Sanders Centers Platform Fight On Trans-Pacific Trade Deal

[portlander23]

Sanders Centers Platform Fight On Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
ARNIE SEIPEL
NPR

Sanders' strongest condemnation was reserved for how the party proposes handling TPP. Here's what the draft platform says about it:

On the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), there are a diversity of views in the party. Many Democrats are on record stating that the agreement does not meet the standards set out in this platform; other Democrats have expressed support for the agreement. But all Democrats believe that any trade agreement must protect workers and the environment and not undermine access to critically-needed prescription drugs.

It's an issue that has divided the White House from many Democrats. Hillary Clinton helped promote the deal as it was being drafted when she was Secretary of State. But Clinton came out in opposition to it last October, just before the first Democratic primary debate.

In his op-ed on Sunday, Sanders said, "If both Clinton and I agree that the TPP should not get to the floor of Congress this year, it's hard to understand why an amendment saying so would not be overwhelmingly passed."

The full platform committee is set to vote on the draft when it meets in Orlando, Fla., next weekend.

[99th_Monkey]

1. I would settle for a private agreement between Sanders & Clinton

to quietly kill the TPP after the GE, so as to not "embarrass" our POTUS.

This of course could easily blow up in their faces if was leaked to the media,
so it probably won't happen ... so we wouldn't even know if it happened or
not.

[lapucelle]

6. The party is not going to embarrass a sitting president

by repudiating a deal he is lobbying for.

Obama needs to come out publicly, reveal that he has "evolved" on this issue, and withdraw his support.

And Sanders needs to stop grandstanding. No wonder he has a reputation for not working well with colleagues.

[liberalla]

8. you said it better, but that was my thinking also... we posted at the same time

[99th_Monkey]

10. Sanders is not "grandstanding" he's standing up for the 'little people' to the fullest extent

while doing no actual damage of any substance, except in the minds of his most ardent critics.

In short, I trust Bernie's judgement on his timing.

[SaschaHM]

15. Choosing a fight over a nonbinding platform that

has no bearing on the President's desire to bring legislation to the Senate nor any effect on the Republican majority that will be needed to pass the bill into law, is grandstanding. Senator Sanders knows this.

[99th_Monkey]

16. That's easy to say "platforms don't matter", when your candidate wins

But it's a non-sequiter since, if platforms are irrelevant, then why are you bothering to
fight & resist Sanders proposed planks? That makes no sense at all.

[liberalla]

7. I would love for Pres Obama to reconsider his support and suggest more time to study certain aspects

and then we could shut it down later. He's wise and thoughtful, and can have second thoughts. I just wish he hadn't green-lighted it in the first place.

[red dog 1]

2. Sign Robert Reich's Petition: Tell the Democratic Platform Committee To Take a Stand Against the TPP

Democracy For America (DFA)
July 3, 2016


Time is running out to show your support for one of the most important battles that our movement is fighting over the Democratic Party platform before the DNC convention.

Opposition to the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership should not be controversial within the Democratic Party.
Both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigned against the TPP during this year's presidential primary.

Join Robert Reich, Bernie Sanders, Keith Ellison and DFA to demand that the Democratic Party take a stand against the TPP in the party platform:
http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/stopTPPinDNCplatform/

[DanTex]

3. I don't see the problem with the current language.

It happens to be true, there are diverse views in the party about TPP. I thought the whole idea of the Sanders campaign was to expand the party, not shrink it by imposing stringent ideological litmus tests.

[comradebillyboy]

4. Hillary needs Obama's help a lot more than she needs Bernie.

I don't think the Democratic Party platform should shit on the sitting Democratic president to placate the guy who lost big in the primaries. Obama is not the enemy. I am sick of Sanders and his purity tests.

[SidDithers]

5. There is no platform fight...

There will be nothing in the platform that Hillary doesn't want in the platform.

You way overestimate the influence that the 5 Bernie representatives have on the platform committee.

Sid

[JaneyVee]

9. Did he even read it? It has labor and enviro provisions.

We have to lead on trade or get steamrolled by China.

[Kentonio]

13. Does it still allow corporations to sue national governments

When they pass legislation that helps their citizens but harm the corporations profits?

[cosmicone]

11. No. I trust President Obama far more than Bernie Sanders. n/t

[Lord Magus]

12. Meaning he's focused on a fight he cannot win.

The Democratic Party will not put a plank in its platform that goes directly against the current Democratic president. It's just not going to happen.

[fun n serious]

14. TPP

is detrimental to our national security.