Obama Promises Push on Trade Pacts

[grahamhgreen]

Source: NYT

"WASHINGTON — President Obama, who vowed in his State of the Union address to double American exports over the next five years, said on Wednesday that he would renew his efforts to renegotiate long-stalled free trade agreements with Panama and Colombia and persuade Congress to adopt them.

The two trade pacts, and a third one with South Korea, were negotiated by the administration of former President George W. Bush, but all three have languished in Congress because of deep opposition from Democrats. Mr. Obama said in Toronto last month that he intended to make a new push for the South Korean agreement, and on Wednesday he pledged to press ahead with the two Latin American pacts as well.

“For a long time, we were trapped in a false political debate in this country, where business was on one side and labor was on the other,” Mr. Obama said"

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/us/politics/08exports.html?_r=1

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This sucks.

These so-called free trade agreements are exporting American jobs and destroying the middle class.

There debate is corporate monopolies VS small business and labor.

I think Obama will once again prove to be on the wrong side on this.

[Oregone]

1. "a false political debate...business was on one side and labor was on the other"

:rofl:

False? False?

Are you fucking kidding me? What union member wants their job exported or wants to compete against 3rd world labor.

False?

How "pragmatic"

[Robbien]

2. Yup, FTA's are pro-corporate agreements

Just about every bill passed by this Admin so far has been very pro-corporate.

The only surprise here is that it took them so long to get around to the FTA's.

[AlbertCat]

3. have languished in Congress because of deep opposition from Democrats.

So the now leader of the Democrats, a Democrat himself, is deeply opposed to deep opposition from Democrats.



Well, that makes sense!

[corpseratemedia]

4. .

I hope there is strong and sustained real Democratic opposition to the bleeding of America from these pro-republican/corporatist agreements.

[SocialistLez]

5. Don't hold your breath

Labor has very few strong advocates in Congress.

We're fucked....once again.

Even if the people make a big fuss, they're going to do what they want in the end anyway and most will get reelected.

[OhioChick]

6. Nice n/t

[LBJDemocrat]

7. Does the betrayal ever end?

Seriously; does it? Vote the coward out in the Democratic primaries.

[defendandprotect]

8. Obama should be overturning the trade agreements we already have .. NOT sucking more jobs

out of America !!