April 9, 2008
Posted: 09:53 AM ET
 Hillary and Bill Clinton have different opinions about a free trade agreement with Colombia.
Hillary and Bill Clinton have different opinions about a free trade agreement with Colombia.

(CNN) — Sen. Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill don't see eye-to-eye when it comes to a controversial free trade pact, her campaign says.

Hillary Clinton staunchly opposes a free trade agreement with Colombia, but her husband, the former president, supports it.

Clinton's campaign spokesman, Jay Carson, told The Associated Press that her opposition to the deal is "clear and firm."

Full Story

Filed under: Hillary Clinton


Nikki   April 9th, 2008 3:06 pm ET

Husband and wife fundamentally disagreeing about the Columbia Free Trade Pact. What a conflict of interest, her husband made $800,000.00 by speaking on behalf of a company that supports this agreement while she's campaigning that she's against it. Will they reconcile their "disagreement" if she becomes our President? Who will concede their position, Hillary or Bill? Will Americans see more jobs shifted overseas if Hillary flip-flops on this issue?
Columbia-gate…..NAFTA-gate?

Kry   April 9th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

YEah..She was against NAFTA too..lol, wait LOL!!! That's why she worked so hard to crush the unions who opposed it.
Sen Clinton was up against snipers too.

They are such an AMAZINGLY UPRIGHT couple but I may be 'disenfranchised'.

They say one thing yet their back door actions prove that they DON"T have the best interest of Americans at heart

Tom , Flagstaff, AZ   April 9th, 2008 2:54 pm ET

Let's not kid ourselves. Hillary agrees with Bill. She just won't say it. Why? Pennsylvania.

April in Texas   April 9th, 2008 2:54 pm ET

Well your Whitehouse transcripts prove otherwise on your views concerning NAFTA. If your so opposed to NAFTA and this Colombia free trade issue CAFTA then WHY is Mark Penn still involved in your campaign at all? Your husband who also strongly supports what you claim to be against is still campaigning for you? If your campaign supporters and such continue to judge Obama by his FORMER reverand then please explain the difference you are doing. They are quite the same except for one small factor the word FORMER meaning in the past tense…
Explain it to me without the lies please…

Obama 08

Where did the REAL Democrat Party go?   April 9th, 2008 2:53 pm ET

Is there some significance to this story? So??? …..wives and husbands can disagree on about anything. Why don't you people report on what Barack and Michelle disagree on? Oh, I forget…….she is the "little wife" who goes along with her "man" and let's him lead the way. What a WONDERFUL role model she would make for all of our forward-looking daughters……she is NOT the model of the Modern Woman……Hillary is.

The Mainstream Media needs to take up another Hobby and lay off of Hillary—–get a REAL LIFE and stop reporting Anti-Hillary stuff. We Americans are SICK of it. Don't you GET it already??

Ben   April 9th, 2008 2:48 pm ET

clear and firm? yeah, thats why she engaged a lobbyist as chief strategist…

Voice   April 9th, 2008 2:47 pm ET

Will you split at answering 3am phone too?

x4faith - Mobile, AL   April 9th, 2008 2:42 pm ET

Some of the most scary scenes in this God awful 3 Act play is that MI, OH & FL fell for their BAD ACTING in the 1st Act. Now that we're in the 2 Act it seems as if PA and possible IN will do the same. God help us when in the 3rd Act. We're gonna need a miracle.

mathias   April 9th, 2008 2:39 pm ET

who cares what hilary does not know is GOD as chosen his candidate,Remember america if we steal this election frombarack obama then we have loss the foundation on which this country was built .i had lou doubs the proclaime american hero trying to belittle obama make no mistakes lou obama is not your caliber .

PA voter   April 9th, 2008 2:39 pm ET

Thats what you get if you allow one Clinton into the White house you allow both. They will need a new cabinet position with a special wing so they can seek Marriage counseling. I hear rev Wright is interested in that cabinet spot.

TJ   April 9th, 2008 2:38 pm ET

Recently, we are hearing that HRC claims to disagree with many of the major policies followed by her husband during his white house days, including this NAFTA and CAFTA.

On one hand, this shows that HRC did not have a major role in influencing Bill Clinton when he made decisions which diminishes her white house experience:

On the other hand, even when she is preparing herself for a presidential race, she chose all the people in her campaign who in one way another have a different stand than her- how strange.

I do not see any honesty in this woman-There are many things that need to be vetted.

MD   April 9th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

Oh please spare us the Clinton family's soap opera.

How come when her husband was making $500,000 promoting the colombia free trade pact Hillary wasn't vocal about her opposition?

The only reason why she says she is against it now is to buy union support in PA. Once the primaries die down, she and her sleezy husband will be back making money any which way they can. Mark my word.

Anonymous   April 9th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

Recently, we are hearing that HRC claims to disagree with many of the major policies followed by her husband during his white house days, including this NAFTA and CAFTA.

On one hand, this shows that HRC did not have a major role in influencing Bill Clinton when he made decisions which diminishes her white house experience:

On the other hand, even when she is preparing herself for a presidential race, she chose all the people in her campaign who in one way another have a different stand than her- how strange.

I do not see any honesty in this woman-There are many things that need to be vetted.

Vaxe J L   April 9th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

They already have that 800K so who care who's for or not. It's all political that Hillary is against it now after pocket the money. We need to stop that, That what that election is about

Go Obama or McCain never the Clinton

LucieLee   April 9th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

Hillary has no credibility about CAFTA~!!

Linda   April 9th, 2008 2:35 pm ET

She still backed NAFTA which to my part of the country is like living in a death state or the Death Star there is know way out.

mary   April 9th, 2008 2:33 pm ET

Does Obama disagree with Mitchelle about "this is the first time I am proud to be an American"?

Stephanie, PA   April 9th, 2008 2:33 pm ET

How odd…she didn't say she disagreed with Pres. Clinton at the time NAFTA was implemented. Oh, well, those are just pesky little details!

Obama '08

Adam   April 9th, 2008 2:33 pm ET

she has always been against NAFTA..Strange things, Couples dont always think the same way. WOW..what a shock!!

Hillary 08!

Dave, TX   April 9th, 2008 2:30 pm ET

I guess, now the Clinton's are trying to have it both ways. They really DO think that Americans are stupid!!!!

Sue   April 9th, 2008 2:30 pm ET

Since Bill Clinton was payed $800,000 to promote the Colombian free trade agreement, and since Hillary benefits from that (since they filed joint income tax returns presumably they share the money); isn't there a huge conflict of interest here?
Hillary says she opposes the trade agreement; but, she also said how disappointed she is that Bush submitted the trade agreement to congress forcing a vote on it. Could she be disappointed because now she'll have to vote on it before the nomination is decided (and therefore has to vote against it) ? Given the Clinton propensity for obfuscation and lying and saying what the voters want to hear–you have to wonder if the vote came later, say after she was elected –would she have 800,000 reasons to vote for the agreement?
I'm sorry this post is so convoluted; but, I am talking about Hillary.

Sean   April 9th, 2008 2:30 pm ET

Oh! so it was Bill that orginized the meeting with the Colombians.

Give me a break. What clowns.

Political Jonze   April 9th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

Well, gee - how can you stay married to somebody for 30+ years when you disagree with them so fundamentally on certain issues…

Mecca   April 9th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

Nothing new for me, Hillary will run the country with her own concepts and beliefs, she is well qualified to do a good job! It's about time the media stops calling her campaign "The Clinton's" it's Hillary's!
Go girl!
Mecca
Puerto Rico

FELISA   April 9th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

chelsea is 28…huh…wasn't Monica around the same age when she was doing ole Bill? She was asked tough questions.

Mel in Montana   April 9th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

So was Penn working for HIllary or was he working for Bill??
Com on, President Clinton - do you not think that $800,000 in income to you speaks volumes about what is really going on with the Columbian Free Trade deal?

OBAMA '08

Integrity
Honesty
Transparency

Travis LeFever   April 9th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

Is it just me or does a foreign government paying a former US president, with a spouse in the Presidential race, $800K to come and speak to them seem out-of-line? Especially if they have interests before Congress? It seems someone should dig a little deeper into who hired him and how / why. I don't see a lot of boundaries or regulation to prevent the "public speaking circuit fees" becoming "legal" bribery. Maybe it's just me, but if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck . . . .?

Geof   April 9th, 2008 2:28 pm ET

Hey CNN, why don't you give us more details? For example, tell us about Clinton's husband recieving $800 000 from Columbian government in 2005 for promoting their free trade with US and what former president promised them - which is all over the Columbian press at that time? He is even more involved in Columbia -gate than M.Penn…

Geof

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   April 9th, 2008 2:27 pm ET

She has mentioned differences in the past. How would this be any different? Does it matter? The only way it would matter would be if he were to give a speech for her and it include talk about the trade deal.

Eva   April 9th, 2008 2:27 pm ET

Yes, and he made many millions promoting the Columbia agreements, which is fine with me. So, what else is new?

Nick - Arlington, VA   April 9th, 2008 2:26 pm ET

Smells a bit fishy when your top adviser and your ex-president husband whom you claim your relationship with grants you most of your experience, are both for something that you claim to oppose…the former lobbying for the Colombians and the latter getting paid $800K to speak on their behalf.

Even if she really doesn't agree with them, her track record of "misspeaks" doesn't make that seem very plausible.

Ben   April 9th, 2008 2:25 pm ET

Just dont tell or ask Chelsea…she is still a teenager finding herself!

Joe - Wilmington, DE   April 9th, 2008 2:23 pm ET

Bill: OK, I'll be the bad guy and say I support the Columbia Free Trade Pact and you say you're against it now and if by some miracle you're elected President you can backtrack and say you were always for it.

Hillary: Great. I can come off as the good guy now and still push the agreement if by some miracle I am elected because I'm still convinced that most Americans are really stupid and love us and will believe whatever we say.

Bill: I love you Hillary (lie).

Hillary: I love you Bill (bigger lie).

Lostfigs   April 9th, 2008 2:23 pm ET

She disagreed with him on NAFTA too.

Go Hillary!

voter   April 9th, 2008 2:22 pm ET

Who is running Hillary's campaign? Bill, Mark Penn and the Colombian Government? Anyone else? Clearly the campaign has run amuck. Hilary is a puppet. What a shame that she represents the first serious woman candidate for President of the USA.

Peace   April 9th, 2008 2:21 pm ET

Mmmmmh! doubtful! An attempt to confuse Pennsylvania voters!

If at all they do, its one bad signal how the Oval Office will be run incase she is elected. Bill will interfere and tell her, "this is not the way it should be done, and not the way I did it"!

Patty   April 9th, 2008 2:20 pm ET

Taking that message to PA? Good luck with that, Hillary.

alice2   April 9th, 2008 2:19 pm ET

Hillary is LIEING again - Do anything to get elected - She secretly agrees with Bill. Untrustworthy as ever.

gerry   April 9th, 2008 2:18 pm ET

Well, clearly Wolfson, Penn or Bill can't talk about their opposition to this deal since they all made money on it.

Voters are smarter than this Hillary, they see through the thin veil.

Allan   April 9th, 2008 2:18 pm ET

According to people involved Hillary did not agree to the FTA when it was being formulated. She only supported Bill later. So this is not a turnaround.
Hillary in 08

Jan   April 9th, 2008 2:18 pm ET

Spouses often do not agree, but I have to give Hillary credit to
will stay on course on what she believes is right for the american people. Bill has a right to his opinions, but he's not running for Presiden.

If this were Obama he would do what Rev.Wright told him to do.

bernice   April 9th, 2008 2:17 pm ET

She opposes it, huh? So does she oppose the $800,000 that her hubby made in 'payment for appearances in Mexiso, Columbia and Brazil' that supports the Columbia free trade deal? Is she going to give that cash back?

"Unbelievable"…this is what sound like a "fairytale"

Vee   April 9th, 2008 2:16 pm ET

Oh please…., disagree on the TRADE, but obviously AGREE on the MONEY!!

Disagree on CAFTA & NAFTA but hire people who lobby FOR them.
Disagree on CAFTA & NAFTA but marry the person who CHAMPIONS them.

So long as the MONEY is coming to personal fund, I guess there's no conflict of interests what soever huh Hillary?

Sure…..believe whatever makes you feel better.
Believe you're being shot at in Bosnia, go ahead.
Believe that there's no conflict of interests in CAFTA & NAFTA, go ahead.
Believe what ever you want!
SO LONG I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU SAY - EVER - I'M PERFECTLY FINE.

Xavier of Saint Louis, MO   April 9th, 2008 2:15 pm ET

She's lying! She only disagrees with Bill on the Colombia Trade pact, because she knows the people in Pennsylvania are blue collar workers who don’t believe in any trade that would cause American to loose their jobs. She was for NAFTA, until she decided to run for President. She would say anything to get a vote. Once again, I can't believe people are still supporting her. . . also, has anyone noticed that her campaign message has changed again. She's no longer talks about her "35 years of experience." . . .I guess she would have to change that lie, because she has been caught in it so many times.

Venus   April 9th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

Let's see if Bill Clinton was paid $800,000 in 2005 for Colombia Trade talks - that means Hillary is also in bed with Colombia!

Scott Hughes ATL   April 9th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

She must now repudiate, denounce, reject, divorce, separate, etc… Bill Clinton.

But I guess if she'll let him cheat on her and still hang around, she won't do anything about his differing opinion. I wonder who would get their way if she was to actually make it to the Whitehouse???

hmmmmmmmmmm… My guess is we would have a Columbian trade deal…lol

Venus   April 9th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Yes! I hope this is the final nail for Hillary's coffin!

Tex   April 9th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

All Clinton smoke and mirrors! Just like Hillary's lie about her firing Penn over the same Columbia deal that Bill supports. Penn is still there advising and derwqing salary. Another example of Hillary "misspeak."

CW4Barak   April 9th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

This is just another one of Billary's lies….she stands by and supports everything her husband does….she even supported and stood by him during their adulturous/scandalous years in the white house. We know you agree with the free trade pack….you afterall is running on his record, so why now try to distance yourself because your chickens have come home to roost….you are not going to lie to the rest of us like you did to the people in Ohio about Nafta.

Oh by the way, your supporter is asking why Obama stayed in the church for 20 yrs…..why did you stay with Wild Willy all this time he was riding poor Monica and many other women dirty!! I guess I can find $109M reasons why!

Veterans For Obama   April 9th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

Just imagine if these two were in the whitehouse again! I shudder to think of it

gerard morei   April 9th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

That proves who is going to be the President. Bill will be just the first man.
HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT 2009!!!!!!

Frantz (Atlanta)   April 9th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

I am sick of the Clintons. Do we really need another 4-8 years of nothing but controversies in the white house? We have infighting within the Clinton team. Imagine the gridlock between them and other democrats. Even worst, against the republican if she gets elected.

Change in '08 = Obama '08!

Debbie,NJ   April 9th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

This is not a typical husband and wife disagreement. She as President is suppose to represent the people who vote for her. If your own household doesn't agree with the policies you stand for (like she stood for NAFTA when her husband was President) then what we have here folks is a conflict of interest. And this will only be 1 of many.
If you can't control your house or your campaign how can you run this country? Seems to me you're going to have too many distractions.

Marilyn Carter   April 9th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Well, it is obvious then with Bill in the White House, that we have yet another conflict of interest. Bill will be running the show, and what a mess that will be.

RENEA,PLYMOUTH,MI   April 9th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

EVERY ONE IN CLINTON CAMP HAS MADE MONEY OFF OF PUSHING CFTA,BUT HILLARY STATES SHE IS AGAINST IT.GIVE ME A BREAK. BILL CLINTON GOT PAID 800,000 DOLLARS TO GIVE SPEECHS TALKING ABOUT CFTA..WHAT OTHER PROMISES DID BILL CLINTON MAKE GIVING SPEECHS IN OTHER COUNTRYS?

Stacy Clarks,   April 9th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Please! she opposes it for this campaign!!!

like i believe her!!

OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!

Jedi Academy   April 9th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

So, Bill, Penn, and Bush all see eye-to-eye on the same trade plan! Bill Clinton supports free trade with Colombia, and Hill does not. Bill signed and supports NAFTA, and Hill does not. She likes to argue about everything doesn't she?

honkey white guy from cali   April 9th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Well the truth is they disagree right now she is campaigning in a heavy union state. and next month when she is elsewhere she will most probably support it like everything else. She also claims to be again NAFTA but as we well know she was also a very big supporter of that and the Clinton's have cleaned up in the bank to the tune of 109 million because of there type of politics. That is of course what the IRS is aware of anyway we all know there is much more than that! lies lies lies come on PA keep closing those numbers down and send the Clinton's out of politics I very much doubt she will be able to keep her senate seat after this. she has lost the respect of millions while trying to gain it.

Go Obama 08

PA   April 9th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Nice try but another lie. Hillary is saying that she disagrees with Bill on Columbian free trade, but she did not say anything until it came out that her head advisor and her husband support free trade. Is this like rewritting the history of NAFTA? Hillary had meetings supporting NAFTA and now we find out that her inner circle supports Columbian free trade? Given her history of lying - I DON'T TRUST HER!!!!!!

KMAN   April 9th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

I'm confident in saying they also don't seeing eye to eye on Bill receiving oral compensation in the White house from an intern!

HRC, it's over babe   April 9th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

This story should be top not bottom. CNN = Clinton News Network.

I think she should now drop Bill, since it's now proven that he received $800,000 on behalf of Columbia, just like she dropped Mark Penn. Oops! Did I say drop Mark Penn. No, the truth is Penn is still working actively in HRC's campaign. It was only his title that changed.

HRC is a bold face liar.

Val, Atlanta, Ga   April 9th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

All of you Clinton supporters, I doubt it , but if she became President all you will have in the White House is two Power Hungry nut cases arguing over who's right and who's wrong.

Obama/08

Kebede   April 9th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

The Clintons love power!!!! This is poor stratagy. Both supported NAFTA. Hillary, you do not get my vote any way. No trust on you.

CoopGQ   April 9th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

It's real convieant that all the sudden Hillary and Bill say they don't agree. Looks like a ploy to me to dupe the american people into thinking she does not support this, after her campaign got caught with Mark Penn supporting this deal. Stop the lies HILLARY!!!!

John Smith   April 9th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

And the scandals begin!!! Hillary and Bill are bound together for "better or for worse." Hillary follows Bill, if not now, she will do so later. So, the divisiveness, lies, scandals continue because there is no one to take "full responsibility."

Talking about VPs, people can now understand why Gore was disgusted as VP during the Clintons years, and how he subsequently lost the election. Wake up American, Gore would have been on Hillary's side today, if he did not have to compete with Hillary for that position throughout the Clinton years.

Boye   April 9th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

Haha…. She will give up her husband as sacrifice to make her point. Chelsea is next up.

Powered by the People   April 9th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

So Bill was Penn's insider.

Linda   April 9th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

If one's nature focuses on performing not on responsibility, he(she) must have an inconsistent personality. Sense of respnsibility causes the charactor of consistency.

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