"Over that time, first thousands, then tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands and then literally millions of Americans signed letters and petitions urging the Obama administration and Congress to abandon TPP negotiations that gave corporate lobbyists a seat at the table, while keeping the public in the dark.
"... Together, globally-coordinated progressive coalitions from a host of different countries developed and publicized analyses of the TPP, pushing out leaked texts when our governments refused to tell us what they were proposing in our names, and hacking away week after week against media blackouts, relying heavily on independent media, social media and word-of-mouth to inform the most active elements of the public about the power grab underway.
"... An incredibly diverse array of organizations and individual activists were constantly sharing information and strategically coordinating their efforts to pressure key elected officials, such that we built a majority of opposition to the TPP in Congress -- despite all the big-money interests fighting hard on the other side.
"Check the timeline here. The TPP negotiations concluded in October 2015. The pact could have -- and absolutely would have -- been approved by Congress as early as February 2016 if the votes were there to pass it. Progressives' work ensured the votes weren't there."
This is how it is done: "first thousands, then tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands and then literally millions." It took a lot of work, and time, and organizing. And it succeeded.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) issued statement headlined, "CWA on News that TPP is Dead for this Congress: 'Welcome, Overdue, and a Lesson for the Future,'" that reinforces Stamoulis's message:
"For more than five years, CWA members, allies, and working families throughout the country mobilized to expose this corporate-friendly trade deal and the serious consequences for working families and communities if it did take effect. CWA members and allies long have been ahead of Washington on the issue of TPP and trade policy, and this work built a strong public base of voters who rejected what they clearly recognized as bad deal, no matter their political party."
Trump Didn't Build That
Donald Trump showed up in the anti-TPP fight at the last minute, and like so may other things in his campaign, he understood what people wanted to hear and said them. Lest anyone think Trump said these things with any real intent to help working people, see, "Trump Trade Position Is Opposite Of What People Think It Is." The post looked deeper into what Trump was telling businesses and found that he wants to lower wages to 3rd-world levels to make the US "competitive."
"Trump says the U.S. is not 'competitive' with other countries. He has said repeatedly we need to lower American wages, taxes and regulations to the point where we can be 'competitive' with Mexico and China. In other words, he is saying that business won't send jobs out of the country if we can make wages low enough here."
Trump jumping on board after public sentiment had shifted only demonstrated the degree to which the progressive instinct was right all along.
Clinton Paid The Price For Obama's TPP Push
A lot of people say that the Obama push for TPP cost Clinton the election. There is some truth in that. WSJ again in "Trade, Not Immigrants, May Have Been Key Motivator of Donald Trump's Voters":
"[T]he county-by-county map breaking down those that went red and those that went blue, and by what margins, certainly suggests a more significant impact from Mr. Trump's trade arguments.
"A similar picture emerges in the exit polls of all voters nationally conducted on Election Day. When asked whether illegal immigrants working in the U.S. should be offered a chance to apply for legal status, 70% of respondents said yes. Support for the wall along the Mexican border was split almost evenly, with 54% in favor.
"Perhaps more telling, among Trump voters specifically, the economy was cited as the top issue far more often -- 46% of the time -- than was immigration, which was named by just 17%. A far larger share of Trump voters -- 57% -- said they think trade takes away jobs."
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