Obama's Balancing Act On Free Trade

CBSNews.com Reports: The Democrat Fights Charges Of Pandering And Protectionism As He Lays Out Trade Policy

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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During the Democratic primary battle, Barack Obama repeatedly criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement as bad for America, noting that "we can't keep passing unfair trade deals like NAFTA that put special interests over workers' interests."

There were political advantages for Obama (and then-rival Hillary Clinton) in railing against the agreement, which many in the labor movement - a key component of the Democratic base - blame for the loss of blue-collar jobs.

But there may be something of a gap between the reality of Obama's position and the impression his words left. During the primary, Obama vowed to renegotiate NAFTA - and opt-out of the agreement if Canada and Mexico refused to join in doing so - but his plans, as they now stand, do not represent a significant overhaul of the agreement.

The primary change would be the addition of environmental and labor provisions, similar to those included in a recent trade agreement with Peru, that many economists say will not have much impact on the U.S. job market.

"Mexico and Canada could accept the same deal that Peru accepted and it wouldn't cause a big problem internationally, nor would it make much of a difference for U.S. workers or create any new jobs in the United States," said Jeffrey J. Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Obama also appears to be backing off somewhat from his heated rhetoric from the primary campaign. He suggested in an interview with Fortune this week that he doesn't want to unilaterally renegotiate NAFTA, adding that "[s]ometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified."

Obama has made clear in speeches that he does not oppose global trade: In a speech Monday in Flint, Michigan, he said he disagrees with those who believe "that the only chance to maintain our living standards is to build a fortress around America [and] to stop trading with other countries."

But the campaign of presumptive GOP nominee John McCain has seized on Obama's NAFTA rhetoric, as well as his opposition to trade deals with South Korea and Columbia, to suggest that the presumptive nominee could be considered "the most protectionist candidate that the Democratic Party has ever fielded," in the words of McCain adviser Carly Fiorina.

During a speech in Ottawa, Canada today on free trade, the Arizona senator, who supports the Korea and Columbia trade deals, did not mention Obama by name. But the target of his comments was clear.

"...even now, for all the successes of NAFTA, we have to defend it without equivocation in political debate, because it is critical to the future of so many Canadian and American workers and businesses," McCain said, according to his remarks as prepared for delivery. "Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls."

Obama economic advisor economic advisor Daniel Tarullo sharply disputes the characterization of Obama as protectionist. He suggests that the candidate wants a trade policy that shifts the benefits of globalization more in favor of labor, and argues that there are both economic and ethical considerations behind renegotiating NAFTA. Doing so, he argues, would help level the playing field by making it easier to eliminate practices like child labor and lax environmental regulation in foreign countries, both of which put American workers at a disadvantage.

"Senator Obama recognizes the impact of trade upon all Americans and wants a trade policy that works for all Americans, as opposed to Senator McCain who appears to never having seen a trade agreement he doesn't like," said Tarullo. "Senator McCain, like President Bush, appears to embrace these agreements across the board without an assessment of their impact on U.S. workers and on standards around the world."

Not all of Obama's free trade critics see the Illinois senator as protectionist: Some suggest that his rhetoric on the issue amounts to pandering, since the impact of his proposed new labor and environmental standards would be relatively minor while "the risks of renegotiation are huge," in the words of the Washington Post editorial board.

Obama's strong rhetoric on NAFTA, which most economists believe has been beneficial to U.S. interests, has also left him open to charges that he was overplaying how significant his proposed changes will be - an impression stoked by (disputed) reports that one of his economic advisors used back channels to assure the Canadian government that Obama's NAFTA rhetoric was more about politics than policy.

"He shouldn't make any promises to the Michigan worker that it's going to bring back their jobs," said one liberal economist who spoke on background.

Obama is surrounded by economic advisors who are largely supportive of free trade, and protectionist rhetoric won't enhance his stated plan to improve U.S. relations around the world. But he also covets the support of working-class voters in states like Ohio with whom such rhetoric can play well, leaving him walking a fine line as he addresses the issue in the run-up to the general election. (In an AP-Yahoo News conducted earlier this year, 64 percent of those polled said increasing international trade has hurt the economy.) Like many Democrats, Obama recently supported a Farm Bill that critics consider effectively anti-trade.

Consider the Korea deal: Obama's objections are tied, in part, to opposition to the agreement from the United Auto Workers Union and Ford Motor Company, who say unfair barriers are keeping them from selling American cars in the country.

"If South Korea is selling hundreds of thousands of cars to the United States and we can only sell less than 5,000 in South Korea, something is wrong," Obama said last week. He also objects to restrictions on South Korean imports of U.S. beef, which are tied to U.S. safety standards and concerns about mad cow disease. (Koreans have protested over the issue.)

According to Schott, Obama's opposition to the deal is grounded in politics.

"We're going to have a large trade deficit with autos whether we have this deal or not," he said, arguing that there would be a political cost, as well as an economic one, should the deal fail.

But Tarullo says that Obama believes the deal, as negotiated by the Bush administration, simply does not do a good enough job of ensuring that U.S. products have effective access to the Korean market.

"American negotiators should drive a hard bargain to get what's in the best interests of American workers," he said.

[bajaan]

You''re right, Obama doesn''t want to hand this nation over to black people....only to a corrupt bunch of Muslims!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 08:47 PM : Jun 22, 2008
______________________

It''s too bad you have such animosity toward Muslims and blacks. The truth is, you probably never even knew a black OR a Muslim. The kind of bigotry you display is, fortunately, disappearing from America. I can only feel sorry for you.

[rowdywicca]

RowdyWicca,

Who are these corrupt Muslims that you''''re afaid Obama wants to hand the country to?

Are they the same band of corrupt Muslims that Bush & McCain have handed Iraq to?


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

Posted by realpatriot1 at 05:50 AM : Jun 23, 2008

Khalidi, Rezko, Auchi, Allsamearre, Said, Farrakhan, to name just a few. If you want the rest of the list go look them up.

[jack3213]

A vote for Obama is a vote for higher taxes in an economy that can''t afford it. Wake up. His plans are all wrong- and people are just so stupid & blind- SO many walk around thinking they will get a change in government- with a Democrat- you will get NOTHING, and I feel sorry for those who are just plain naive.
Leading 15% today- is normal, three months from now- Obama will fall through the rabbit hole.

[realpatriot1]

RowdyWicca,

Who are these corrupt Muslims that you''re afaid Obama wants to hand the country to?

Are they the same band of corrupt Muslims that Bush & McCain have handed Iraq to?

[HemiHead66]

TruUsa, Please, I can''t stop laughing. How many times are you going to post that slop. Your a Re pubic can. Do you really think Hillary supporters will wright her name in so McCain can win. He He He not going to happen. When we get done with McCain he''s going to be a traffic cop on 5th avenue. The media thinks their fooling everyone with their, it''s a close race BS. I seen McCain''s stacked town hall meetings and pre selected questions. I couldn''t stop laughing when he said he was going to build 45 nuclear reactors. Do yourself a favor, and your country, vote for Obama. If your from this country you know McCain don''t have a clue about what is going on. His campaign people do most of the talking for him, and if it wasn''t for Phil Gramm he would think the economy was doing A ok. I don''t know if this link will come out but if it does check it out. http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/john-mccains-banker-problem/

[HemiHead66]

I think you people from the Grand Oil party are going a little overboard. Where did you learn your new trade, FOX, ABC. I hate to break it to ya but, no one believes a word you say. Do you think anyone would vote for a moron that jumps around on stage singing He He Hee Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran. To be honest with ya, I think John Boy has been spending to much time at his ol-ladys liquor house. If you want to see anything left of your country in four years, Get on the Obama express. For all you racist people remember one thing, you don''t have to bring him home for dinner.

[rowdywicca]

Posted by rcfromnj at 04:22 PM : Jun 22, 2008

You''re right, Obama doesn''t want to hand this nation over to black people....only to a corrupt bunch of Muslims!

Remember? Barak Obama who claims to be a black man, but who has kept himself separate from everyone else in this country including black people, except for his wife, and a bunch of Islamofast whack job people in his church? HIs college roomates were Muslims!! He has never associated with an average American, black or white in his life!

Remember? Barak Obama who assisted a corrupt Muslim to shill government money that put black people into slums that don''t even provide heat? Who assisted him to do this so he could shill more government money in section 8 housing and take advantage of black people?

Barak Obama who holds Marxist beliefs that somehow there''s going to be the big revolution in this country, that the wealth is going to be re-distributed....to WHOM? This revolution is going to some how wave it''s magic wand and boost us all up to one big upper class?

Strange isn''t it, his revolution is totally supported by rich billionnaires! And he makes no bones about despising their big checks, unless it allows him to write big checks and buy support for his campaign!

[a_negroeman]

Did you see the new video of Obama morphing into Hillary then into McCain then back to Obama again?

www.youtube/Obamamorphin4/westvideo=342.com

[a_negroeman]

Is it the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation through Decapitation? AKA God D-A-M-N America!
Listen all, Jews and Christians, and beware of the practice of the Muslim faith!
Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

There is some cool beheading videos online for those who want to see first hand experience of Muslim people who read the Koran that follow the path of the way of the beheading bliss?

The blade goes around your throat as you cry out for this not to happen? You begin to grasp for air as the Muslim cuts deeper and deeper into you throat. You realize that in a few seconds your head will be removed for the purpose of Islam. The last thing you notice is the eyes of the person who is cutting into your bone. You shriek your final breath as you know that time cannot go backwards for this not to happen to you!

This is the Muslim way to a better way!
Do you think Decapitation is the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation?
Listen all and practice!

If Obama is not a Muslim let him renounce it the way a Muslim would renounce it!

[a_negroeman]

Is it the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation through Decapitation?
Listen all, Jews and Christians, and beware of the practice of the Muslim faith!
Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

There is some cool beheading videos online for those who want to see first hand experience of Muslim people who read the Koran that follow the path of the way of the beheading bliss?

The blade goes around your throat as you cry out for this not to happen? You begin to grasp for air as the Muslim cuts deeper and deeper into you throat. You realize that in a few seconds your head will be removed for the purpose of Islam. The last thing you notice is the eyes of the person who is cutting into your bone. You shriek your final breath as you know that time cannot go backwards for this not to happen to you!

This is the Muslim way to a better way!
Do you think Decapitation is the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation?
Listen all and practice!

If Obama is not a Muslim let him renounce it the way a Muslim would renounce it!

[HemiHead66]

I don''t know why people keep voting against themselves. On one hand you have McCain wanting to give away every job he can if it makes some company rich. Obama want''s to see Americans get a fair deal. You don''t have love the guy, this is not personal. I don''t get it. Are we supposed to be the stackers of Chinese goods. Every industry is gone and no one seems to care. If they build that NAFTA super highway and ports in Mexico where finished. They will receive goods from China in Mexico, and run them right into the U.S. bypassing every U.S. port and undercutting every U.S. driver there is. This is not the America I want to live in. If this don''t get better, I''m gone. I can''t believe what these rich xxxxxxxx have done.

[HemiHead66]

Joe1022Joe, you don''t have to tell me about ABC. I said one thing about Bush and they sent the feds to my door. If the government could blow up the twin towers and get away with it what do you think was going through my mind when they came knocking. I didn''t believe they were, who they said they were, and was a hair away from going to protect myself. I decided to call a uniformed police officer to come and check them out. This is what happens when you have some racist talking trash and you fire back with the same. If they would have forced their way into the house things would have turned out really bad. ABC loves taking sides in this election, so it''s better To just walk away.

[terrorislami]

THE REAL HUSSEIN, HIS REAL HATE OF WHITEY, HIS REAL RACISM

FROM HIS OWN MOUTH

Wright / Obama: "White Folk''s Greed Runs A World In Need"

MALCOLM-O-BAMA LAUDS MALCOLM-X

HUSSEIN THE MARXISTS

HUSSEIN THE RACIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfC4OOm1aoM
There''s only two kinds of white folks, there''s only two kinds, bad white folks and worse white folks. That''s the only two kinds of white folks there are. Malcolm X, used to say, from the teachings of the nation of terrorislam founder Elijah Muhammad, that all white folks are bad. He said if you find one good, kill him first before he turns bad. Because he''s only faking.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=169

SHOCKING Obama words: what he really thinks of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs&feature=related

The shocking video Barack Obama does not want you to see!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prhnc2fxAzg&feature=related

[HemiHead66]

Most of you people must be from Canada. I would love to hear you talk all that nonsense if you lost every job in the, auto industry, manufacturing, textiles, electronics, food, and a big one, DRUGS, which now takes hundreds of millions of dollars of tax payer money to monitor, because some company wants cheap labor. The FDA used to keep us safe with a couple of mil. so we just lose out all around don''t we. This is not about Canada and Mexico. It would be easy to keep jobs balanced out between us, but throw China into the mix, and everyone that can''t afford a college education is left out in the cold. I don''t know about you but, our government condoning forced child labor in a communist country, so some company can save a buck, not to mention selling out your own country, is down right sick. Bush just sits around while people and pets die so his pals can make another dollar. Fair trade, is trade that''s good for all people, not just the rich. All of these crooked trade deals seem to come back to one place, OIL, or money to fight a war for OIL. What do you think about using trillions in taxpayer money to fight a war for oil, and the oil companies take all the profits. I feel like I have a moron sign stuck on my head. Obana 09, anything is better than John McCain.

[max0010]

Mr. Obama has managed to desecrate (insult or defile) the American seal by placing his slogan on top of the American eagle%u2019s heart and shield%u2026.what the heck, it is only a symbol used by Americans---and it%u2019s funny, right?! Do you think that John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan or even Abraham Lincoln would have the %u201Caudacity%u201D to take an American treasured symbol and turn it into some artwork to win an Election? What about just throwing George Washington off the dollar bill Mr. Obama, he is an old has-been (no longer useful) a part of the past that you want to change---a part of our %u201Cbroken system%u201D---that needs change, %u201Cyes we can%u201D. As you stated Mr. Obama we CANNOT go on living our %u201Clife style%u201D, we have to conform to what other countries expect of us, they think we are spoiled and you are ready to bring us back down to their level of thinking---by voting for Obama, %u201Cyes we can%u201D. HIGHER TAXES and MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL, what a good idea---a change that we can all get excited about---a vote for Obama, %u201Cyes we can%u201D.

[a_negroeman]

Do you think Decapitation is the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation?
Listen all and practice
Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

There is some cool beheading videos online for those who want to see first hand experience of Muslim people who read the Koran that follow the path of the way of the beheading bliss?

The blade goes around your throat as you cry out for this not to happen? You begin to grasp for air as the Muslim cuts deeper and deeper into you throat. You realize that in a few seconds your head will be removed for the purpose of Islam. The last thing you notice is the eyes of the person who is cutting into your bone. You shriek your final breath as you know that time cannot go backwards for this not to happen to you!

This is the Muslim way to a better way!
Do you think Decapitation is the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation?
Listen all and practice

[hoseobama]

"I%u2019m voting democrat because I believe in keeping jobs in America (but only those filled by illegal immigrants). - Posted by von_marko

Marko - vote Democratic if you must, but don''t ask us to believe Obama is going to keep jobs here in the US. The Democratic Party supports NAFTA. Obama was pandering to the Ohio Blue collar workers when he said he''d bring jobs back to the US by re-negotiating NAFTA.

His own economic advisors tell him he can''t do it, and that NAFTA has been good for the US. The Washigton Post (about as far left as a paper gets) tells him it would be very dangerous to reopen negotiations, he of all people is not up to the task, and it most likely would NOT bring jobs back.

But, don''t take my word for it, use the CBS Search tool with "NAFTA" and read "Obamas Balancing Act On Free Trade".

This same article points out how deceiving Obama is.

He claims to be a "change".

WHERE''S THE BEEF ?

[rowdywicca]

Obama pissed off the Arabs and Jews in one speech
Obama gave three different stances on Venezuela in two days
Obama pissed off a whole nation by calling them typical white people
Obama pissed off rural people by basically calling them ignorant
Obama pissed off half the country by insinuating everybody the criticizes him are racists
Obama lied about his ancestors, his stances on half the issues, his associates and mentors, his legislative prowess which is NIL
Obama promoted public financing, then killed his own stance by being greedy
Obama pissed off half the voters by buying the nomination and threatening his opponent into backing him or else
Obama''''s grumpass wife hasn''''t done anything for anybody but herself, says she''''s never been proud of her country, and calls America mean...what the hell?

I mean how many passes are Obama supporters going to give this idiot before they wake up!!!???

[joe1022joe]

I urge CBS NEWS not to become what ABC NEWS has become. The following accurately depicts what ABC NEWS is doing:

Obama said this. Obama said that. Obama is doing this and that. Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama.... Oh, yes, hallelujah Obama, more Obama, and yet more Obama. Obama is good. Obama is soooo good. Obama is great. Obama, Obama, Obama. In honor of the relationship between ABC News and Obama, its name should be changed to ABC-Obama News. At least that would be honest.

[paris1969]

get over this NObama jerk ... CLINTON CAN WIN IF WE WRITE HER IN!
WRITE-IN-VOTE-FOR-HILLARY-CLINTON!
NO-bama .. and NO-mccain!!!!!!!!!!!!!