Canadian NAFTA Remarks Rile Obama Campaign

Senator's Senior Economic Advisor Says Diplomats Inaccurately Portrayed His Trade Stance

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama's senior economic policy adviser privately told Canadian officials to view the debate in Ohio over trade as "political positioning," according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press that was rejected by the adviser and held up Monday as evidence of doublespeak by rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The memo is the first documentation to emerge publicly out of the meeting between the adviser, Austan Goolsbee, and officials with the Canadian consulate in Chicago, but Goolsbee said it misinterprets what he told them. The memo was written by Joseph DeMora, who works for the consulate and attended the meeting.

"Noting anxiety among many U.S. domestic audiences about the U.S. economic outlook, Goolsbee candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged, particularly in the Midwest, during the primary campaign," the memo said. "He cautioned that this messaging should not be taken out of context and should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans."

Goolsbee disputed the characterization from the conservative government official.

"This thing about 'it's more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans,' that's this guy's language," Goolsbee said of DeMora. "He's not quoting me.

"I certainly did not use that phrase in any way," he said.

The meeting was first reported last week by Canadian television network CTV, which cited unnamed sources as saying that Goolsbee assured the Canadians that Obama's tough talk on the North American Free Trade Agreement is just campaign rhetoric not to be taken seriously. The Obama campaign and the Canadian embassy denied there was any inconsistency between what the candidate was saying publicly and what advisers were saying privately.

NAFTA is widely opposed in economically depressed Ohio, which holds its presidential primary Tuesday and is a key battleground between Obama and Clinton. Both candidates said in a debate in Cleveland last week that they would renegotiate the trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, which is the largest trading partnership in the world, and threaten to pull out if it doesn't include more protections for workers and the environment.

Clinton said Monday that Obama's campaign gave the Canadians "the old wink-wink."

"I think that's the kind of difference between talk and action that I've been talking about," Clinton told reporters while campaigning in Ohio. "It raises questions about Senator Obama coming to Ohio and giving speeches against NAFTA."

On Friday, Republican John McCain said the desire by his Democratic presidential rivals to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA would jeopardize crucial military support from Canada. (See related story.)

The memo obtained by the AP was widely distributed within the Canadian government. It is more than 1,300 words and covers many topics that DeMora said were discussed in the Feb. 8 "introductory meeting" between himself, Goolsbee and the consul general in Chicago, Georges Rioux.

Goolsbee "was frank in saying that the primary campaign has been necessarily domestically focused, particularly in the Midwest, and that much of the rhetoric that may be perceived to be protectionist is more reflective of political maneuvering than policy," the memo's introduction said. "On NAFTA, Goolsbee suggested that Obama is less about fundamentally changing the agreement and more in favour of strengthening/clarifying language on labour mobility and environment and trying to establish these as more `core' principles of the agreement."

Goolsbee said that sentence is true and consistent with Obama's position. But he said other portions of the memo were inaccurate.

"I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to ensure that we actually get labor and environmental standards that are enforced," Obama said in the debate last week.

Goolsbee said he has been surprised that such a banal and trivial meeting with a low-level consulate official has created so much controversy and resulted in such an inaccurate depiction. He said he was invited to the consulate to meet the officials and get a tour.

He said the visit lasted about 40 minutes, and perhaps two to three minutes were spent discussing NAFTA. He said the Canadians asked about Obama's position, and he replied about his interest in improving labor and environmental standards, and they raised some concerns that Obama sounds like a protectionist.

He said he responded that Obama is not a protectionist, but that the Illinois senator tries to strike a balance between the economic struggles of working Americans and recognizing that free trade is good for the economy.

"That's a pretty ham-handed description of what I answered," Goolsbee said of memo's description of "political positioning." "A: In no possible way was that a reference to NAFTA. And B: In no possible way was I inferring that he was going to introduce any policies that you should ignore and he had no intention of enacting. Those are both completely crazy."

Tristan Landry, a spokesman for the Canadian embassy in Washington, said DeMora was not available for an interview Sunday. His only comment on the memo was to say that although consulate officials reach out to U.S. campaign officials to seek their views, "Canada does not in any way seek to interfere in U.S. electoral politics."

Canada supports NAFTA and does not want to see it interrupted.

The Canadian memo said that when Rioux "asked whether we could expect to hear more of this as the elections progressed, Goolsbee thought not. In fact, he mentioned that going forward the Obama camp was going to be careful to send the appropriate message without coming off too protectionist.

"As Obama continues to court the economic populist vote, particularly in upcoming contests like Ohio, we are likely to see a continuation of some of the messaging that hasn't played in Canada's favour, but this should continue to be viewed in the context in which it is delivered," DeMora wrote in the closing section.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Goolsbee's visit was not as an emissary from the campaign, but as a professor from the University of Chicago. He was not authorized to share any messages from the campaign, Burton said.

Burton, who was on the call while Goolsbee described his visit to the AP, said, "It all boils down to a clumsy, inaccurate portrayal of the conversation."

Asked if he agreed with Burton's summary, Goolsbee said he did.

[farmerbb]

Interesting article in one Canadian newspaper

www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/2008/02/29/4884265-sun.html

showing the value of NAFTA to the U.S.

(continued)

[farmerbb]

(continued from previous)

"BENEFIT TO U.S.

But the real story, from a U.S. electoral point of view, is the one Obama and Clinton deliberately ignore. Free trade has been hugely beneficial to U.S. workers, too. For 36 of 50 U.S. states, Canada is the leading export market. That includes all the powerful border states -- Ohio, Michigan, New York. But it also includes some states you might not expect -- Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee, South Carolina.

In 2006, according to Canadian government data, Ohio alone exported $18 billion worth of merchandise to Cdn customers. A big chunk of that was in transportation and metal products, related to the auto industry. We bought $3.4 billion worth of their auto parts, and $2.1 billion worth of their cars. And here''s another interesting tidbit: In 2006 Ohio imported $4.2 billion worth of Cdn crude oil.

Of course, Ohio isn''t the only state that needs Cdn energy, as Industry Minister David Emerson pointed out Wednesday. At last count, Canada provided about 18% of the United States'' foreign oil supply -- more than any other source including Saudi Arabia, which provides about 15%. Canada accounts for almost all of the United States'' natural gas imports, which are critical to, among other things, keeping lights on in California.

(continued)

[farmerbb]

(continued)

Net result? As Emerson not so subtly intimates, a future President Obama won''t want to keep his promise of tearing up NAFTA, because the pact is integral to U.S. economic health and energy security. The Americans need free trade at least as much as we do. Obama is trading in campaign rhetoric. In policy terms it''s meaningless."

[infiniti2007]

Obama campaign always has 1001 reasons for excuses. Obama''s famous quote: "That is not what I meant." Stupid!

[samthetvcat]

"Canada supports NAFTA and does not want to see it interrupted"

Does Canada the government as well as Canada the people both support NAFTA or is it just the government or neither?

I read in other articles that the Canadian people hate it, and the Government''s chomping at the bit to rework it too.

Also, what''s the Canadian government''s stance on this whole dust-up? I would imagine they''re probably not eager to get off on the wrong foot with the person who might possibly be the next President and would therefore be eager to chalk this up to a miscommunication (?)

It happens to all politicians I suppose . . . one just needs to look at Hillary Clinton (''I voted for that bill but hoped it wouldn''t pass'') and John McCain (''100 years in Iraq would be fine with me'') to see how even the seasoned veterans say things which in this day and age get media coverage again and again much to their dismay . . .

I think the important point to take away from this story is that the statements of fact in the memo acknowledge that Obama''s position to the Canadian Consulate is exactly the position he''s been asserting in public ("On NAFTA, Goolsbee suggested that Obama is less about fundamentally changing the agreement and more in favour of strengthening/clarifying language on labour mobility and environment and trying to establish these as more `core'' principles of the agreement.")

[samthetvcat]

PS It''s a Republican fear-smear to claim that Obama and Clinton are ''protectionists'' and anti-NAFTA . . . isn''t it more accurate to say that we''re the party of FAIR trade. We embrace NAFTA, but we propose to rework it so that it is no longer known as the North American FREE Trade Agreement but is instead becomes the North American FAIR Trade Agreement.

It''s capitalism that benefits everybody . . . NAFTA 1.0 might have increased the net worth of a select few, but lowered the net welfare of a whole lot more. Hopefully NAFTA 2.0 will still increase the net worth of some people AND increase the net welfare of the rest of us as well.

The increase in wealth disparity is a well-established by-product of most if not all trade agreements, isn''t it? Apparently trade agreements often depress wages for workers as well.

[samthetvcat]

"the Canadian embassy denied there was any inconsistency between what the candidate was saying publicly and what advisers were saying privately."

Okay, I just saw this - however it''s the Conservatives that are in power in Canada? And Canadians really think we''re not going to question this denial that "Canada does not in any way seek to interfere in U.S. electoral politics."

---

"On Friday, Republican John McCain said the desire by his Democratic presidential rivals to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA would jeopardize crucial military support from Canada."

McCain''s out of his gourd - the Canadians announced a week before tried to fear-monger that they were planning on pulling their troops out of Afghanistan because of the lack of sustained effort due to US troop concentration in Iraq. The withdrawal decision has nothing to do with NAFTA. Is McCain just bananas or is he deliberately trying to deceive people?

[placidgirl8]

This incident underscores Sen. Obama''s lack of knowledge with regard to NAFTA, and the fact that Hillary pointed out that she was asked all of the questions first during the last debate. She answered correctly that overall NAFTA was successful, but there are pockets in the US that have not benefited from it and those parts of NAFTA need to be re-worked. She said you could use the ability to "opt out" in order to get some concessions. Obama took this and ran with the ball calling opting out a using it as a heavy stick to get what you want....well, his answer did not really expound or explain anything.

[placidgirl8]

John McCain is not out of his gourd. He stated that Canada, as one of our best allies, is working with us in Afghanistan, also provides more oil to the US than any other country. Don''t twist this against McCain...he fully appreciates the friendship the US and Canada have.

[kesac4650]

Neither Obama nor Hillary will do anything to NAFTA. The treaty was signed by Bill Clinton in ''94, after ratification by Congress. It has stood up to all of those "environmental" lawsuits that were designed only to stall, and also to all of the half truts and innuendos from the Dobbs'' types who want to scare the children with horror stories about Mexican trucks with no brakes.

[crater7]

SEE, TALK MATTERS.

HUSSEIN HAS ALREADY STARTED A RIFT WITH OUR ALLIES, CANADA.

HIS NAFTA RHETORIC, IS JUST TO TRICK VOTERS.

THE SIGNS ARE THERE, SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER "TRUST ME" WOULD I LIE TO YOU, BUSH STYLE POLITICS, CONN JOB.

STAY THE COURSE.

[samthetvcat]

placidgirl8, it wasn''t Obama who made that statement - it was just some University of Chicago Economics Prof.

[samthetvcat]

placidgirl8, I think you need to brush up on current events if you are taking McCain''s words at face value. He''s counting on people to be uninformed so that he can get away with misrepresentations it would seem . . . as I said before, Canada announced a week before McCain tried to blame Democrats that they were going to pull out of Afghanistan and that it was because of the decision to concentrate troops in Iraq at the expense of Afghaninstan.

Did you not know about that?

[skyk-2009]

Neither Obama nor Hillary will do anything to NAFTA. The treaty was signed by Bill Clinton in ''''94, after ratification by Congress. It has stood up to all of those "environmental" lawsuits that were designed only to stall, and also to all of the half truts and innuendos from the Dobbs'''' types who want to scare the children with horror stories about Mexican trucks with no brakes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by kesac4650 at 06:11 AM : Mar 03, 2008
+ report abuse

I don''t know if Hillary or Obama will do anything. I do KNOW they are more likely to do something than is McCain. He''s already flatly said we can forget it. I also know that Democrats are MUCH more likely to respond to the will of the people than are the Republican''s.

[samthetvcat]

crater7, but they hate McCain for causing us to lose in Afghanistan and they probably hate Hillary too because she''s also for NAFTA - probably they hate us no matter what . . .

[cfin5]

You know, I''m really getting tired of this PC ridicule called "protectionist" for anyone who wants our jobs to stay here in America. They treat you like some kind of **** for being concerned for our country. I''m no dem, but I buy Heinz products whenever I can do so because they make a good product and as far as I know still in America.......DUMP NAFTA !!!!!

[freckster]

Obama''s dream believers need to realize this is the tip of the iceberg. The same type of political machine, back-door dealings and rhetoric are as much a part of his candidacy as any candidate out there. It would be nice if he was truly different. The product is the same - only the packaging has changed (new, improved!).

[xlib]

Your boy obama made the statement in Ohio at a rally. Stop making the usual dem excuses for your guy. As for Canada sticking it to us, well, bubba held the stick.
And nancy_nieve-don''t quite get your post about "them giving us health care while we give them Walmart" (by the way, clinton and ms obama both have ties to Walmart). If you are inferring that we go to Canada for health care-WRONG! They come here. Canada does not take any US insurances and will not care for American uninsured. Get your facts straight.
Don''t see the story on obama chastizing ms clinton for her war vote. He made another gaff when he said the jay rockerfeller is supporting him and did not vote for the war. WRONG-rockerfeller voted for the war after reading the intelliegnce report.
Maybe obama needs another speech writer.

[jpspec]

Typical, when CTV said that Obama''s people spoke with Canadian officials about NAFTA, our major TV stations never mentioned the subject. If the charge was against Hillary, the coverage would have been day and night.
Anyhow, as usual, now we all are suppose to accept the statement put out by the Obama team. I have decided that Obama must take his shower with rubbing oil. No matter what he does or says nothing sticks! So he will just "slip" into the white house.

[b-easy63]

The tenor of several Canadian supporters on line is that they are adamant Hilary supporters. I suspect so is the Canadian government. Why? Hilary represents the best chance that things as far as NAFTA or any other trade agreement will stay the way that it is--and Canada knows this. What is surprising, is that Mexico has not weighed in with their support of Hilary too--or perhaps Mexico is well aware, that to embrace any American candidate on such a violatile issue as this, would only serve to drive the American voters AWAY from their stooge of choice.

Who among us really doubt that Hilary would stab anyone or everyone in this country in the back--if it suited her personal aspirations and agenda? Even her supporters should have no illusions about that--even if her admire her for that attribute.

[grazinggoat]

Nafta may not be of any benefit for Canadians after all. They lost the typical advantage they used to have before, since their Dollar is at par with our Dollar. When we used to go up North (Montreal and Qubec city) spend long week ends and kids'' off-school stretches, we enjoyed the 30-40% off just because of exchange rates. On the other side they were happy producing lumber in Canadian dollars and selling it in US dollars, assuring the transactions with an instantanious 30-40% profit and advatage over our US dollar prices. Nafta may have been good for Canadians as long as the Canadian Dollar was weaker. Not anymore I guess we go much less up North and they sell less and less wood lumber. Must be grim for their wood saw-mills by now. I''m amazed how the officials in Chicago consulate are not happy with Obama''s promise to renegotiate the Nafta deal.

[b-easy63]

CORRECTION:

Who among us really doubt that Hilary would stab anyone or everyone in this country in the back--if it suited her personal aspirations and agenda? Even her supporters should have no illusions about that--even if THEY admire her for that attribute.

Posted by b-easy63 at 07:48 AM : Mar 03, 2008

[tbweb]

Posted by jpspec at 07:41 AM : Mar 03, 2008,,,

The truth is Canada has a right-wing, Bush type, Bush supporting government, so anything any Democrat says will be spun and made controversial. There is always a political dynamic when different political parties are involved.

[b-easy63]

Posted by grazinggoat at 07:50 AM : Mar 03, 2008


lol. Guess you missed all of the reports of Canadians buying up the one thing that has been through the roof in Canada for years...real estate. Canadians are said to be buying up parcels and housing in Arizona and other states faster than people from any other country. Why? because a 1000 sq ft home in many parts of Canada can cost over 500K. But in America, for the same money, they can often buy lots of land or even a mansion. If you think the advantage of NAFTA is merely about the advantage of importing and exporting--then you fail to see the bigger picture:

Americans can no longer support their own economy due to suppressed wages, lost jobs and industry to foreign markets, and the influx of workers who do not require benefits, pension plans, OSHA, workman''s comp etc. IN fact the industries are so ugly and the rules so easily sideswiped, that many colleges routinely limit the number of applicants for say--nursing and make the course work harder even if it is not applicable to nursing--so they can meet the criteria of seeking cheaper nurses outside the US due to a shortage they created and are maintainging themselves. When the economy fails, gov. steps in to lower rates which makes the dollar far weaker--which gets a lot of buying going on--but not from Americans--it is a beast that feeds on itself. But cannibalism is never a good thing--not even when the beast is as large as the US.

[borris007-2009]

Being from Canada, I listen to Canadian News a lot (the CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Systems) this is big news... Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Canadian Conservative party, trying to undermine the US Democract%u2019s leading nominee Barak Obama... Even though the Prime Minister is Conservative, I and many Canadians believe if he showed any favoritism towards the Republican party, in trying to undermine the leading Democratic party nominee ( with the NAFTA issue ), it would be dooms day for him politically here in Canada. Many Canadians, including Conservative Canadians feel that the US Republican Party and it%u2019s leader has been a total joke and any affiliation with them would be more of a liability. Canadian Politicians aren%u2019t suicidal, especially Conservatives who feel the likely president will be a Democrat%u2026 any ill actions by Canadian Conservatives towards Democrats, will definitely bring a backlash from the populous here in Canada and the likely Democratic leader in the Whitehouse. This is similar to what happened with the Presidential Election of 1960, President John F Kennedy and Prime Minister John Diefenbacker. Kennedy got payback by covertly undermining Diefenbacker%u2019s Conservative government%u2026.they lost their majority in the 1962 election as a result

[rushlimpdrug]

"Canadian government officials wrote an inaccurate portrayal . . . .
"He said he has been surprised that such a banal and trivial meeting with a low-level consulate official"

Interesting how they portray this guy as so much beneath them.

I suppose from this that the official was basically just a punkk.

[realpatriot1]

jpspec,

More whining from the Hillary Klan. The media fawned over Hillary for over a year as the virtual nominee before a single vote was cast. I didn''t hear her supporters hining about that; the whining started when the voters started rejecting her!

Hillary isn''t meeting with the Canadiens because her promises to amend NAFTA really are posturing that she has no intention of following up on. Obama is also posturing for the voters but he''s also demonstrating to Americans and Canadiens that he''s serious.

I''m being honest about my canidate''s posturing, why doon''t you try being honest about your candidates politics for once!

[tomtomasters]

Dumb Ohio people think there are no jobs because of NAFTA. There are no jobs because of the lack of trust to the Government who lied about going to and being at WAR, along with the lie and coverup to 911.
They were suppose to decrease gas prices, because we ousted Saddam. Reasons to raise gas prices: 1.the pressure is on to reinvestigate the Bush people for committing 911, 2. make democrat travel expenses high to make them ineffective in the election. To keep the Obama lie alive, because they are afraid Hillary will Impeach Bush and Cheney. Obama never voted on the Iraq War, because he was never a Senator at the time in 2002.

[borris007-2009]

My friends, the issue with regards to lost US manufacturing jobs is not Canada, its China. Canada has lost almost as many jobs as the US%u2019s Midwest%u2026.Mexico should have prospered the most from NAFTA, because of the cheap labor%u2026 If NAFTA is renegotiated then Mexico will stand to lose%u2026 China I believe has hurt Canada and the USA 100x greater than NAFTA

[popstom1]

When you don''t buy made in the USA you lose jobs
when the wold market is one sided you lose jobs
when you let wall street greed rule you lose jobs
NAFTA started as a way to even the playing field
for american products on the market wall street put
american jobs on the market

[donlb-2009]

The real question here is whether the Canadian report is true. If so, then Sen. Obama may indeed providing political rhetoric, and not being completely truthful with the voters. It does seem that Sen. Obama is making himself into a carbon copy of Sen. Clinton, but with more charisma. The real question is whether he means what he says.

[radiob-2009]

Promises for what ails with a big smile never intending to do anything, Obama has learned the lessons of Ronnie and Willie well.

[jesterbelle]

Dumb Ohio people think there are no jobs because of NAFTA. There are no jobs because of the lack of trust to the Government who lied about going to and being at WAR, along with the lie and coverup to 911.
They were suppose to decrease gas prices, because we ousted Saddam. Reasons to raise gas prices: 1.the pressure is on to reinvestigate the Bush people for committing 911, 2. make democrat travel expenses high to make them ineffective in the election. To keep the Obama lie alive, because they are afraid Hillary will Impeach Bush and Cheney. Obama never voted on the Iraq War, because he was never a Senator at the time in 2002.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tomtomasters at 08:00 AM : Mar 03, 2008

With corporate stooge candidates,and "informed" voters such as the above,I see no hope whatsoever of getting out of the mess were in.Until the people of this country decide they''ve had enough,and refuse to participate,there is no hope.

[grazinggoat]

The truth is Canada has a right-wing, Bush type, Bush supporting government, so anything any Democrat says will be spun and made controversial. There is always a political dynamic when different political parties are involved.
Posted by tbweb at 07:50 AM : Mar 03, 2008

-You may have it bullseye here tbweb, Monkey Bush and Monkey Harper and Monkey Calderone from Mexico met together last July in Canada to hammer a North American Union. I guess one similar to the United States of America, but larger (WOOOOOH!) with a unique monetary policy, in order to compete with the Europeans. In this regard, Canadians and Mexicans are part of decision makings in United State with no real vote for the time being! Still, we have rightists and leftists in all three countries here.

[rushlimpdrug]

My condolences to Ohio.
It is not your fault.
It is not your fault your state is stuck on stupid.
A state is usually rewarded for giving a president its victory.
In your case you were sent to the unemployement line with a Bible in your hand and a marriage ring on your finger.
As gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does."
Be humble, read the Bible and have no expectations.

[pugster]

Ohioians should''ve complain about Nafta when most of those yahoos voted for Bush at 2004.

[borris007-2009]

Looking from the World%u2019s perspective Barak Obama%u2019s is your best choice, for restoring your image around the World. At least Barak Obama has got the guts to talk to any world leader and not just ignore the ones he doesn%u2019t like, instead of sending your boys and girls to war%u2026 that%u2019s easy, that%u2019s what Bush did.. Your girl Hillary and the old man from Arizona, are old school, and have a lot in common%u2026 Like I said, from the World%u2019s perspective Barak Obama%u2019s is your best choice.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by tomtomasters

While there is logic to your post, let me point out that the job loss started in the 70s, when the automakers first laid of hundreds of thousands of workers in Detroit. All of the related services and suppliers to the factories followed suit, from sand for the glass to coal for the foundries. The ripple effect devastated the middle class throughout America, and it was cheered on by Wall Street and the crooked politicians of the day, starting with "trickle down" Reagan.

This problem was only made worse by the war criminals now in office, but it certainly didn''t begin there.

[borris007-2009]

rushlimpdrug you hit the nail on the head... wonder if Ohio would be hurting as much as it is today if it helped vote in Gore... Little do Ohionian''s know how good they had it under Bill&Al...thought they could do much better with Bush, what idiots.

[popstom1]

Obama''s bag man syria born Tony Rezko''s trial starts
to day.Questions about Obama funding from Iarqi Nadhmi Auchi Chicago politics Barack Hussein Obama
should have stayed in Hawaii but there would not
have been elected Dog catcher

[radiob-2009]

Al of the money that the lobbyist gave to Obama now did you really believe that he would end outsourcing?
Opensecrets. org has the breakdown.

[realpatriot1]

tomtomasters,

As a born and raised Buckeye myself I can assure you that the Ohioans losing their jobs are not dumb.

NAFTA is not responsible for every Corporation''s decision to outsource and it''s true that the mutual removal of tariffs have made many American products easier to sell overseas.

That said, it would be dumb to think that the absense of worker and environmental protections from the initial agreement did not further weight the playing field against American workers.

We can''t insulate ourselves from global competition with the old style protectionism of tariffs but we can insist on a level playing field in every aspect but pay(we can''t force companies in India & Mexico to pay workers $20 per hour).

If hourly pay were the only factor against American woorkers and not also healthcare costs, pension obligations, environmental costs, labor regulations, etc. we could compete on productivity/quality and proximity to market.

We can either reduce all our standards down to 3rd world status or work to bring the rest of the world up to a level closer to our standards.

[omega39-2009]

Americans can no longer support their own economy due to suppressed wages, lost jobs and industry to foreign markets, and the influx of workers who do not require benefits, pension plans, OSHA, workman''''s comp etc. IN fact the industries are so ugly and the rules so easily sideswiped, that many colleges routinely limit the number of applicants for say--nursing and make the course work harder even if it is not applicable to nursing--so they can meet the criteria of seeking cheaper nurses outside the US due to a shortage they created and are maintainging themselves.
Posted by b-easy63

As an employee of a company that has thousands of H1B workers, I can assure you it is the American worker that gets downsized when the time comes. Also, many of these H1Bs have made it into management and show a preference to hiring one of their own.

[radiob-2009]

We can either reduce all our standards down to 3rd world status or work to bring the rest of the world up to a level closer to our standards.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1

This is exactly what the trade agreements were sold to the American public on raise the standard of living in other nations so that they could buy OUR products and PROMOTE democracy. It did not work, because there were no teeth in any of the agreements that began in the 70 ties accelerated under Ronnie and then Willie, we are fastly approaching third world status and 1984 on account of these unbalanced agreements.

[briannorwood]

I work in IT for as large company. In the last 10 years, our staff has been reduced by 80%. Those jobs were shipped offshore to India. As an American, I am now a minority in my own company!

And why are these jobs outsourced? Because the Indians accept 1/5 the salary of Americans.

So, while the workers are oppressed in India, our workers are laid off. And these are NOT low-pay jobs.

Free trade means equal playing field. If the Indians were paid more, then they could buy more American products. Then, everyone would win.

Instead, our government signs these NAFTA agreements and allows more and more H1B workers in every year.

What is good for business is not always good for the American worker.

[briannorwood]

I work in IT for as large company. In the last 10 years, our staff has been reduced by 80%. Those jobs were shipped offshore to India. As an American, I am now a minority in my own company!

And why are these jobs outsourced? Because the Indians accept 1/5 the salary of Americans.

So, while the workers are oppressed in India, our workers are laid off. And these are NOT low-pay jobs.

Free trade means equal playing field. If the Indians were paid more, then they could buy more American products. Then, everyone would win.

Instead, our government signs these NAFTA agreements and allows more and more H1B workers in every year.

What is good for business is not always good for the American worker.

[popstom1]

You are right opensecrets.org has
every thing above the table RightVoices.com
Obama Rezko Aucchi and the funding and hear are the
WORDS OF Mr.Obama THAT BONEHEADED MISTAKE yeah
and he talks about JUDGEMENT

[panhandlpete]

Realistically speaking, isn''t all the campaign rhetoric just a "throwback" to the public''s ears? They tell us what they think we want to hear (and we BELIEVE them) then when they go to Washington, they DO whatever they please. Of all the intelligent and capable people in the US, we get to choose our leader from just three who are not willing to say where they stand on any issue without leaving an escape hole. Do you suppose the electronic listening devices will be used against the DEMS to give the "100 year war" man an edge over them by knowing their strategies?

[radiob-2009]

Name one nation where the trade agreements have lifted the average wage and promoted democracy. All they have done in their present form is lower our wages, diminish our democracy and promote slave wages.

[omega39-2009]

Name one nation where the trade agreements have lifted the average wage and promoted democracy. All they have done in their present form is lower our wages, diminish our democracy and promote slave wages.

Posted by radiob

The fact that we don''t have free trade agreements with the UK, France or Germany demonstrates that they really don''t want "free trade" in the form of business competition, they want free trade in the form of labor competition.