Discussion for article #241511
Well âfree trade = Bad Thingâ is a known truth for much of the Democratic base. Which is not to our partyâs credit, IMO. FWIW Krugman is now a little softer on the TPP than he was, given some more recent info (or âleaksâ I guess). Basically pharma, tobacco, and Râs are angry at recent changes, so thatâs a good thing.
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Surprised the poll testing took so longâŚ
Seeing which way the wind was blowing shouldnât have taken this longâŚ
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Clinton helped lay the foundation for the deal as Obamaâs secretary of state.
Iraq redux.
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I guess she changed her mind (ie NAFTA). Better late then never, and good move on her part. Letâs hope itâs genuine, because it;s a significant shift from the political HRC Iâm used to.
I really like this move on so many levels. Quite apart from the TPP itself, its reach, its mechanics, its details, from a STRATEGIC standpoint it works great for HRC:
- It closes any distance between her and Bernie on this issue.
- It makes it easier for unions to choose to endorse her.
- It fits with her campaignâs ambitions to do as well as possible with white working class voters.
- Should the TPP get approved, it serves to distance her from the usual negative reactions to early stage implementation of the TPP, and means it wonât be hung around her neck during the campaign or her administration should she win.
- It actually doesnât do anything negative to the chances of the TPP being approved by this freaking crazy Congress, and actually may turn out to give its passage a boost, since her disapproval provides cover for GOP Congress critters to do what they really want to do in going with their donors and approve the deal.
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"The Democratic presidential candidate says in an interview with PBS there are too many âunanswered questionsâ about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She says, âWhat I know about it as of today, I am not in favor.â
A week later:
"Well I got answers to the unanswered questions and now that I have those answers Iâm more inclined to be leaning toward in favor ⌠but thereâs still more Iâd like to know and then I can give a definitive yes or no, based on what I know then, not now.
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I agree
The Democratic presidential candidate says in an interview with PBS there are too many âunanswered questionsâ about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She says, âWhat I know about it as of today, I am not in favor.â
Okay, but then what about this?
Clinton helped lay the foundation for the deal as Obamaâs secretary of state.
Has the deal really changed that much? I hate to be cynical because I would vote for Hillary before any Republican, but does anyone really think she wonât fully support it should she be elected President?
This story from CNN that ran in June said Hillary supported TPP 45 times before coming out against it.
The reports I heard this week say that some Republican lawmakers are upset that tobacco companies canât sue countries that pass anti-smoking laws, that pharmaceutical firms wonât enjoy a 12-year period of exclusive rights to biologics, and that currency manipulation is not addressed in the agreement â although it might be taken up in side agreements.
Itâs possible, however, that shortening the period that drug firms enjoy monopoly rights to new drugs, and standing up to tobacco interests could help attract the votes of fence-sitting Democrats and public health advocates, and offset potential loss of Republican votes.
Orrin Hatch, who was gung-ho a few months ago, said the other day he was disappointed over some recent changes made that have pharmaceutical firms and Republicans from tobacco states upset.
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Basically pharma, tobacco, and Râs are angry at recent changes, so thatâs a good thing
So they didnât get EVERYTHING they wanted? Only 90%? Boo fucking hoo!
In other words, Obama was right about the protections.
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Says you!
This is why people donât like her. They don;t trust her. It would not be a deal breaker for me one way or the other, if she is the nominee.
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Apparently the deal got more progressive in some areas.
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Try this out:
Yes, and like Avattoir mentioned upthread, there might be some political calculation to this.
She probably is positioning herself with liberals and Sanders supporters who are opposed to it â erasing any daylight between Bernie and her on TPP.
The final agreement is not available for review yet â a news report I heard yesterday said probably not until next month.
And then, after the TPP text is released, sheâll be able to say she studied it and her questions were answered â and sheâll seem all reasonable and serious for taking the time to analyze it, as compared to the Bernie Sanders supporters, who seem ideologically opposed to any free trade agreements.
Looks like somebodyâs feelinâ the Bern.
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