Kerry Promises Effort to Halt Flow of Jobs Out of the U.S.

[maddezmom]

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Published: February 17, 2004


REEN BAY, Wis., Feb. 16 — Seeking to cement his position as the front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator John Kerry crisscrossed Wisconsin on Monday, promising voters he would stanch the flow of jobs overseas.

On the eve of the Wisconsin primary, Mr. Kerry was trying to deflect criticism of his 1993 vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

At a town-hall-style meeting in Wausau, a woman told Mr. Kerry that she had lost her job last year. Saying that his views on the trade agreement, Nafta, "are still throwing some red flags in my mind," she asked, "Am I going to have a job?"

Mr. Kerry replied that the problem was not Nafta per se, but rather the Bush administration's failure to press compliance with nonbinding treaties that would raise labor and environmental standards overseas, making American companies more competitive. He pledged a 120-day review of every trade agreement, Nafta included, if elected.

~snip~

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/17/politics/campaign/17KERR.html?ex=1077598800&en=d2af6f05f6bf2f1d&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[cyclezealot]

1. This is BS.

We need continue the challenge to Kerry.This is bs. Non-binding treaties.Be more specific. what the hell is he talking about.That is a lie or misinformation...Nafta is the new world order, the closest we come to world government.
Kerry needs be set straight. He does not tell us how he can supercede Nafta and WTO authority, I will have a difficult time voting for a liar.

[eileen_d]

2. "I will have a difficult time voting for a liar"

You might have a difficult time voting for anyone in politics then.

Edit: Thanks maddezmom for posting this - and I do love that avatar!

[maddezmom]

4. thanks...like your new one as well. n/t

[Mad Cow Doc]

3. How?

Mr. Kerry wants to:
"press compliance with nonbinding treaties that would raise labor and environmental standards overseas, making American companies more competitive. He pledged a 120-day review of every trade agreement, NAFTA included, if elected."
How are we going to police the labor and environmental standards overseas? Do we have that authority?? So if we can enforce the agreement then Ford and GM can't buy parts from China but KIA and Toyota can so the price of a KIA goes down and the price of a domestic goes up. American consumer speaks with the wallet and US worker looses. To much red tape and inspection process anyway. How about some fair EVEN trade. Simply put if China wants to sell 500 Billion to the USA then, by Law, they gotta Buy 500 billion worth of product. No exceptions!! Hey China buy some wheat corn Beef!!! (save my job anyway)

[Taeger]

6. Ditto ... How????

The deck is stacked against us with WTO and NAFTA. It would be like stopping a raging river with a shovel.

BTW, China buying Beef and Corn won't help us much. The agriculture sector IS growing. But who do they hire ... ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

Great fucking plan for America.

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. He said there should not be tax breaks to companies who outsource jobs

That was a pretty smart thing to say, since companies aren't outsourcing jobs to get tax breaks.

It is unlikely that Kerry's remarks will alienate business interests.

[dkf]

7. Umm hmmm.

Too bad he was caught outsourcing his own campaign work then huh?

He had hired a phone call center in Canada but dropped them when someone figured out the caller ID was coming from Canada. Hypocrite.

Also, Heinz has outsourced a lot of their factories out of the country.

Hey, maybe he can apply for some of those tax breaks himself!

hahaha.

[eileen_d]

8. Could you name a source for the campaign outsourcing story?

I haven't seen it before.

As for Heinz, what influence does Kerry have on their operations? Besides being married to Teresa.