for a Democratic presidential candidate who has gone on record as opposing the deal.
Clinton rejected the suggestion that Penn’s resignation would hurt her campaign at a time when she’s trying to convince voters she favors a time out on any future trade agreements.
“My position is absolutely clear,’’ Clinton said. “It has been for quite some time, even before this campaign, and I’ve been absolutely adamant about the problems with the trade agreements presented by president Bush and came out months ago against both South Korea, as well as Columbia and Panama.
“I also voted against CAFTA, voted against fast track authority that the president was seeking. I’ve advocated strongly for a time out on trade agreements. And I will follow through on what I have said and I’m the only candidate with a plan to fix NAFTA and renegotiate the agreement with the strongest labor and environmental standards. It’s important that we get tough on China, which I’ve also been very outspoken about. And as I’m putting out in my economic blueprint for Indiana, I have a lot of very specific ideas about what we can do.’’
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The real truth is she did not fire him from her campaign, she just changed his position but wanted to make it look like she doesn’t agree with him working on lobbying for trade agreements and working with Blackwater. He is still working for her but not as lead strategist.
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/penn_out_then_in.php#comments
One of the Clinton Admin’s biggest prides and joys was NAFTA. Now Hillary runs from it. She used to brag about how great it is. Oh, sorry. Hillary lies.
BTW, Penn is still with the campaign, just not in that top position as of today. Tomorrow? Who knows? Depends on which way the wind is blowing for the Clintons. Everything is temporary, just of the moment for them. No principles.
wOW!! Mr. Penn is still part of her campaign, and the loyal blue-collar workers giving campaign donations are paying his salary…what an irony, since they are losing their jobs thanks to the lobbying efforts he and others oversee…
Oh, and the Republicans playing the race card with Condy!! Bring out the black lady so she can tap dance, and sing a jazzy tune, and say “yessum, Mr. McCain”...disgusting tacticts. I thought they were gonna go with the “Hussein”, or “Populist Candidate”, or “Anti-American”, etc.
yare yare