Obama: I would have fired Mark Penn
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/11/art.obamapresser.ap.jpg caption="Obama said Friday he would have fired Mark Penn outright."]
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) - Barack Obama told reporters Friday that had top Clinton strategist Mark Penn been on his staff, he would have removed him for having met with the Colombian government to discuss passing a proposed free trade agreement with the nation.
"Let me put it this way," the Illinois senator said. "I'm not surprised that Sen. Clinton found herself in an uncomfortable position as a consequence, and I know that if staff of mine were putting me in that kind of position I would get rid of them."
On the campaign trail Clinton has emphasized her opposition to any trade deal with Colombia.
Obama also added, "I think it was surprising to me that a high ranking, if not the highest ranking, member of Sen. Clinton's team would be engaged in business activities and lobbying that was directly contrary to a position that Sen. Clinton had taken."
Penn resigned from his role as chief strategist, but he has continued to play a role in the campaign.
Responding to the comments Clinton campaign spokesman Jay Carson criticized Obama for not taking similar action against an economic adviser who reportedly told Canadian officials that the Illinois senator's opposition to NAFTA was not as ardent as he was letting on.
"When Sen. Obama's top economic advisor told the Canadian government not to take his anti-NAFTA rhetoric seriously, he first denied that the meeting ever occurred, and when that proved false he took absolutely no action. It's good to know he has a higher standard for our campaign than his own," Carson said.
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If I was Obama I would not have asked Rev. Wright to head my spirtual committee in my campaign knowning at that time his controversial comments. Rev. Wright would still be on his comittee if the news didn't talk about those comments. Wake up America! Also did Obama fire his advisor who went and talked to Canadian officials regarding NAFTA (which Obama finally confessed that NAFTA was discussed between the two parties). Why wasn't he fired from the campaign? Looks like it is double stanadards again Mr. Obama.
Has Obama fired those that made the NAFTA remarks? NO. Did he change churches when his pastor spoke the hateful words towards white people? NO. Did he rid his campaign of Big Oil exectutives? NO. He's playing politics as usual and supporters can say all that they want about Hillary and this question but, it is not a relevant question to begin with. Try as you will, it's not relevant.
Why is it when Hillary says something some folks don't believe they shout LIAR! LIAR!. Yet whe Obama flat out lies over and over again ( as he has done when talking about where he is getting his campaign contributions – over 15 million dollars from lobbyist and PACs ), folks just look the other way. This man is a fraud and a liar. Supporting him will plunge our economy into a depression and leave us languishing in Iraq,.
So many ignorant statements!! Mark Penn is a crook and might be the greediest person alive. Very poor judgment on your part Hillary. Would you hateful people quit holding Obama responsible for what Rev. Wright does. You KNOW the clips were designed to paint him in the worst possible light. He's a man of God and this is NOT a perfect country. Wake up you idiots!!!
Obama = Devil in a Blue Dress!
Look you liar - stop being such a prude and denounce and REGRET having had anything to do with Rev. Wright for 20 years. That's what i want to hear from you!! - Otherwise you're nothing but a phony, pretending to be someone desirable to get what you want – when in reality you are the American enemy!
I don't trust you Obama – not one bit!
Oh, obama always says want he would have done. i,m tried of this would have stuff. let me see some solutions. all his wife and obama does is give inspirational speeches about hope. i want hard core solutions. i'm tried of obama saying are you fired up, change, yes we can which is taken from the cartoon bob the builder. i want results obama. can you deliver.
There he goes copying Clinton again.
"I would have fired Mark Penn" sounds an awful lot like "If that man was my pastor, I would've left that church."
I am noting the incredible leaps in logic to defend Hillary over what is a CLEAR conflict of interest between her HUSBAND's $800,000 receipt of money form Columbia, and HER "supposed" stance against it...
She can't answer direct questions on it.. Yet the DEFENDERS on here launch the SAME attack ....
w...w....well... WHAT ABOUT WRIGHT???...... WHICH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FROM CAMP HILLARY, WILL BE THEIR STRATEGY GOING FORWARD...
My answer to "what about Wright??" is this...
HE wasn't negotiating with Columbia and wasn't paid $800,000.
(try staying on topic for once)
Really Obama? Hmmm what about your staffer meeting with Canada about free trade? Really? or what about your staffer that called Hillary a monster? Come off your high horse. The only reason why you are getting a free ride in this election is because you are black male that is riding the wave of liberal guilt that is propelling this election. That is the only thing that is helping you. As you stated in your book, you would not be here today if you were not a black male. Well, guess when someone else says i, like Ferraro, its rascist. Then us liberals, always being guilt for some reason, has to apoogize and leave the campaign. Oh my god, cannot hire someon who does not agree with you. You have changed noting Barack, just the color of the candidate!
If I remember correctly both Obama and Clinton said they support NAFTA and would make only some amendments to this agreement. Not sure what amendments though. It is just too confusing.
Clearly, Clintons made big money lobbying for it. So, did Penn.
Whether or not this is ethical – or a conflict of interest – is a totally different issue which no one seems to be able to answer.
Barack I love you, but pick on McCain.
We cannot allow McCain to be president, ever.
The man is a psychopath.
Give me a break Obama....Hillary would have never stayed with a spiritual advisor full of hate for America and other races for 20 years as you did. Getting tired of his holier than now attitude.
Hillary only SAYS she is against the Columbian trade deal. The truth is she is as for it as her husband Bill is, just like NAFTA. Why would she fire a connection to a big profit she and Bill stand to make!
Sen Obama, can you tell me why it is so difficult for you to say "God Bless America?", you often say God Bless You, why not God Bless America?, Could it be because you truly do empathize with your hatred spewing minister? I would really like it if all the Obama supporters actually listened to Sen Obama's speeches and noted that he never says God Bless America. Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth. Let's all stick to the facts folks and the fact is I listen to both candidates campaign every day on CNN live stream. Sen Obama, to date has not at the end of any stump speech said God Bless America.
IT'S HILARIOUS TO SEE OBAMA'S OLD WASHINGTON POLITICS, NOW HE HAS COMMENSENSE & DARE TO TALK ABOUT HIS RIVAL, WHEN HE LOST HIS COMMON SENSE WHEN IT'S COME TO HIS PASTOR. HE STAYED IN HIS CHURCH FOR 20YEARS WHEN HE HEARD CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS FROM HIS PASTOR WHERE HE DID NOT HAD COMMON SENSE TO OPPOSE THOSE PUBLICALLY, WHERE OPRAH HAD MORE COMMON SENSE THAN OBAMA SO SHE LEFT THE CHURCH. IT'S EASY TO THROW MUD AT HIS RIVAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT HIS COMPAIGN, BUT LOST COMMON SENSE & AFRAID TO TAKE STAND WHICH HE IS ALWAYS COWARD TO TAKE STAND UNLESS IF IT'S HIS RIVAL. I WAS HUGE OBAMA FAN & CONTRIBUTED TO HIS COMPAIGN BUT NOW I HATE HIM SO MUCH AFTER I WATCHED HIM NOT TAKING STAND,OPPOSE HIS PASTOR COMMENTS PUBLICALLY IN CHURCH TO WHICH HE IS PART OF FROM PAST 20YRS, HE NEVER TOLD ABOUT HIS PASTOR CONTROVERSIAL STATMENTS UNTIL MEDIA GOT THOSE VIDEOS, IN THE BEGINNING HIS CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR WAS MAIN PART OF COMPAIGN. IS IT THIS JUST LIKE OLD WASHINGTON POLITICS THAT PEOPLE ARE TIRED OFF.
The facial impression in the picture says it all.
Go Hillary.
I agree with Senator Obama. You fire your campaign manager who you HIRED and has only ONE job and one master. To compare this to attending church services where a Pastor delivered a sermon to thousands is RIDICULOUS. It only points to the desperation and shallowness of all you HRC fanatics
Penn resigned from his role as chief strategist, but he has continued to play a role in the campaign, so as long as he is compaigning for her who is to say what kind of role he is playing, she needs to fire him .
"Oh sure, say anything Obama to get elected. Wasn't it you saying stuff about NAFTA while your campaign told Canada you were just trying to get votes, and were lying to gain support, and Canada shouldn't worry?"
Actually, it was a mistake that Canada publically came out on and apologized to the Obama camp. Keep up with the news and you will know the real facts, instead of letting a chronic liar like hiliary tell you what the facts are.
A year ago, Austan Goolsbee (Obama's chief economic advisor) wrote an article defending subprime mortgages. Has he been fired yet?
Obama please step down!
hahahahaha... bloody brilliant Obama.
Hello....
Mr. BO…..How about you fire your MINISTER….How about you fire your advisor that started your Canadian NAFTA problem??? How about you fire your advisor that contradicted your supposed "withdrawl" from Iraq???????
BO, you are such a joke….
GO HILLARY!!!!!!! 18 POINT LEAD IN PA FROM THE MOST ACCURATE IN PRIMARY POLLING……SurveyUSA!!!!!!
he just repeats, does and proposes whatevere Hillary is doing and proposing. from speeches to policies, its all plagiarised in his world. HILLARY '08. if not hillary, then im all for mccain-rice. experience is a good thing. US and the world has been scr'wd once by inexperenced bush- just cant afford bush2 in obama. HILLARY '08!
Another Clinton supporter leaving for Obama. This is just too much, one set back after another, there are just too many coincidences. I am beginning to think Obama is a more honest candidate.