Reprinted from Campaign For America's Future
Hillary Clinton gave a big boost to opponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership when, in an interview on the PBS NewsHour Wednesday, she voiced her opposition to the just-completed "trade" treaty.
Clinton joins fellow Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, all of organized labor, all identifiable progressive organizations, almost all congressional Democrats and majorities of rank-and-file Democrats (and even Republicans) in opposing NAFTA-style, corporate-written "trade" deals like the TPP.
Her stated reasons were spot-on with voter concerns: TPP could "... end up doing more harm than good for hard-working American families whose paychecks have barely budged in years." Also, from the full interview, "But I do worry that we've got an equation here. How do we raise incomes in America?"
Excerpt:
From Clinton website:
"I'm continuing to learn about the details of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership, including looking hard at what's in there to crack down on currency manipulation, which kills American jobs, and to make sure we're not putting the interests of drug companies ahead of patients and consumers. But based on what I know so far, I can't support this agreement.
"As I have said many times, we need to be sure that new trade deals meet clear tests: They have to create good American jobs, raise wages, and advance our national security. The bar has to be set very high for two reasons.
"First, too often over the years we haven't gotten the balance right on trade. We've seen that even a strong deal can fall short on delivering the promised benefits. So I don't believe we can afford to keep giving new agreements the benefit of the doubt. The risks are too high that, despite our best efforts, they will end up doing more harm than good for hard-working American families whose paychecks have barely budged in years.
"Second, we can't look at this in a vacuum. Years of Republican obstruction at home have weakened U.S. competitiveness and made it harder for Americans who lose jobs and pay because of trade to get back on their feet. Republicans have blocked the investments that we need and that President Obama has proposed in infrastructure, education, clean energy, and innovation. They've refused to raise the minimum wage or defend workers' rights or adequately fund job training.
"As a result, America is less competitive than we should be. Workers have fewer protections, the potential positive effects of trade are diminished, and the negative effects are exacerbated. We're going into this with one arm tied behind our backs.
"I still believe in the goal of a strong and fair trade agreement in the Pacific as part of a broader strategy both at home and abroad, just as I did when I was Secretary of State. I appreciate the hard work that President Obama and his team put into this process and recognize the strides they made. But the bar here is very high and, based on what I have seen, I don't believe this agreement has met it."
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka made this statement after Clinton voiced her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership:
"America's working people are very pleased that Senator Clinton is opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I applaud her for taking this step and choosing to embrace workers' values. Her decision is a critical turning point, and will be invaluable in our effort to defeat TPP."
DC Elite Whines
The elite media and consultant/lobbyist class are aghast at Clinton's betrayal of the corporate elite. They accuse Clinton of "flip-flopping" and catering to "populists" risking alienation of "moderates" and donors.
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