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2016 Postmortem

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cali

(114,904 posts)
Mon Dec 7, 2015, 07:06 PM Dec 2015

Clinton's opposition to the TPP is insulting [View all]

n October, Hillary Clinton announced in an interview that she was no longer supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. This came as a big surprise to many as she was a strong supporter for the deal before coming out against it. Jake Tapper identified 45 times where Hillary Clinton pushed for the deal before finally opposing it. As a progressive and a strong opponent of the TPP, shouldn't I be pleased that Hillary Clinton is finally opposing this disastrous trade deal?

But the answer is no. I am not pleased at all by that announcement. And don't get me wrong… this has nothing to do with her evolving on the issue. I know some people are sensitive to her evolving, but progressives fight every day to change people's views. I would be glad if she actually evolved on it but I don't believe her and here is why:

1. Hillary made the announcement less than a week before the first debate. The TPP was one of the main issues that her two main challengers, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, were hammering her with. Also, Sanders poll numbers were rising especially in Iowa and New Hampshire and started to become a real threat for the nomination. Agreeing with him on this issue would defuse a potential heated argument in the first debate that could hurt her chances. The very same can be said about her last minute opposition to the Keystone pipeline which she previously supported.

2. It was one of the main reasons that prevented many unions from endorsing her. The largest union, AFL-CIO, delayed its endorsement to put pressure on Hillary to oppose the TPP. The union's president, Richard Trumka, made it clear that opposing the TPP was important to gain the union's support.

3. Hillary Clinton stated that she wouldn't lobby or rally against the TPP. She would only state her position. Since she's not a member in the Congress, her position means absolutely nothing to defeat the TPP. In fact, she has the endorsement of the vast majority of democrats in the Congress, including those who voted to Fast Track it. This makes her the best person positioned to rally democrats to defeat it. However, she chooses to stay put and do absolutely nothing.

<snip>
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/4/1456985/-Hillary-Clinton-s-Opposition-to-the-TPP-Is-Not-Wrong-It-s-Insulting

And another very good article on this subject from TPP expert Dave Johnson

<snip, snip, snip>


The Test

Is Clinton really opposed to TPP? Or is she only saying this to get votes, ready to turn against Democrats on trade issues after the election, as too many others have done?

There is a test for that: What is Clinton willing to actually do to stop TPP? Actions vs. words. If she means what she is saying about reversing inequality, unrigging the system and restoring the path to a middle class the first thing she should be doing is fighting and fighting hard to stop TPP.

Will she actively and boldly lobby against TPP, calling and visiting and working to convince the representatives and senators who voted for fast-track trade authority to vote against TPP?

Will she appear at anti-TPP rallies? Will she speak out again and again at her own campaign events? Will she express opposition on radio and TV interviews? Will she work to rally the media and public in opposition?

<snip>
http://seeingtheforest.com/does-clinton-really-oppose-tpp-there-is-a-test-for-that/

Clinton doesn't really oppose the TPP. She is documented as a fervent supporter, and not just when she was SoS. She praised it to the sky in her most recent book, written AFTER she left State. Her feeble and contemptuous faux opposition is a temporary political calculation. She'll be supporting it again in no time. And she hasn't said or done one thing to actually oppose it.

It's typical behavior from Clinton, and as the kos diarist said it's insulting.

194 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A very compelling case you make 99th_Monkey Dec 2015 #1
I don't think unions are naive. cali Dec 2015 #2
It's entirely possible that Union leadership is every bit as corrupt as Hillary. [n/t] Maedhros Dec 2015 #5
Or, this may actually be a stroke of brilliance! Bubzer Dec 2015 #34
Uh...The TPP will be law long before the election. jeff47 Dec 2015 #55
Ugh...I hope you're wrong. The TPP needs to be shitcanned Bubzer Dec 2015 #112
+100. n/t whathehell Dec 2015 #128
Union leadership is just fine: the GOP are corrupt: Hillary lewebley3 Dec 2015 #177
No compelling case: the OP post is just a Sanders supporter lewebley3 Dec 2015 #178
BEYOND insulting! InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 2015 #3
If I remember correctly you were calling Hillary out upaloopa Dec 2015 #4
Why yes, I didn't imagine she'd be so shamelessly cynical cali Dec 2015 #8
Never let facts get in the way of your spittle-flecked hatred, do you? ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #149
You want "Reality"? kenfrequed Dec 2015 #159
You seem to imagine that Obama is on the "economic right" ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #181
Absurd kenfrequed Dec 2015 #187
Yes, you're being absurd ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #188
Yeah... kenfrequed Dec 2015 #189
I can spend months looking to buy a house... ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #190
So... kenfrequed Dec 2015 #191
Wow indeed, what a word salad from you ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #192
A few hints: kenfrequed Dec 2015 #193
Okay, so basically you got nothing ConservativeDemocrat Dec 2015 #194
We've been through this before... Did I "really want" NAFTA being "renegotiated"... cascadiance Dec 2015 #166
Really, cali? Going for hides already? You like sitting in the corner? randome Dec 2015 #168
Please don't hide Cali! Amimnoch Dec 2015 #179
Don't we all! That includes you, loops. nm floriduck Dec 2015 #26
So much for that prediction MaggieD Dec 2015 #31
It makes no difference to some people what she says because they have their agenda. AlbertCat Dec 2015 #39
She's a weathervane. If she wins the nomination she'll flip flop again. beam me up scottie Dec 2015 #64
Exactly liberalmike27 Dec 2015 #130
It's just Hillary being Hillary. Paka Dec 2015 #6
...+1 840high Dec 2015 #22
Welcome back! arcane1 Dec 2015 #7
welcome back ibegurpard Dec 2015 #9
I did not know there was UglyGreed Dec 2015 #11
Why would you need to? brooklynite Dec 2015 #141
I don't believe I've UglyGreed Dec 2015 #165
Trade agreements support millions of US jobs and contribute to GDP. JaneyVee Dec 2015 #10
ones that stay in this country? ibegurpard Dec 2015 #12
America has won every single tribunal, and... JaneyVee Dec 2015 #17
Free Trade agreements are anti-incentives to keep jobs here Armstead Dec 2015 #92
A decade of negotiation... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #96
A lot more to it than that Armstead Dec 2015 #122
haha DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #113
Almost. We lost the "what is a catfish?" fight against Vietnam Recursion Dec 2015 #118
You misunderstand kenfrequed Dec 2015 #161
Yes--in China n/t eridani Dec 2015 #116
Why am I not surprised to see you support the TPP which kills American jobs. In fact they rhett o rick Dec 2015 #180
You need to read her book - as I have told you before MaggieD Dec 2015 #13
Some Hillary quotes about TPP Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #19
You should have read her book.... MaggieD Dec 2015 #21
If she had had so much skepticism about it so long ago, Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #23
She did - you just weren't paying attention MaggieD Dec 2015 #30
Oh, for crying out loud Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #36
In case know one ever says it... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #37
the Hillary Haters! AlbertCat Dec 2015 #49
Look at this OP... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #61
Look at this OP... AlbertCat Dec 2015 #63
The truth is not a form of hate. Major Hogwash Dec 2015 #78
Repetitive innuendo and speculation, yallerdawg Dec 2015 #86
Not hardly. Major Hogwash Dec 2015 #89
You mean like every time you see an enormous and garish BERNIE meme on a post... Nitram Dec 2015 #123
Thanks MaggieD Dec 2015 #52
Haters just have to hate Maggie philosslayer Dec 2015 #50
That's the problem with letting emotions overtake you in politics MaggieD Dec 2015 #54
I think the fact is that nyabingi Dec 2015 #147
So why has she voted against trade bills in the past? MaggieD Dec 2015 #148
She may have voted against them in the past nyabingi Dec 2015 #150
She was conditionally supportive of it if it contained the right criteria MaggieD Dec 2015 #152
That would be like conditionally supporting slavery when it was legal if it had free schooling... cascadiance Dec 2015 #167
MaggieD, your messages about Hillary are always welcome. However I feel asjr Dec 2015 #137
I'll tell you one more thing Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #24
You should have read her book.... AlbertCat Dec 2015 #40
The charge seems to be she is new to this idea MaggieD Dec 2015 #41
she has been saying the same things about trade for 15 years. AlbertCat Dec 2015 #42
She writes her own books MaggieD Dec 2015 #43
She writes her own books AlbertCat Dec 2015 #46
Well you asked - and her editor says she writes her own books MaggieD Dec 2015 #57
She has changed her mind 4 times since she wrote her book. Major Hogwash Dec 2015 #79
These agreements are inherently bad Armstead Dec 2015 #93
Precisely. That is the biggest problem with NAFTA & the TPP. senz Dec 2015 #100
Great to see you Cali. Your voice was missed here on DU. jalan48 Dec 2015 #14
Nice to see you back! tazkcmo Dec 2015 #15
It just can't be! yallerdawg Dec 2015 #16
as i've argued it from the beginning, she's closer to the repubs stupidicus Dec 2015 #18
Yes I would like to hear that too. nt navarth Dec 2015 #160
.... in_cog_ni_to Dec 2015 #20
You are absolutely RIGHT about this. And you have stated it perfectly. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2015 #28
Thank you, CaliforniaPeggy. in_cog_ni_to Dec 2015 #62
Yup… the last time I voted for Hillary Agony Dec 2015 #82
Anyone who believes Hillary on this Broward Dec 2015 #25
Love is blind. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2015 #32
I am so happy you are back. Your insight and voice were missed deeply. Autumn Dec 2015 #27
I think large numbers of us consider her a joke. Doctor_J Dec 2015 #29
Huge +1! Enthusiast Dec 2015 #120
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Dec 2015 #33
Very good. MuseRider Dec 2015 #35
Hillary Ingested Shrooms Prior to Statement Opposing TPP LS_Editor Dec 2015 #38
From the debate that she delivered this lie: Jarqui Dec 2015 #44
She's evolved into the Master Class of CYA politics. K&R and welcome back. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2015 #45
I guess as the Bern continues to fade.... philosslayer Dec 2015 #47
Don't even care about the issue? senz Dec 2015 #103
I'm more mystified as to why some here want to weaken the Dem nominee philosslayer Dec 2015 #110
Three little facts to reduce your mystification. senz Dec 2015 #111
we don't have a Dem nominee yet ibegurpard Dec 2015 #115
I'm more mystified as to why some here think we have a Dem nominee Autumn Dec 2015 #129
Actually, hundreds of votes have been cast. philosslayer Dec 2015 #131
You know superdelgates are not binding, they are free to vote for any candidate they wish at the Autumn Dec 2015 #134
I'll bookmark this post for reading in March. philosslayer Dec 2015 #135
That's the point. Should something happen as it did in 2008 Autumn Dec 2015 #136
You're missing the point philosslayer Dec 2015 #138
No I'm not missing anything. nt Autumn Dec 2015 #142
See you in March philosslayer Dec 2015 #145
Sanders is not "once in a lifetime," he is unique! immoderate Dec 2015 #157
Bernie Sanders not a "once in a lifetime" candidate? Many of us want another FDR... cascadiance Dec 2015 #169
I've never returned to a full time job after NAFTA Phlem Dec 2015 #48
As long as the others UglyGreed Dec 2015 #53
Exactly. Phlem Dec 2015 #56
N/P UglyGreed Dec 2015 #66
CALI! hootinholler Dec 2015 #51
k&r/Hey Cali! Welcome back. AtomicKitten Dec 2015 #58
Some cannot grasp that those who oppose Hillary don't 'hate' her personally... it's the obvious AzDar Dec 2015 #59
When I call someone a LIAR... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #65
I have a cousin who is a pathological liar... I don't hate her, but I don't fucking trust her. AzDar Dec 2015 #67
I'm sure your cousin... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #76
Look... if Hillary gets upset about being labelled a "liar", perhaps she shouldn't lie. But she does AzDar Dec 2015 #88
And here I thought it was a Democracy. Phlem Dec 2015 #71
K&R!!!! Phlem Dec 2015 #60
Not the Gold Standard, says Bernie gordyfl Dec 2015 #68
Does he mention what is the gold standard? yallerdawg Dec 2015 #70
your right wing is showing. Phlem Dec 2015 #73
Right wing is thinking you can negotiate a trade deal... yallerdawg Dec 2015 #77
Sorry, I grew up in the Philippines under Marcus Phlem Dec 2015 #81
Not Perfect? Not Even Close... gordyfl Dec 2015 #85
Are you scared? Is TPP horrifying? yallerdawg Dec 2015 #90
"Question everything doesn't apply to just one side!" Phlem Dec 2015 #91
You think this Hillary Hate is new and original? yallerdawg Dec 2015 #94
I liked her just fine until she fought VERY dirty in the 2008 campaign. senz Dec 2015 #106
That did it for me, too, senz. Duval Dec 2015 #163
I guess you're in what you would call "good company," yallerdog senz Dec 2015 #105
YEP!!! Explain WHY MORE Republicans supported TPP than Democrats, huh? cascadiance Dec 2015 #170
Welcome back jfern Dec 2015 #69
The extra heaping of insulting is she waited until after TPA passed, making the TPP a done deal. jeff47 Dec 2015 #72
She wants to be a winner. Major Hogwash Dec 2015 #80
Yea, my mom was all about herself. Phlem Dec 2015 #84
Absolutely. That was the defining vote cali Dec 2015 #83
She plays us all for fools and many are proving her right. Broward Dec 2015 #87
Unbelievable! yallerdawg Dec 2015 #97
That sound is the point sailing over your head. jeff47 Dec 2015 #99
Now, you said, "She waited until after TPA passed, making the TPP a done deal." yallerdawg Dec 2015 #102
And the point goes further over your head. jeff47 Dec 2015 #108
So, why should she and we by agreeing with her LOVE taking away the Democrats' ability to filibuster cascadiance Dec 2015 #171
TPA was "the filibuster" cloture vote. yallerdawg Dec 2015 #174
And then WHY did congress NOT KNOW about what was in TPP when they voted on TPA? cascadiance Dec 2015 #175
Were you told this or do you make it up? yallerdawg Dec 2015 #182
Frankly I prefer our CONSTITUTION and OUR court system and not a CORPORATE ISDS court... cascadiance Dec 2015 #183
I'm sure other countries wil go along with that! yallerdawg Dec 2015 #184
So you will like Transcanada suing us for "lost profits" and "giving us 35 jobs"... cascadiance Dec 2015 #185
That is pure fiction! yallerdawg Dec 2015 #186
K & R beam me up scottie Dec 2015 #74
K&R!!!! Phlem Dec 2015 #75
K&R. SixString Dec 2015 #95
Excellent OP. Thanks for presenting the case for what I've strongly sensed. senz Dec 2015 #98
Great summary, but you omitted a couple important facts Jim Lane Dec 2015 #101
Thank you, Jim. cali Dec 2015 #146
This is what gets me davidpdx Dec 2015 #104
And I'm glad you're back. senz Dec 2015 #107
Funny, I don't feel insulted. McCamy Taylor Dec 2015 #109
One more very good analysis. Betty Karlson Dec 2015 #114
Hillary says things when they are convenient to her needs, she is a Convenient Candidate IMO nt slipslidingaway Dec 2015 #117
K&R! I think this post should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Dec 2015 #119
Welcome back, cali! LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #121
The candidate of expedience! retrowire Dec 2015 #124
I've heard rumors some of the people she most trusts are hedge fund owners. raouldukelives Dec 2015 #125
Wish I could rec this UglyGreed Dec 2015 #132
K&R Glad you are back. nt Live and Learn Dec 2015 #126
Welcome back, cali. Le Taz Hot Dec 2015 #127
I no longer pay attention to anything Hillary says. djean111 Dec 2015 #133
Well she is consistent SHRED Dec 2015 #139
Only to those who believe a word she says Doctor_J Dec 2015 #140
...and the 56% of Democrats supporting her are... brooklynite Dec 2015 #143
So Bernie and O'Malley got outmaneuvered firebrand80 Dec 2015 #144
Yes, they were maneuvered. Those like Hillary, willing to lie, to not hold to any ethical standard cali Dec 2015 #164
"Better" in what context? To win for HER, or provide a better candidate for the American people? cascadiance Dec 2015 #172
Difficult to have a conversation here w/o being accused of hating the other candidate EndElectoral Dec 2015 #151
Yawn leftofcool Dec 2015 #153
Lol. cali Dec 2015 #156
K&R - She is lying. fbc Dec 2015 #154
No surprise at all sammythecat Dec 2015 #155
The real reason kenfrequed Dec 2015 #158
I agree. It's that simple and that contemptible. cali Dec 2015 #162
All the more reason we need to push for H-1B and other "guest worker" program stances from her now.. cascadiance Dec 2015 #173
kick... Segami Dec 2015 #176
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