TPP and fast track - GOP + Obama

[Panich52]

Robert Reich via MoveOn:

Republicans in Congress want to work with the Obama administration to fast-track the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The TPP is the largest—and worst—trade deal you've never heard of, having been devised in secret by representatives of some of the world's largest corporations.

Read more:

1. "Republicans Defend Obama's Trade Pact While Pressing To Deregulate Banks," The Huffington Post, January 27, 2015

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=302740&id=107774-19911750-cCG4mox&t=6

2. "Obama's Covert Trade Deal," The New York Times, June 2, 2013

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=302736&id=107774-19911750-cCG4mox&t=8

3. "NAFTA on Steroids," The Nation, July 16, 2012

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=302738&id=107774-19911750-cCG4mox&t=10
 

[Vincardog]

1. Obama pushing the TPP is just his way of showing who really owns him.

[woo me with science]

2. K&R

[Populist_Prole]

3. Kick for visibility

Thanks for the links too

[Recursion]

4. Oddly enough both parties seem to be bucking their bases here

Democrats support fast track 2 to 1, while Republicans oppose it 2 to 1.

[pampango]

5. It is a wierd state of affairs. I wonder if it is not reflective of different party mentalities.

When it comes to dealing with the rest of the world, republicans seem to reflexively believe in building walls not bridges. Democrats seem to start from a position of preferring to build bridges rather than walls.

It does get more complicated than that since there can be "bad" bridges and "good" walls but the basic mindset of the bases in the two parties in areas like immigration, trade, foreign aid, diversity, etc. seems to start in two different places. I wonder if the polls don't reflect this basic mindset more than it does the specifics of this particular fast track or the TPP in particular, etc.

[stillwaiting]

6. Both of those phenomenons are explained by Obama's support of Fast Track.

There's not much deep thinking going on there on either side (for the most part).

[pampango]

8. The Democratic base opposed Obama on the bombing of Syria and other issues.

Just because the base's position on fast track is not the same as yours does not necessarily mean that they are not 'deep thinkers' or are just cheerleaders for 'our team'.

Democrats have always polled as more supportive of trade and international negotiations/organizations (as opposed to unilateral American actions). That is not too surprising since most of the most influential modern international organizations (the UN, IMF, World Bank, GATT/WTO and others) started under FDR and Truman. Democratic support for 'fast track' and the TPP may well change as they learn more about them but their initial support may be grounded in core liberal beliefs rather than in the specifics of this 'fast track' proposal and the TPP.

[stillwaiting]

9. Issues of war are more easily opposed in general by the Democratic base.

I think lots of people simply trust Obama that he wouldn't screw over the American people in favor of multinational corporations.

I mean, we haven't even seen the TPP so that's all there is: Trust in Barack Obama. So, "because Obama" seems to apply here. What else could explain widespread Democratic base support with the information that we have regarding the TPP? How could anyone support the TPP or Fast Track at this point in time without basically ceding their own thinking on the matter and facts of the matter to Barack Obama and his Administration? I'm seriously curious here so if there's another reason that you think the base supports Fast Track please let me know.

And, the opponents of the TPP on the Republican side are mostly reactive. ANYTHING Barack Obama is for they react against it. So, "because Obama" also applies here.

I'm not saying that all Democrats that support Fast Track are doing so because of Barack Obama's support, but I am saying that a majority of them are doing so. We certainly have free trade proponents of our own, but they are definitely in the minority in our base. Neo-liberalism has much more support in the Republican Party's base than it does in the Democratic Party's base.

In my day to day life, most everyone I encounter don't even know what Fast Track is, so I would question who was polled and how the polling on this issue is even presented. If it was presented to people as giving Barack Obama the ability to pursue his trade deals that would underscore my point even more.

[pampango]

12. I agree that a lot of Democrats trust Obama, particularly liberal Democrats.

They seem to trust that he will not "screw over the American people" and are willing believe high commitment to 'high standards' in labor and environmental areas is genuine. Once they see the actual TPP, if it is ever signed, they will either feel vindicated in their trust or sold out.

And, the opponents of the TPP on the Republican side are mostly reactive. ANYTHING Barack Obama is for they react against it.

That is certainly part of the reason for their opposition but they also oppose international agreements like the UN Arms Trade Treaty and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Many 2012 state republican platforms included planks urging the US to withdraw from the UN, the WTO and other international organizations.

The republican base just does not like international agreements and organizations in general. Polls show they are less supportive of trade and trade agreements, too.

[stillwaiting]

10. I would also not be surprised if the Democratic base opposed the actions of the IMF,

World Bank, WTO, etc. today based on what we have learned about their actions over the past few decades.

These organizations certainly seem to be working on behalf of the financial elite more than on behalf of average citizens of the world as they continue to whittle down living standards around the globe as they simultaneously pursue policies that enhance the wealth of the 1% and multinational corporations. That's certainly not liberal outcomes, and the policies they push are certainly not liberal policies. "Classical liberalism" (i.e. free markets) perhaps, but that's very, very different than the liberalism that has been understood within American politics and within the Democratic Party and its base.

[AtomicKitten]

7. I hope Democrats can jam this up

.... and save Pres. Obama's legacy from his own bad judgment on this.

[great white snark]

11. Lots of concern lately regarding his legacy and TPP.

A genuine TPP TP.