From The Road
April 1, 2008 2:26 PM

McEntee Says Clinton's Always Been Against NAFTA

By
Fernando Suarez
Topics
Hillary Clinton
(CBS)
From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

PHILADELPHIA -- AFSCME president Gerry McEntee said today that he knows Hillary Clinton has been against NAFTA from the start, saying the former First Lady called him back in the '90s to tell him "we lost."

"I know that she spoke against it, she opposed it," McEntee said about NAFTA.

"Maybe she does not even remember this," McEntee continued. "The day that they got the votes, Hillary Clinton called me and I was in California at a union meeting. She said, and this really sums it up, she said 'We lost. We lost, the votes were there for NAFTA.' So anybody who tries to hang it around her neck, is hanging it around the wrong neck."

Labor unions are a significant part of the voting bloc in Pennsylvania and one of the key issues facing these workers is NAFTA, a trade agreement implemented by former President Clinton that has drawn criticism for taking American jobs overseas.

Hillary Clinton has tried to distance herself from NAFTA in order to woo labor support for her candidacy. For weeks, Clinton has pointed to various White House officials as sources who can corroborate claims that Clinton was not in agreement with her husband over NAFTA.

During her remarks before the AFL-CIO convention of labor unions, Hillary Clinton made the argument that she is most prepared to be president because she has learned by watching and observing, much like a labor apprentice. "I've apprenticed, and I've learned how to do it, I've watched it being done for 8 years," she said.

Clinton who is struggling to keep her campaign afloat amid pressure from members of her own party to step aside said she's a fighter and not ready to give up. She used the analogy known all too well by Philadelphians that she will keep going, much like the famous boxing fighter Rocky Balboa, from the movie "Rocky."

"Senator Obama says he's getting tired of the campaign, his supporters say they want it to end. But, could you imagine if Rocky Balboa had gotten half-way up those art museum stairs and said 'Well I guess that's about far enough?' That's not the way it works," Clinton said as the crowd cheered her on.

Clinton added, "Let me tell you something: when it comes to finishing the fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common, I never quit, I never give up."

Add a Comment
by eroosevelt08 April 3, 2008 2:48 PM EDT
On April 1, 2008, the President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Gerry McEntee said that he knows Hillary Clinton has been against NAFTA from the start, saying the former First Lady called him back in the ''90s to tell him %u201Cwe lost.%u201D %u201CI know that she spoke against it, she opposed it,%u201D McEntee said about NAFTA. %u201CMaybe she does not even remember this. The day that they got the votes, Hillary Clinton called me and I was in California at a union meeting. She said, and this really sums it up, she said %u2018We lost. We lost, the votes were there for NAFTA.%u2019 So anybody who tries to hang it around her neck, is hanging it around the wrong neck.%u201D

Gerry McIntee, as President of (AFSCME) is an impeccable source. To maintain his credibility, Senator Obama must admit his error on this issue and sincerely apologize to Senator Clinton for telling the world she always supported NAFTA when she opposed it before it became a law we all had to deal with. Senator Obama must correct all the misstatements he has made on this subject in a way that reaches all the people he talked to about this important subject.
Reply to this comment
by lordmi April 2, 2008 3:43 AM EDT
One more liar.


it is becoming boring to see all those people, who forgot the Honesty , shame and elementary Human nature, except the Huger for power. All those Clintons Inc.

marasmus.
Reply to this comment
by jerryz7936 April 2, 2008 2:33 AM EDT
Her "first lady" papers clearly shows she backed NAFTA. Is this added as another lie just like the Bosnia story?
Lost her credibility as president.
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 April 1, 2008 9:54 PM EDT
%u201CMaybe she does not even remember this,%u201D McEntee continued. %u201CThe day that they got the votes, Hillary Clinton called me and I was in California at a union meeting. She said, and this really sums it up, she said %u2018We lost. We lost, the votes were there for NAFTA.%u2019 So anybody who tries to hang it around her neck, is hanging it around the wrong neck.%u201D
*********************************

That is BS. Bill Clinton was a big proponent of NAFTA. I was dead against it and I remember who was for it well. Hillary was NOT against NAFTA, I don''t care what this guy "remembers."
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 April 1, 2008 9:45 PM EDT
Well, glory be! Now what will the Hillary bashers be on about! I suppose is she looks at the night sky and says, wow, it''s black out there! They''ll be calling her a racist again!

The ran the Bosnia thing in the ground for at least 72 hours of total madness over nothing.

What next?
Reply to this comment
by lorinkundert April 1, 2008 8:46 PM EDT
Prove It
Reply to this comment
by obamasgranny April 1, 2008 6:57 PM EDT
obama, by the laws in the US is NOT Black!! He is only 6.25% African American and not the required 12.5% to call himself "African American",...you have been duped!!
Reply to this comment
by mabs0 April 1, 2008 6:06 PM EDT
Ok, forget NAFTA. We all know her memory is a bit shaky these days so it''s not surprising she can''t remember whether she supported it or opposed it.

But Rocky? Did she referenced Rocky? Which one? In Rocky I, Rocky loses ... to a black guy! It''s the later ones that he starts winning.
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