Obama Seeks Fast Track for TPP, Trade Deal that Could Thwart "Almost Any Progressive Policy or Goal"

[marmar]

Published on Mar 19, 2015

http://democracynow.org - Congressional Democrats are openly criticizing the secrecy surrounding the negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), just as President Obama begins a major push to pass the controversial deal. The United States is engaged in talks with 11 Latin American and Asian countries for the sweeping trade pact that would cover 40 percent of the global economy. But its provisions have mostly been kept secret. After the White House deemed a briefing on the trade pact "classified," Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut called the measures "needlessly secretive," saying: "If the TPP would be as good for American jobs as they claim, there should be nothing to hide." This comes as Obama recently called on Congress to pass "fast track" legislation to streamline the passage of trade deals through Congress. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO says it will withhold contributions to congressional Democrats to pressure them to vote no on fast-track authority. And some tea party-backed Republicans are saying Obama cannot be trusted with the same negotiating authority that past presidents have had. This spring, the White House has invited Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to address a joint session of Congress in which he may promote the TPP. For more, we speak with by Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, who has been sounding the alarm about the negotiations. She says Congress could vote on the TPP proposal in the third week in April.

[Faryn Balyncd]

1. DeLauro hit the nail on the head.

[Babel_17]

2. "Leap of Faith"

"Only in the leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth."

It seems like that is what is being asked of us.
Pass.
Krugman until recently was holding out the benefit of the doubt. But last I read he'd heard enough to be in opposition.

[jalan48]

3. So the TPP will help with climate change? Climate change was Obama's concern in yesterday's news.

[fasttense]

4. This is Obama's pay back to the oligarchs

This is why Obama, despite the Koch brothers and other obnoxious rich people really hating minorities, was allowed to become president.

To the oligarchs and the Obama's this is a compromise. The oligarchs allow us to have a minority person in the White House and that person gives them control over US sovereignty in the guise of a trade deal. It's a win-win.

[ProudProg2u]

5. Hhhmmm, do I need to whip out the George Carlin you tube again...???

"These Rich Cocksukers don't care about you"...!! Called the "ruling class", Dems or Repukes don't matter,..especially when we get Hillary..same/same.Had to edit post after I thought about it. Should have posted after Hillary is "Selected" There are no "elections" in America we have two choices both bought and paid for by the "Ruling Class'.

WARREN...2016

[Enthusiast]

6. K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations! Did you hear what the lady said?

There is no excuse for this abomination, this TPP. This is corporate rule, people. And corporate rule is Fascism.

Why would the President promote something that a majority of American workers oppose?

Have you ever had little doubts about the President? Maybe a sneaking suspicion that something wasn't quite above board? Well, you can wait to find out the truth after it is too late. You must keep an open mind and keep your eyes open.

Never listen to one side on any issue. This is too important.

Remember the truth of NAFTA. The NAFTA cheerleaders swore that everyone would benefit. They lied. Or, maybe they misunderstood. In either case they did not do their job looking out for the interests of working class Americans.

Now, watch out for the deluge. The deluge of pro-trade sockpuppets. I'm expecting one to pop up any moment now. They defend every trade deal. Why would a regular citizen be so passionately in favor of trade deals? Where does all that enthusiasm and combativeness come from? They're well paid.

[Populist_Prole]

7. Thanks for posting. A million recs.......

[panfluteman]

8. No Doubt About It - Obama is Negating Everything He Stood For

in promoting and trying to fast track the TPP. It's almost like those weird Tea Party posters depicting Obama as The Joker are coming true. A kind of "Read my lips - I lied!" moment. So in the end, Obama gets to do the bidding of his corporate puppet masters to negating everything else he has done as president??? Is this the kind of legacy he wants to leave behind??? One last great compromise or cave-in to totally wipe out everything he has done???

I'm glad that there is a solid base of progressive democrats against the TPP. And I'm not so glad that there are Tea Party Republicans on board as well, because most of them are just against it to oppose and spite Obama. But those Republicans who are against the TPP because it hands away congressional trade negotiating powers, as well as our national sovereignty to corporate rule are also on the right track, and should be commended.

[asiliveandbreathe]

9. This is huge TPP - NO WAY

My husband , who has been working in CO for over a year now - (no jobs in AZ - he got caught in a multinational corp downsize buy-out, looked for a job for two years..we survived on his little odd jobs..my SS and savings were keeping up ,but the savings were running out..so we had to look to another state..) who is two years shy of early retirement... He is new to a Union shop - but is grateful for the job - good pay - good benefits...but is 800 miles from home (I'm retired, but miss him tremendously, he won't sell the house)

He called last night in an uproar over the Prez pushing TPP...and the fast track to make it happen...hooray to AFSCME for talkin' it up at work...

We are both President Obama supporters...but for the President to promote fast track and the TPP from all that we have been able to learn and read about...the Prez negates ALL that he has accomplished - hubby is so disappointed, he knows how many long hours I put in in 2012...with voter registration and working on the database..all volunteer work....

WE will never vote for a republican anything...but...

Folk's - everyone should be paying attention to this fast track and TPP project...it is a no brainer.....NO FAST-TRACK _ NO TPP -

I am surprised by the lack of attention to this subject on our DU site.....HELLO!!!!!!

Please call your reps and senators..call the Prez as we are doing.....this is huge!

also - checkout - http://www.citizen.org/tpp

[appalachiablue]

10. A paradox for the President & some Dems. Lori Wallach does a great job breaking this down

on alternative media.

[mother earth]

11. The gov't is serving the oligarchs. It is class warfare & it is time to stop cheerleading it.

K & R

[blkmusclmachine]

13. But, but, but ... the Republicans are worse ...

[blkmusclmachine]

12. Nobody promised you'd like all the "change," now, did they ?!?!

[suzanner]

14. Don't know much about TPP BUT

the 'guest', Lori (?) presented the argument quite unprofessionally, did not cite any proof to support her claims, and did not explain why the White House trade page on TPP says the opposite of what she claims. Sorry. I would need to know more. She could at least provide some quotes, proofs, or facts. Although not overtly snarky, it seemed snarky to me. On fast-track, I imagine that is a totally different issue. I don't believe this was a good piece.

[midnight]

15. Here some of the details that have been discussed, but much of the information is secret. And most

likely the reason your not familiar with the details.

"1Food from all countries involved in the TPP would be deemed equal, even though one country might have higher standards than the others. “Fish raised with some antibiotics and other veterinary drugs banned in U.S. food production — but allowed in many other TPP countries — could be sold in U.S. grocery stores as a result of the agreement,” said Debbie Barker, international director for the Center for Food Safety.
Food labeling could completely disappear. According to citizen.org, the TPP would impose limits on labels providing information on where a food product comes from. The TPP also would endanger labels identifying genetically modified foods and labels identifying how food was produced.
We would lose our food sovereignty. According to exposethetpp.org, any U.S. food safety rule on pesticides, labeling or additives that is higher than international standards would be subject to challenge as “illegal trade barriers.” The U.S. would be required to eliminate these rules and allow in the unsafe food, or we would face trade sanctions.
Job loss. The TPP includes extreme foreign investor protections that help corporations offshore jobs. The terms basically give special benefits to firms that relocate investment and jobs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, if the TPP passes, the U.S. will lose more than 130,000 jobs to Vietnam and Japan alone.
No more “Buy American.” All 12 countries in the TPP would receive equal access to procurement contracts. If the TPP were to pass, the current Buy American laws would come to an end. Foreign corporations would be given equal access to compete for government contracts with companies that make products in America.
Increased medicine prices. Pharmaceutical companies would be able to extend their patents which would allow them to sell without competition from generic drug manufacturers. This would make it extremely difficult to fight against fatal illnesses such as AIDS and cancer.
Say goodbye to environment protection. Wikileaks disclosed the environmental protections provision in the draft: the TPP would override our protections for land use, logging, and climate pollution. The Sierra Club says that TPP “would strip our government’s power to manage U.S. gas exports, opening the floodgates for fracking, sacrificing our air and water quality in order to feed foreign markets.”
Prepare for online censorship. Under the TPP, Internet Service Providers would be required to police activity online by either taking down certain internet content if they disapprove of it or cutting people off from the internet completely.
The TPP Would Destroy Our Sovereignty. The agreement has largely been negotiated in secret, though 600 corporate lobbyists have been allowed in. This has angered many who are concerned about what damaging details may be included in the deal, and the little bit we know for sure confirms these suspicions."

http://economyincrisis.org/content/9-reasons-the-tpp-is-disastrous-for-the-american-people

[appalachiablue]

17. Good info. & link. More people need to know about it & the huge, detrimental impacts.

[midnight]

18. Thanks for looking at it… More people need to be aware.

[appalachiablue]

19. Absolutely. Been following this 2 years thanks to DU articles, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz on

MSNBC, Ring of Fire host Mike Papantonio, Senator Sanders & others calling out the warnings.

[suzanner]

21. Thanks!

[Doctor_J]

16. strange coming from the most liberal president in history

Heritage foundation healthcare, extension of the Bush tax cuts, offers to cut social security, now TPP.

Rec

[DeSwiss]

20. K&R

- The other choice is REVOLUTION, but Americans live in fear.

Even though they're not sure of what......