Clinton Voices Opposition To Colombia Deal

Senator Criticizes Free Trade Agreement Following Exit Of Her Chief Strategist

(AP)  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton emphasized her opposition to a proposed free trade agreement with Colombia, two days after her chief campaign strategist was demoted for his role in supporting the deal.

"As I have said for months, I oppose the deal, I have spoken out against the deal, I will vote against the deal and I will do everything I can to urge the Congress to reject the Colombia free trade agreement," the New York Democrat told a Washington gathering of the Communication Workers of America.

On Sunday, Mark Penn left his post as top strategist for Clinton's presidential campaign after it was reported he had met with Colombia's ambassador to the United States to discuss passage of the agreement. Colombia was a client of Penn's large public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller.

Many labor unions, including the CWA, oppose such trade deals, saying they displace U.S. jobs and encourage abuses of workers and the environment in other countries.

Clinton's Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, also noted his opposition to the Colombia deal when he spoke to the CWA group moments after Clinton left the stage. He said he opposes the treaty "because when organizing workers puts an organizer's life at risk, as it does in Colombia, it makes a mockery of our labor protections."

President Bush on Monday sent the proposed Colombia deal to Congress, which has 90 days to ratify or reject it. The administration says it would help the United States by eliminating high barriers for U.S. exports to Colombia. Most Colombian products enter the United States duty-free under existing trade preference laws, the administration says.

Obama did not mention Penn in his 25-minute speech to CWA activists. But in a conference call arranged by Obama's campaign, Teamsters president James Hoffa called on Clinton to cut all ties with Penn, who continues to advise her campaign.

"This latest issue with Mark Penn really hurts her credibility," especially on trade issues, said Hoffa, who supports Obama.

In a separate conference call, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson likened Penn to a newspaper editor who "plays an important role but isn't in charge" of the paper.

[fromcolombia]

I''m from Colombia and I totally agree with Hillary. N0 free trade agreetment with colombia as long as president Uribe doesn''t apply rigourous measures to stop the continued assassination of labor unionists by paramilitary death squads. Unfortunately, the mass media doesn''t show things just as they actually happen for fear of being the next victims.

[blackspirit3]

WOW MARK PEN PLAN DIDNT WORK SO HILLARY AGAINST THE TRADE DEAL. SHE SENT MAKR PENN OVER THEIR TO UNDERCUT GEORGE BUSH DEAL, TO TRY AND SHOW SHE HAS FORIEGN POLICY EXPERIENCE, AND SHE DID THE SAME THING SHE DID TO PROVE SHE CAOULD BE A FIRST LADY IN PQANTS - KILL HELATHCARE FOR EVER. LAWD WE CANT BE THINKING ABOUT SENDING THAT MESS BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, WE CAN''T BE.

[thepentangle]

Does your representative belong to India? Visit these Web sites to find out:

http://www.usinpac.com/members_house_caucus.asp
http://www.usinpac.com/members_senate_caucus.asp

In 2006, the New York Daily News reported Bill and Hillary Clinton''s financial statement including their associations with Indian government and American business interests.

During the Clinton and Bush administrations encouraged the corporate transference of high tech jobs to India and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the U.S. visa went on sale to the highest foreign bidders. It appears India won. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. H-1B visas have gone to Indian foreign nationals.

Without question it is a corporate inspired replacement of Americans, including workers on all ends of the spectrum.

[thepentangle]

The Clintons Sold Out America
By Diane Alden

In 2004, two powerful members of the U.S. Senate instituted something called the India Caucus. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Texas Sen. John Cornyn put together an alliance giving special status to foreign interests including what appears to be sale of U.S. visas (student and work) in exchange for favors, campaign contributions, and God only knows what else.

The Senate India Caucus quickly signed 32 members of the Senate. The 2007 110th congress has a total of 37 senators in that caucus, including 18 Democrats, and 19 Republicans. In the House, 176 congressmen belong to the India Caucus, 115 Democrats and 61 Republicans including my own 11th District Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga. I had no idea West Georgia had such a vested interest in India or its needs.

This association and Gingrey''s vote in favor of CAFTA suggests whose interests far too many Democrats and Republicans now represent and it rarely includes their district or America''s long term future.

[jack3213]

I CAN COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR CHANGE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THOSE WHO THINK EITHER DEMOCRAT HAS THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE CHANGE CORRECTLY. DID YOU READ THAT RIGHT: CORRECTLY. IT IS NOT JUST A WORD: CHANGE, IT IS A RESULT OF AN ACTION THAT REQUIRES QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIANCE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT. NEITHER DEMOCRAT HAS ANY OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS. SURELY YOU ALL MUST BE READING THE PAPERS AND LISTENING TO THE NEWS TO KNOW THAT BOTH DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF BAGGAGE AND CANNOT JUSTIFY LEADING A COUNTRY BECAUSE OF GENDER OR RACE, WHERE SO MANY ARE LEANING FOR THAT FACT ALONE. DENIAL IS DANGEROUS IN TIME OF WAR. THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS REAL. MCCAIN MIGHT BE A REPUBLICAN AND TO SOME PEOPLE THAT IS A BAD WORD, BUT IF THE MAN HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO CHANGE THINGS WHY DENY HIM THAT RIGHT. VOTING FOR A DEMOCRAT WOULD BE LIKE FOLLOWNG THE HERD OFF A CLIFF BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO CHANGE THINGS. TIME TO WAKE UP FOLKS. MCCAIN 2008.

[craigh9]

Posted by jockh at 07:40 PM : Apr 08, 2008

Your spot on my friend. The most basic of political processes will result in Obama getting the nomination. Fact is Obama is a money raising machine and we all know that politicians flock towards money. Since the Superdelegates are politicians they will flock to obama at the most oppportune time for them to look good.
This race is totally over, the Hillary Huggers just wont let go. If she won every remaining primary 55% to 45% she would still be behind Obama - and would need to capture 2/3''s of the superdelegates from there. Since she WILL NOT win them all and Obama has the ability to raise campaign funds far in excess of Hillary - this is a done deal, we are just waiting for Hillary to figure it out.

[flreason]

"Besides, ''''fair'''' trade is nothing more than restraint of trade. Plain and simple."
Posted by JT_Lancer

If Americans want to return manufacturing jobs to the U.S., they don''t need to impose sanctions. Just buy American. Look for the "Made in America" sticker or tag. If you don''t find one on the product you want in the stores, search on the Internet. You may pay more, but you''ll be supporting American workers rather than foreign sweat shops.

Also think about shopping at thrift shops. You''ll conserve natural resources, the money stays locally rather than supporting big-bucks CEOs, and many are run by charities that use the proceeds for worthy purposes. (The guy who founded Joe Boxer has created a new "designer" line called William Good...from clothes donated to Goodwill!)

[flreason]

I''m not a Hillary Clinton supporter, but I''m beginning to feel sorry for her. If it weren''t for bad luck, she''d have no luck at all. The timing of Mark Penn''s "error in judgment" couldn''t have been worse. The fact that she relied on this jerk may have been a mistake, but she couldn''t have known he''d do something this stupid to torpedo her campaign.

[libra127]

Clintons are in bed with Uribe, the President of Colombia...not just her campaign stratigist.

Posted by leef531 at 08:19 PM : Apr 08, 2008

Uhhhh, no. Hillary Clinton is OPPOSED to the trade deal with Colombia. Bill Clinton supports it. Hillary Clinton is the one running for President. Please try to keep the distinctions clear.

[ottumwa1962]

Senator Obama has run a brilliant campaign and that is a large number of people to command.
Senator Clinton''s campaign has been one disaster after another.
If she can''t lead 1000 people, then how can she expect to lead 300 million

[sjbj2322]

This could well be a defining moment in the Hillary Clinton campaign given that it does goes against her former campaign manager Penn and her own husband - both of whom endorse CAFTA. So much for those who keep trying to say that the "Clintons" are trying to regain the White House. If this doesn''t clearly show that this is her campaign for office, I don''t know what will. Obama''s only response to equal such measure will be to see if he can sneak away to some secluded lavatory and get away with taking a cigarette break that he won''t catch the devil over from that sadly unpatriotic she-witch wife of his, or he could always at this late date finally come out and denounce Wright.

[jt_lancer]

leef531 - "America does not need to be giving anymore jobs away..FAIR TRADE. Not FREE TRADE."

How is ''America'' giving away jobs?

Besides, ''fair'' trade is nothing more than restraint of trade. Plain and simple.

[leef531]

Colombian deal is Bogus for two reasons...
1. they are the biggest violators of HUMAN RIGHTS in the American Hemisphere. Have been killing Unionist regulary and getting away it.
2. America does not need to be giving anymore jobs away..FAIR TRADE. Not FREE TRADE.

Clintons are in bed with Uribe, the President of Colombia...not just her campaign stratigist.

[jt_lancer]

We must STOP free trade NOW!

We CANNOT allow peaceful Americans to voluntarily exchange goods and services for mutual benefit!

Americans should only be allowed to buy the goods and services that the politicians allow them to buy.

At government approved prices.

Of course, if its not good for you, Americans should not be allowed to buy it at all.

Trans fats? No way.

Cigarettes and alcohol? Not a chance.

Obesity-inducing fast food? Forget it.

Trust me, people. The Nanny State knows what is best for you.

Let us take away the heavy burden of decision-making in your life.

Let us decide what is best for you.

I''m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.

[jockh]

Hillary will never win , the superdelegates will ultimately cement Obama''s nomination.. Currently Hillary leads among superdelegates, but almost all jumped on board a long time ago when it seemed her nomination was inevitable. Since Super Tuesday Obama has gained 69 superdelegates while Clinton has lost two.

The reason even more superdelegates haven''t declared for Obama is because Clinton is expected to win Pennsylvania. A superdelegate endorsement now risks having their endorsement seem worthless when Obama likely loses PA. So most are probably waiting until after PA votes, so they can endorse Obama in the lead up to North Carolina, a state he will win big, and thus have their endorsements look that much better.

The majority of remaining undecided superdelegates will either endorse after PA and prior to NC or in June after the last vote is cast, and expect virtually all to vote for Obama.

In the end, Clinton won''t even be left with the 251 superdelegates she has now. Many of those 251 are Clinton loyalists and won''t switch to Obama publicly, but they are politicians, who put their own career first and will get in line with everyone else.

Sure Clinton will hold on to 50-100 of her loyalists until the bitter end, but any fantasy that this thing will be a close finish is just that, a fantasy.

[glock4me]

Keep in mind that Venesuala and Columbia are at odds, with Columbia being on our (USA) side and Venesuala and Hugo Chavez on thier side (libs, Hollywood, hippies, etc.).

I guess it''s easy being a liberal democrat, just figure out what''s in America''s best interest and choose the opposite side.

[jt_lancer]

We must prevent free trade.

We CANNOT allow buyers and sellers to voluntarily exchange goods and services for mutual benefit!

It will NOT happen on my watch!

[b-easy63]

Which means...YOu''ll be voting against the CAFTA agreement that Bush is pushing through right Hillary? And not running away from it or abstaining like you did the votes on immunity for telecom companies who illegally wiretapped and on immigration. WE can expect to see your big fat NO vote--right along side Obama''s right? But then, what will the Columbians do about the reassurances that Penn gave them? LOL

[likeitis5050]

It''s a draw...he keeps Wright and she keeps Penn and they both go down in flames.