anti-NAFTA officially announces that he is transferring his endorsement.

[anti-NAFTA]

Two or three weeks ago, the protectionist gadfly, announced that, since Gephardt was no longer in the race, Dean is his candidate of choice. In light of Dean's failure to do well in Wisconsin, as exit polls indicate, anti-NAFTA has come to the conclusion to transfer his endorsement who has a better chance of defeating John Kerry, whose position on trade is not anti-NAFTA's favorite.

So anti-NAFTA is officially endorsing John Edwards now and urges Dean supporters to transfer their support and votes to Edwards because Dean seems to have very little chance of success. If certain Dean-supporters find Edwards too centrist on certain issues or disagreeable because of his war vote, then these supporters are encouraged to vote for Kucinich to establish the anti-freetrade left as a force to be reckoned with in our party.

[janx]

1. Nope.

How's that for clarification?

[revcarol]

2. Hey, anti-NAFTA, how does Edwards' vote for free trade with China

meld into your decision?

I'm curious, because most of the maquiladoras have now closed and the factories have gone to China.

[anti-NAFTA]

4. I'm compromising.

Sure, Edwards isn't exactly 100% on this issue; but it seems like he's the only viable choice besides Kerry. Kerry has such a poor record on it that there's no way he can put it at the center of his campaign, whereas Edwards has an opportunity to put this issue at the front; and this issue is what will win us the election because it's important in battleground states and even conservatives want an end to this expansion of unfair trade.

[DjTj]

20. Edwards on PNTR:

...It was not an easy vote for him:

But I am mindful that globalization and this bill in particular may have a real downside. As a Senator from North Carolina, I am well-positioned to see both the enormous benefits and the large costs of this measure.

Textile and apparel workers, many of whom live in North Carolina, face real challenges as a result of this measure. While in almost every respect the agreement with China benefits our country, textiles is the major exception. As a result of joining WTO, quotas on Chinese textiles and apparel will be eliminated in 2005. As a result, Chinese apparel will flow into the United States. By and large, the Chinese imports will likely displace imports from other countries. However, there is no doubt that an additional burden will be placed on the textile industry. To be sure, the industry can try to protect itself through the anti-surge mechanism put in place by this legislation. Yet it does us no good to pretend that these remedies are perfect and that people will not be hurt. I know that textile workers will work their hearts out competing with the Chinese. I know these people; I grew up with them. When I was in college, I worked a summer job in a textile mill. My father spent his life working in mills. The impact of PNTR on them is personal to me. Dealing with the impact of this bill on them will always be a top priority for me. And I will fight throughout my career to protect them.

Mr. President, China's entry into the World Trade Organization and its attainment of permanent normal trade relations with America is not without its risks. No one can predict with certainty that China will live up to its commitments. I vote for this bill because I believe that we must turn our face toward the future. But we must be mindful of the risks. So I warn that I will monitor China's compliance with its agreements like a hawk. If they renege, I will lead the charge to force them to live up to their obligations.

But to vote against this measure--to deny PNTR--not only fails to accomplish anything productive but also denies us enormous opportunities. We cannot hide our heads in the sand. China will join the WTO. The Senate has no impact on that decision. The only question we face is whether the U.S. will grant China permanent normal trade relations or whether it will fall out of compliance with its WTO obligations. If we fall out of compliance, the U.S. will be denied the Chinese tariff reductions and rule changes, while every other country in the world takes advantage of the Chinese concessions. We must decide whether the U.S. will be able to compete with other countries--Germany, France, Japan--as they enter the Chinese market. American companies and workers deserve the right to enter those markets. On balance, I believe that China's admission into the World Trade Organization and its attainment of permanent normal trading relations is for the good.

And so I vote for this legislation, mindful of the risks, prepared to watch the results carefully and optimistic about the future.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2000_record&page=S8701&position=all

[papau]

21. going forward Edwards/Kerry/Dean NAFTA position is the same

the discussion amounts to a re-hash of the orginal vote/position

Going Forward Gep has brought the labor law/environmental law into the standard speech of the "3" (sorry, Al/DK - wish the was a snow balls chance for either of you - but I don't see it) that remain - although Gep only said that of Kerry, and Edwards is now the loudest with that mantra.

[eileen_d]

3. What will your delegates do? eom

[Tinoire]

5. I understand your sentiment

I appreciate that NAFTA is such a pressing issue to you. NAFTA is the ONLY reason I would consider breaking my "I won't vote for an IWR" candidate and vote for Edwards.

NAFTA, like Bush, must be stopped.

Voting for a candidate who is not anti-NAFTA affects more than jobs in the US and expoitation of labor in other countries. NAFTA is also privatization of water and all other utilities in those countries.

Vote for NAFTA and you're voting not just to unemploy your neighbor but you're also voting to deprive millions of people of water for corporate greed.

[AP]

6. NAFTA is also an issue which really determines whether a global

middle class can form.

It's about middle class opportunity in the US, but it's about DEMOCRACY everywhere.

[LWolf]

7. The big anti-nafta question for

Anti-Nafta:

Which candidate has the best record opposing NAFTA, and the best platform for labor and trade?

Since the issue is important enough to name yourself after, who is the leader on the ISSUE?

Hint...I don't think it's Edwards.

[AP]

9. Edwards has record of opposing NAFTA, and has a great platform for

labor and fair trade.

I will grant that Kucinich is probably louder on this issue, Edwards is head and shoulders above everyone else running, except Kucinich.

[LWolf]

14. I think you are correct.

I appreciate this part of Edwards' platform.

I also want Dennis to get the credit he deserves. When we're picking candidates based on Anti-Nafta sentiments, we should pick the candidate who is out in front on the issue.

I'd love to see Dennis get full credit for his platform and record, instead of the "except Kucinich" qualifier.

[Tinoire]

22. Lol- He knows that. He's written 2 astounding threads on NAFTA

and DK's position. I HATE to see anti-NAFTA not vote for DK as much as you do but in this case it's a strategic vote to try to salvage as best he/she can whatever can be salvaged from this mess of a Primary.
You know how absolutely passionate I am about Kucinich but if he's not viable by the time they get to my HUGE state, and Edwards has any chance of overtaking Kerry, I may go Edwards too. They've got our balls in a vise & NAFTA is one of my top issues. There is no way I can watch Kerry and his pro-anything-related-to-business sweep this thing. NAFTA is also water privatization in poor countries and the theft of their labor resource- I can't watch that theft continue- it's as bad as the war & occupation for me because it's another form of war- economic.


Here are 2 of the threads he did. It's his/her main cause, can we blame him/her?

Kerry vs the others on NAFTA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=315065

Question re Free-Trade: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=346377

[LWolf]

23. Well, at this point,

a vote for Edwards slows Kerry down. Anything that slows down the rush to crown him until the rest of us get to vote is a good move for democrats. Our state contributes a lot of delegates. Shouldn't our votes be considered?

I'm thrilled to cast my vote for Dennis on March 2nd!

[Tinoire]

29. It's really sad isn't it?

Even in our Primaries, people feel their reduced to voting "against" someone/thing.

What a joke they've made of these Primaries.


I'm in March like you & very happy that we have the chance to swing things around then.

[anti-NAFTA]

30. Edwards on Larry King right now.

The first thing he said about what distinguished him from Kerry is his position on trade. He's putting this issue on the table, exactly where it should be.

[GreenArrow]

8. why not just endorse Kucinich?

Oh yeah, "electability."

[AP]

10. Don't send 'em a message about NAFTA, send them a president who doesn't

like NAFTA.

[citizen snips]

11. Thanks for your support anti-NAFTA.

Edwards never voted for NAFTA and he will never send jobs over seas.

[revcarol]

12. Except to China.

See my earlier post.

[mac2]

17. Not for NAFTA?

Is that on his web site? I thought Edwards and Dean both supported the war and NAFTA. That's what they said, in the beginning of their run anyway.

[bobthedrummer]

13. With a handle like yours I would think you'd choose Kucinich

He is on record as to be for pulling out of NAFTA as his first priority.

[anti-NAFTA]

16. My number one priority is getting a candidate that opposes NAFTA.

I want Kerry to not be the nominee. Kucinich has no shot of winning the nomination. But if Kerry was securely the nominee, I would support Kucinich to send a message.

[mac2]

15. Wait a minute...

Kerry, Dean, Edwards are all pro-WTO. The unions are against WTO. Only Kucinich is anti-WTO.

Who knows why Gephardt does what he does.

[anti-NAFTA]

18. What about Gephardt?

Gephardt was our best chance of confronting the outsourcers, but what did we do to him? We spat on him and called him Lieberman-lite. I miss him.

[Adelante]

26. Edwards is running anti-NAFTA in Wisconsin

Just came over CNN. He's trashing Dean and Kerry as being pro-NAFTA and it's working.

[anti-NAFTA]

28. Yes, it is.

Partly because he at least has some credibility on the issue unlike Kerry. Kerry is not the man to put the issue on the table.

[JackRiddler]

19. Actually, given Edwards's performance against Kerry

the man with the best shot to beat Kerry is surely Kerry. So by your logic...

[corporatewhore]

24. NAFTA/Freetrade is is my litmus test too

[Adelante]

25. Why not give these people a break?

Solicitations unwanted and unkind.

[anti-NAFTA]

27. better question: why don't they give US a break?

we dont want their NAFTA. they should give US a break. we ARE the people. We employ them. They should work for our interests.

[dionysus]

31. How bout Dean supports support Dean?

:shrug:

[anti-NAFTA]

32. How about Dean withdrew and you now have three choices:

1. Support Edwards in an effort to have a better candidate than Kerry as the nominee.

2. Support Kucinich to strengthen the progressive left.

3. Support Kerry.

Take your pick, buddy. I advise you to pick the first.

[anti-NAFTA]

33. and now there's even less of a reason not to support Edwards

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=372023

:kick: