Obama defends free trade push to supporters: This isn’t NAFTA

[IDemo]

Source: Washington Post

President Obama rallied his staunchest allies Thursday to support his free trade push in the face of stout Democratic opposition, arguing that his critics are wrong to say the deal will harm the middle class.

Appearing before 200 members of Organizing for Action, the progressive advocacy group born from his campaign apparatus, Obama said the 12-nation Pacific Rim trade pact his administration is pushing for is far superior to past trade deals that labor unions have blamed for job losses. Specifically, he cited the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

"I've got some good friends opposed to this trade agreement and when I ask them specifically, 'What do you oppose?' they start talking about NAFTA," Obama said at the Ritz Carlton. "I’m thinking, 'I just came out of law school when NAFTA was passed.' That’s not the trade agreement I’m passing. You need to tell me what's wrong with this trade agreement, not one that was passed 25 years ago."

Two days after talking about trade in a roundtable in Northern Virginia moderated by MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Obama laid out his most forceful case yet that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would boost the U.S. economy. Congress is considering "fast-track" legislation that would give him authority to present the pact to lawmakers for a vote without them being allowed to amend it.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/23/obama-defends-free-trade-push-to-supporters-this-isnt-nafta/

[ybbor]

1. "What do you oppose?"

How the hell would they know? You won't let them see it until your FT deal goes through and then it's too late.

No to the TPP!

[haikugal]

4. Yeah it's all nonsense...he's blowing smoke up our butts.

Disgusting.

[tridim]

8. What smoke is blown up our butts?

Be specific. What do you oppose?

[haikugal]

13. He's going around and doing everything but giving us information that we can see for ourselves.

Basically he's doing a PR tour and holding hands, patting heads and telling us "there, there" or "don't worry I've got this" rather than give us anything real.

I'm and adult and I don't appreciate it...he's blowing smoke.

[tridim]

7. No, they will let everyone see it long before the vote.

And despite your opposition, you still didn't say what you oppose. But you KNOW you oppose it. Weird logic there.

[rpannier]

19. He touted the Korean-US Trade Agreement as good for US Jobs

It hasn't been

A report published by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a left-leaning Washington think tank, puts the first-year US job-loss figure at up to 40,000.

Why should I trust him on this when I haven't seen anything that says this trade agreement has done what he claims
It hasn't helped Koreans much either. Unless, you are part of the Chaebol. They've made big money using many of teh same tactics as U.S. companies have.
They use an astonishingly high number of irregular workers: About 8 million
There are about 2 million working for subcontractors. These workers make barely enough to live on (In some cases they do not)
They continue to mistreat workers and prevent unions from forming by using subcontractors and irregular workers

Tell me, why I should believe this is a good thing when the trade agreement he points to has not worked out for the workers in either country

[davidpdx]

36. On the mistreated workers I believe you are referring to migrant workers

which is a big issue here in Korea. There has been a lot of press about how poorly they are treated and how the laws need to be changed to better protect them. Many come from poorer SE Asian countries to work because they can make more than they can at home.

My question is have any jobs been created out of the KFTA? Is the loss of 40,000 an actual loss number or the net loss? The real issue is that the US has to start importing products and services to Korea that are needed but not available (see below for some examples).

I will say that I have seen many more American products in stores here in Korea, especially food and beverages. I bought a bottle of Oregon wine last week (the first time I've been able to find one in 11 years) to celebrate finishing my doctorate. Granted I paid through the nose for it, but it was nice to support my home state. Cheese has become much easier to find as well and that comes from three or four states that I know of (California, Oregon, and Wisconsin).

With all that said, I am very skeptical about the TPP. Korea has said they won't join it at first, but may later. My main opposition is the intellectual rights crackdown (with movies and TV programs) and the lack of distribution making them available here.

[shawn703]

24. And if it's really bad for the American worker the Dems can at least filibuster it

Oh wait...

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. If it's really bad, congreys just ...

Votes it down.

[stillwaiting]

29. That's putting a lot of faith in a Republican controlled Congress with

LOTS of corporate-owned Democrats in the mix.

It's not smart.

[pampango]

31. Without fast track that would be putting a lot of faith in a republican congress not to

turn it into a conservative Christmas tree with the ability to add and delete whatever they want.

[stillwaiting]

32. Both ways it's putting a lot of faith in the Republican Congress.

I wouldn't think we would get a good deal either way.

It's a big reason why I'm against Fast Track and the TPP/TTIP/TISA/...

Just about all of the Republican Senators are for this, and I just can't ignore that fact. They have been properly informed by their bosses that this is a go. So, I say it's a no go.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

38. And luckily the President can still VETO!

Oh, wait...

[IDemo]

20. "I'm sorry, I wish I could let you folks take a test drive, but no."

"I wish I could let you see the vehicle, but no."

"Now, if you'll just sign here, we can all go to lunch."

[GoneFishin]

35. Exactly. "If you can't tell me what's wrong with the car that I won't let you see, then why won't

you buy it? What is wrong with you? "

"Now shut up and sign here."

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. Why will it be too late after FT?

[bloomington-lib]

2. I'm sure he's heard more than just "NAFTA".

I hate it when people I generally respect do shit like this.

[GeorgeGist]

10. His Republican roots are showing.

Again

[stillwaiting]

30. Completely disingenuous. Kind of like the many posters around here who keep on

referring to the TPP as a "trade agreement" just like all of the ones that have come before it when they have been educated on the scope of the TPP and know very well that opposition is heavily against the TPP for many, many reasons (and trade might not even be the biggest reason for many that oppose).

In reality, the TPP is probably much, much bigger than previous deals that have come before it, and from leaks we have learned that only 5 of the 29 chapters deal with trade issues. Not too mention that with so many countries being involved, it apparently will be incredibly binding if all countries will be needed to end the agreement or modify it.

The TPP is not a trade agreement. It is a "trade agreement".

[tularetom]

3. His friends have to talk about NAFTA because he won't tell them what's in this one

[arcane1]

5. The burden is on US to say what is wrong with it? That makes no sense.

Especially since it's being kept secret.

How about "You need to tell us what is good about it!!"

[haikugal]

14. I haven't heard him say anything real about it, nothing...

[grntuscarora]

16. Exactly.

The environmental groups I follow are deeply suspicious.
example:
http://www.sierraclub.org/trade/trans-pacific-partnership
And I trust these groups a hell of a lot more than I trust the corporate lawyers that drafted this thing.

[turbinetree]

6. Then

lets have information on this matter----that's all we ask for, I trust Warren, tell me why I should trust this Mr. President

[antigop]

9. "this isn't NAFTA"....yeah, it's worse than NAFTA. nt

[merrily]

11. Not NAFTA? How about Korea?

[davidpdx]

37. That is the KFTA

Korean Free Trade Agreement

[project_bluebook]

12. He pissed big Ed off when he mentioned MSNBC

Ed's head almost exploded and Sen Sanders, who was being interviewed at the time of Obamas speech, got quite a kick out of it. Big Ed is the only TV show going after SHAFTA. Obama is now paying back the wall street banksters for their campaign support.

[Geronimoe]

15. It isn't NAFTA

It is NAFTA on crack.

[Cheese Sandwich]

34. NAFTA on bath salts

[hollowdweller]

18. I just think Dems should not give the business community anything until we get something in return.

I feel like TPP whether we lose jobs or not is not going to do ANYTHING to help the working class.

So I think just on principle that the working class and dems should KILL it until conditions improve for US workers.

How about fast track on increasing the min wage? Mandatory sick leave and vacation?? Making overtime pay double time not just time and a half?? How about fast tracking removing the cap on Social Security.

Why must we rush anything to help the rich or business but anything to help ordinary people well it could drag on forever.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. fine. declassify the fucking agreement so we can have an actual informed discussion.

Or else just shut the fuck up and get on with fulfilling your obligations to the rulers.

[Zorra]

22. We won't get fooled again. nt

[Larry Engels]

39. Yes we will.

6 or 8 years from now we will be whining about the President, whoever he or she is, including our own candidate. Yes, even Bernie.

[Thespian2]

23. What is Obama talking about?

He knows full well how Americans will be screwed by this TPP garbage...apparently he has huge debts to the billionaires.

[msongs]

25. "tell me what's wrong"? well for starters you are keeping it a secret nt

[Geronimoe]

28. Excellent comment

The truth is so simple isn't it. The Emperor has no clothes. It is a Faustian bargain O has made with Wall Street and the own-everything class.

[blkmusclmachine]

33. http://www.redstate.com/uploads/2015/02/032309-obama-laughing-p1.jpg

[myrna minx]

40. Why link to a photo from "red state"? I'm against the TPP deal *and* I also think using RW sources

to ridicule the President isn't appropriate.

[candelista]

42. Why don't you get it censored?

I know you can do it!

[myrna minx]

45. I stated my opinion. Who said anything about censoring?

I didn't alert. Do you consider "red state" legitimate source material here?

[candelista]

47. I wonder why you didn't alert, if you think it's inappropriate.

As far as the source goes, it's a photograph. Are there right wing photographs and left wing photographs? Please explain.

[myrna minx]

48. I'm not playing today.

[candelista]

50. That just means you can't think of an answer.

Fine, great!

[candelista]

41. With all due respect to President Obama, that resembles a horse-laugh.

[geek tragedy]

43. glad you enjoy rightwing hate imagery, nt

[candelista]

44. Did I say I "enjoyed" it?

Attack me for something I actually said. Besides, it's a photograph. Are you saying it was photoshopped? Are people only supposed to post complimentary photogenic poses of President Obama? Is that a rule around here?

[Capt. Obvious]

46. AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

On Fri Apr 24, 2015, 10:54 AM an alert was sent on the following post:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1075689

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

linking to a photo mocking Obama from freaking redstate.com (THE rightwing blog on the internet, home of such luminaries as Erick, son of Erick)

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Apr 24, 2015, 11:01 AM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Oh, for the love of Hilary!
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Explanation: Posting the picture is insensitive. Having the redstate site link and words against it with a warning would have just been acceptable, but no with this picture.
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Explanation: I clicked on the pic for more info from Google - the result was "Best guess for this image: pathological liar" While occasionally other DUers have posted the same opinion in words, using a rw site to make your point is not appropriate.

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[candelista]

49. Ooooh! Ominous! Scary! :)

Is that your purpose?