Clinton: Worse than Goolsbee?

Posted: Friday, April 04, 2008 8:59 AM by Domenico Montanaro

Clinton chief strategist Mark Penn "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."

“Penn declined to comment. Howard Wolfson, communications director for Sen. Clinton's campaign, said in an email that 'Mark was not there on behalf of the campaign' and referred further questions to Burson-Marsteller. 'Sen. Clinton's opposition to the trade deal with Colombia is clear,' Mr. Wolfson added."

Appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night, NBC’s John Boxley reports, Clinton managed to joke about her Bosnia misspeak, saying: “It is so great to be here you know, I was afraid I wasn’t going to make it… Why? Yeah, I was pinned down by sniper fire.” The show also had a funny opening skit with Jay Leno calling Hillary at the White House at 3:00 am to ask her to come on show. Looking into the camera, Hillary replied, “I need caller ID.” Following her Tonight Show gig, Clinton also taped an appearance on Ellen. The show will air Monday.

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Comments

She joked about being a liar?

Wow, Hillary Clinton just became George W. Bush.

Stijn, Belgium (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:03 AM)

Clinton worse than Golsbee that is not surprising. The question press should ask themselves is this, would you report the story with the same tenacity you used against Obama in Ohio.

The people of Pennsylvania demands to know the truth. I bet the press won't because they are so scared of the Clinton machine.

Mark Penn is free to do whatever he wants but Golsbee cannot since he is a lecturer

Bee (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:12 AM)

She has massive power over Mark Penn right now. She's his boss. If he's doing something like this, she should be wielding massive influence over him. If she wants to prove she has what it takes to stand up for the American people, she would stop that trade deal or fire Mark Penn.

Ron, TX (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:13 AM)

Kind of sad when a Presdiential candidate makes light of untruths she has stated during her campaign. Goes to show just how lightly she takes such things as well as how this country for some reason does not want to hold people in such positions accountable. Has this kind of behavior become a part of the Amercian fabric and acceptable behavior in our country? We let GWB get by with it for years and now people are laughing at Hillary's joking about her dishonety. No wonder this country is a mess. No honor, integrity or honesty anymore.

Say something to Hillary supporters about this and their only comeback is but Obama, but Obama, but Obama............. instead of acknowledging that their candidate has an issue with being honest. By way of their repsonses they are approving and acceptting Hillary's dishonesty and apparently have no problem with having a dishonet person in the whitehouse. I thought we had decided to take a new path after the last several years of all the lying under GWB.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:17 AM)

I actually was horrified to see her joking with Leno about her lying to the American electorate. I was at home with my eight year old daughter (who has been following the campaign). Can someone explain to me how you explain to children that its (a) OK to lie to the American people, that its OK to tell a lie, and (b) that its not only OK to lie but you can even make a joke about it. I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to try to teach my children that lying is wrong when Hillary is on Leno joking about it. And don't anyone try to suggest that my daughter shouldn't be following the campaign. We believe in activism that spills down early in my house.

I have never ever ever been so disappointed in a national candidate. Not ever. Not only the lie after lie after lie but now she apparently feels its OK and funny to do so.

Can someone please explain to me how that is at all appropriate. Children follow these campaigns. Maybe not all eight year olds do but clearly middle and high school kids do.

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:19 AM)

Wonderful, gee that doesn't signal a huge conflict of interest to have Penn there as a lobbyist dealing in foreign policy matters ::eyeroll::. Who do they think they are kidding? And its not like this was last year, it was MONDAY. You gotta be kidding. Shouldn't he be recusing himself from activities like that if he is involved officially in her campaign?

Or is their no Code of Ethics for politicians ::snicker::

Clinton = politics as usual.

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:22 AM)

"I actually was horrified to see her joking with Leno about her lying to the American electorate."
****************************

Me too! It just seemed like a horribly awkward and inappropriate thing to do. Maybe if she had a better explanation to go along with it... but she just followed it with a comment about her words and actions being mixed up and then went right back to the lame ass "sleep deprivation" excuse. She should have just left it alone.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:25 AM)

I think its personally disgusting and shows her cavalier attitude about she can do whatever in the world she pleases and get away with it. She lies to the American People and then jokes about it on national television? She flip flops on Nafta, every vote counts but delegates don't. She will never get my vote no matter what she runs for.

Vic, Toledo, Ohio (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:27 AM)

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:19 AM):

I'm afraid Lisa that it has become acceptable behavior in our political realm as well as perhaps in the nature of this country's business as well as its interpersonal relationships between its citizens. Here Obama is trying to take us to a new level of cooperation, team work and integrity, not just between races but between all people who should be working together to make improvements while rejecting this kind of behavior in our leaders. Obama and we the American people have a long road to haul it seems when we have candidates receiving votes who get caught outright lying to the Amercian public as well as famous entertainer / talk show host who make light of the fact the Amercian people are being betrayed and lied to. The bottom line, Hillary teaches and accepts the concept of every person for themselves while Obama is trying to teach and promote every person for everyone else. Let's see what happens and if the American people select the former or the latter. Whichever they chose they are going to have to live with it.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:30 AM)

I saw the Leno clip...pathetic.

Claiming to be under sniper fire is now funny?

Go ask anyone who served in Bosnia if they think it's funny.

Go ask anyone serving in Iraq or Afghanistan right now if they think being under fire is funny.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:32 AM)

Hillary Clinton is not someone i can trust when it comes to anything. The new poll reveals something i have been saying all along. Hillary is more for the business community than her campaign indicates. For example, Mark Penn role as a lobbyist is an indicator of how Hillary is going to govern should she become the President. Watch for the revolving door…from China to Mark Penn to White House back to Mark Penn to china. Columbia – Mark Penn – White House – Congress – Mark Penn – Columbia. Tell me this is not their plan.

Another thing the media failed to pick up is the number of donors that gave to the Clinton's presidential library. These donors are no dummy; they obviously expect something in return. That is what I called quid pro quo.

I won't be surprise if the press ignores it. Bill Clinton has made more than $50 million dollars since he left the white house. This is the same guy without a law license... can someone tell me how he made that kind of money within 8 years? I know he gives speeches but that is not enough to guarantee more than $50 million dollar in assets.

Bee (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:32 AM)

Lisa from New Britain: Good morning! I saw Hillary joking also and wondered how any mother could explain that to a child interested in the campaign. I think it was highly inappropriate to joke about a lie. I do, however, think as with most of her tactics, this one will harm her more than anything. People are starting to see through her and the polls are showing it. I would remind your daughter that it's NOT okay to lie or to joke about it and explain that's why we have a choice in who our President is and that's why we're choosing Obama! Good luck.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:35 AM)

The slide from denial of a lie (it really happened/ okay maybe not this part but that part did/ oops, not that either) to trying to explain it away (misspoke/said only once/oops a bunch of times) to laughing about it as if we should be fond and amused, without ever actually apologizing for it, is truly revealing of the aberrant psychology here. It is very much like Bush doing a skit about searching for the nonexistent weapons of mass destruction (ha, ha, isn't it cute, my lying and all the harm I've caused with it). I was watching Leno but could only get through a moment of this before I turned off the t.v. in disgust.

L.B., Miami, FL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:36 AM)

go clinton go clinton. the next president of the united states thank god .

greg opelika alabama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:40 AM)

Clintons JOKE was a SLAP to Military Families EVERYWHERE! Some Americans REALLY ARE under "sniper fire"!

Penn? CHIEF STRATEGIST for the Clinton Campaign...AND CHIEF LOBBYIST for COLUMBIANS!

WHAT A JOKE SHE IS. Puppet might be a better word..

OH! AND Charlie Black, Penns Partner in that Lobbying Firm, is on MCCAINS CAMPAIGN! SO...the ONLY way for the Lobbyists to LOSE is for OBAMA to WIN! THINK, People.

cam (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:41 AM)

Just a guess but I wouldn't think people who've actually been under sniper fire and suffered losses would find her outright lies all that funny. What a creep. And her stomach knots up wondering what questions Chelse will get?? How about the people who've got loved ones putting it all on the line everyday? She's worried about questions?? Get real. She's not in touch with reality.

everyone I know (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:44 AM)

If this is who America chooses to put in the White House, we get what we deserve.

D/NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:45 AM)

re: Hillary's sniper joke on Leno

/facepalm

Disappointed (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:46 AM)

HILLARY CLINTON IS A LIAR

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120726769569388303.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

She has financially, "mis-managed" her campaign dollars and paid Penn $10 million for his cocky advise. Now her "mis-taken" support or non-support, depending on which LIE she is telling for the day, NAFTA is being pushed by her own CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

HILLARY IS A LIAR "from day one".

Frannie (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:48 AM)

Well said, Vic! She disgusts me. Going on Letterman, Leno and Saturday Night Live to try and "humanize" herself? Well, lying and continuing to live by your own set of rules and standards is not funny. Actually, her appearance was classless, and reminds me of the times her husband played the sax on Arsinio Hall and talked about preferring boxers on MTV. Really... it's pathetic.

sal, Houston TX (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:50 AM)

It's about time the media talk about Hillary's campaign managers.

Williams is tied to one of the biggest sub-prime mortgage companies.
Wolfson works for Glover Park Group, who has ties to pharmaceuticals and Fox News (no wonder Hillary likes Fox).
As this article points out, Hillary's campaign managers have ties to companies who move jobs overseas.
Bill Clinton is part of an off-shore investment company. Off-shore investment companies are more commonly known as tax shelters for the wealthy.
There are also ties to big oil companies.

This list goes on and on.

Dan, Madison, WI (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:51 AM)

We don't need a comedian in the Whitehouse. We blew it when we elected that saxophone player of hers. Then insanely gave an arrogant-cowboy-slow-witted presidential-wannabe the nod.

Folks, we can do better, this time.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:51 AM)

Its OK Diane, my daughter (an eight year old) does see through Hillary and her lies. Now why can't some people who are adults do so.

Thanks for all of your support. Role models for our children are important if we want them to grow up to be ethically functioning adults.

C.A. in Alabama, I weep for us in America sometimes and no, its not because I'm unpatriotic but because I want us to be better than we sometimes are.

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:51 AM)

Good point cam.........people need to wake up and smell the coffee......Mark Penn's Lobbist for Hillary and Charlie Black just signed on with McFossil. Bill Clinton has made $50 MILLION since leaving office. Where did THAT money come from? Certainly NOT speaking engagements. Obama accepts campaign donations from everyday people like you and me. WHO do YOU think will fight harder for the average middle class American? LISTEN to what Obama is saying and take back Washington politics. Come on PA and Indiana, make us proud and vote for Obama!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:55 AM)

It's not funny that she feels comfortable that she feels comfortable making a joke about a lie. That's dangerous.

I also would like to know why it is not hypocritical fo B Clinton to have business in the Cayman Islands, Russia and some Uranium deal with China. I think they are totally dishonest and power hungry.

Celia Ann Michigan (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:56 AM)

Mark Penn is a reminder of the poor decisions and leadership in Hillary's campaign(which did not even have a plan for after Super Tuesday!). How can she possibly lead our country? More disturbing to me is that someone would lie about SNIPER FIRE and make a joke about it. Especially when her daughter was with her on this trip and has to have known her mom was lying all this time. What kind of example is this to set? Hillary does put winning ahead of everything ... and everyone.

Deborah DFW Texas (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:11 AM)

Personally, I'd rather have Obama talking to the Canadians than Clinton talking to the Colombians (and, come on, does Penn do ANYTHING without Clinton's knowledge and tacit approval?)The Canadians, lest we should forget, are our FRIENDS!

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:14 AM)

I loved how she tried to play it off as a "mismatch of words".

I also love how she lied about Obama blocking the votes in Florida and Michigan, and then when Leno asked her about leaving her name on the ballot and those states breaking the rules, she got all flustered and stuttered and said "well, I don;t want to go into all of that right now, but, but you can read about that...."".

This woman just LIED again to ALL of our faces and she does not care. She cares about nothing but getting back into the White House so her and her cronies can continue their little DLC click in Washington.

She also flip flopped on NCLB. She voted for NCLB, yet last night on Leno, she said she wanted to "do away" with NCLB.

So is this another"I voted for it, but hoped it wouldn't pass", like the bankruptcy bill she voted for?

Or maybe a "I was for it, before I was against it" like NAFTA.

Or how about "I didn't know what I was voting for, I was tricked" like the war.

FLIP FLOPPER.

Either way, this woman is just to predictable, and I CANNOT wait until June, when she HAS to leave!!!

More states.
More delegates.
More votes.

Obama 08

Jessica (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:19 AM)

C.A. in Alabama, I weep for us in America sometimes and no, its not because I'm unpatriotic but because I want us to be better than we sometimes are. Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 9:51 AM):

I understand Lisa but don't ever let someone tell you that you cannot criticize your own country if we are going down paths that we should not be taking while knowing better. We all love and appreciate our country and would die for our country but remember that our country is not a living breathing entity on its own. Our country is people, many individuals who have come together as a group and who have flaws as well as stengths. Never to criticize your country during those times when we expose our flaws is being unpatriotic, not the other way around.

An example is Iraq. As a three tour Vietnam Veteran I am a bit old for military duty today but if asked I would go to Iraq tomorrow and help to protect and fight for the safety and well-being of my fellow military members. But at the same time I have every right to say I disagree with the path my country is taking in Iraq and do feel that we are placing our military troopers in very precarious and unwinnable situation in Iraq. I may be criticized for my criticism of US policy in Iraq and may even be called unpatrioitc by some. But those who follow blindly and who never object to or criticze our country when we enter into a flawed and senseless objective (that cost American lives), that to me is being unpatriotic. You can love and fight for your country but you have every right as well as an obligation to criticize your country when and if you feel it is losing those characterestics on which the people agreed to form this nation, honesty, integrity, equality, human rights, pursuit of happiness, truth, cooperation, fair and proper representation, etc.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:21 AM)

Hillary joking about sniper fire = Bush joking about looking for WMDs....not so funny.

boo (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:22 AM)

AND Mark Penn gets PAID for this? From both sides? This in addition to him advising McCain as well as Clinton?

Mike, PA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:23 AM)

Mark Penn also works for Excelon. Mark Penn's consulting partner plays a major role in the McCain campaign. Shouldn't this be getting some focus as well?

Scott (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:23 AM)

I think that there should be a remake of the movie The Three Faces of EVE with Hillary Clinton being EVE. I have never in my life seen a woman with so many different faces. The on I really like is the one she gives the Secret Service when she calls them every name in the books and says the f word to them constantly. Ask the Secret Service what they think of her when she told them to carry in her bags to a motel room and they said they could not and she cussed them out. Yes I have noticed that she has been cute lately. Anything to win and then bully the rest of us. Ha Ha

karen bourland overland park ks (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:29 AM)

Hillary Clinton is a a very sick person.If you have ever been shot at you know it is not something you forget,lie about , or JOKE ABOUT.

James , Oregon (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:33 AM)

This is ridiculous.
I agree. Bush jokes about WMD's, Katrina etc and She jokes about her lies....

This is not funny. When do you guys BLAST HER!!!!!

Joe S thinks she is funny??? He needs to get back to reporting the news instead of his BS love for Hill

Nj (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:36 AM)

One thing I have noticed here. Not one supporter has come to Clinton's defense this time. I didn't watch Leno because I cannot stomach listening to the lies that come out of her mouth. I have to admit though, to joke about getting caught in a boldface lie is lowering the bar even further.

Why are people still supporting this family who seem incapable of telling the truth?

Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:52 AM)

This whole thing with Colombia is a disaster for her. The President of Colombia has attacked Obama over his opposition to the trade deal but has not attacked Hillary. I wonder why?

It also appears that Bill Clinton has some pretty strong ties to the Colombian President. More info. can be found here:

http://narconews.com/Issue52/article3055.html

Just to be clear - this guy not only is against labor unions but union leaders are often murdered in Colombia.

Jessica, Wisconsin (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:53 AM)

How perverted to lie and joke about it. This dismissal of the fact that she blatantly lied will not cover her lack of character. I can't wait for her to be out of this race. She sullies the whole process.

Obama '08

Mary in AL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:54 AM)

Hillary is the real joke. How could someone turn an inevitable coronation into a humiliating loss unless that person is completely incompetent at running anything. No real surprise that Mark Penn is running around behind her back doing things that defy logic. Why she hasn't fired him already is beyond me. The guy is a loser and a liar and so is the candidate he supports.

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 10:55 AM)

My 7 year old is also following the campaign and has asked why they put Hillary on TV when she is lying. She did not see the Leno show, however, because I have begun shutting off any show that gives Hillary free publicity. As far as I am concerned, we all know what to expect from the Clintons. I do not give HRC any more attention than I would give to the latest weight-loss pill infomercial. If networks see that their ratings drop sharply every time she is on, perhaps they will stop promoting her.

Idaho (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:01 AM)

Let's see how Penn/Wolfson will spin this.

What a bunch of hypocrites.

End Game (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:03 AM)

I am very disappointed in Edwards and the others for not stepping up and ending this circus, all they need to do is endorse one or the other so we can move on...she is making us look really bad and I am so over her.
I would never vote for her. What a wast...It is funny how politics brings the ugly out in someone. Hang in there OBAMA...you still might get my vote.

becky, Des Moines, Iowa (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:07 AM)

Amazing. What makes Hillary think the voters will conclude that quip is funny? The Clintons' use of misplaced humor and "smoke and mirrors" are attempts to deceive the voters. We must remain smart and vigilant. PA, NC and IN - heads up! It is critical you do not cast your votes based on name recognition or "dear old Bill"! You must research the facts about Hillary before casting your votes. Also, observe how she runs her campaign. It is a great indication on how she would perform as president of our country. Don't be fooled! The Clintons are banking you CAN be fooled.

OBAMA 08

Lilly, Olney, MD (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:11 AM)

First, Hillary's attempts at jokes always seem so rehearsed! Other than that, after the Bosnia joke, she again explained that she just got mixed up ... you DON'T get mixed up about being shot at and having to run for cover. She did remember the little 8-year old girl.

Barbara, Houston (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:11 AM)

Well American People we have work to do. Starting today every American must rally together to put Obama in the White House to help us stay away from Hillary and McCain. These two individuals are out for themselves and not the American People. We must wake up fast before Hillary and McCain throw this country down the drain. I don't like anybody joking about the American war with our young men and women not even living to reach the age of 40 dying overseas in a senseless war. Let's rally for change and vote Obama. Thank each and everyone who will listen and vote for change and God will be on our side.

Candi, South Carolina (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:12 AM)

Obama supporters deserve the president that they will get...John McCain.

Robin (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:15 AM)

Wow. Jokes about sniper fire aren't very funny. I wish I could like her, but that was so awkward. :-/

Dina, College Park, MD (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:17 AM)

Hillary = 6 Lies, and then laugh about them in the face of Americans. She cannot be trusted to tell any truths, and definitely NOT be any type of leader. ASnd...she has 5% of the experience she claims....except for serving teas. The best fun is watching her be a lousy, grouchy LOSER.

CraigB; Chincoteague, VA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:23 AM)

Joked off something so serious as lying about being shot at. Disgusting. I am sure our soldiers appreciate that, and that now definitely qualifies her to be Commander in Chief...she can officially take over for another liar.

Stewart Lowery Charlotte, NC (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 11:26 AM)

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