Obama Unveils Trade, Commerce Cabinet Picks (Mike Froman--Trade Problems Alert Progressives)
Obama Unveils Trade, Commerce Cabinet Picks
President Obama has unveiled his picks for the last two vacant economic posts of his administration. Mike Froman, currently deputy national security adviser for economic affairs, has been tapped to be the new U.S. trade representative. Penny Pritzker, a billionaire hotel heir and prominent Obama fundraiser, would be the new commerce secretary. At the White House, Obama said both nominees will fight to protect the middle class.
President Obama: "One of the reasons I’m proud to nominate them is they don’t forget what matters. They know this is not about just growing balance sheets. It’s about growing opportunity for people. It’s about growing a sense of security for the middle class. And, most of all, they operate with integrity, and they understand that public service is a privilege, and you’ve got to do it right when you get involved on behalf of the American people."
Both choices immediately drew criticism from progressive groups. In a statement, the watchdog Public Citizen said: "Given that Michael Froman has been instrumental in pushing President Barack Obama’s trade policies backward to the corporate agenda that Froman also championed during the Clinton administration, this choice doesn’t inspire confidence."
As an heir of the Hyatt Hotel chain and former head of the Chicago Board of Education, Pritzker has come under scrutiny for her clashes with labor unions. She also served on the board of the failed bank Superior, which played an early and critical role in promoting subprime loans that ultimately saddled millions with crushing debt and helped crash the economy. In a petition opposing her nomination, the group CREDO Action called Pritzker "an anti-worker business mogul who should not be appointed."
More at:
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/5/3/headlines/obama_unveils_trade_commerce_cabinet_picks
