John Nichols: Clinton Lie (NAFTA) Kills Her Credibility on Trade Policy

[marmar]

from The Nation:



BLOG | Posted 03/20/2008 @ 1:59pm
Clinton Lie Kills Her Credibility on Trade Policy


What is the proper word for the claim by Hillary Clinton and the more factually disinclined supporters of her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination -- made in speeches, briefings and interviews (including one by this reporter with the candidate) -- that she has always been a critic of the North American Free Trade Agreement?

Now that we know from the 11,000 pages of Clinton White House documents released this week that former First Lady was an ardent advocate for NAFTA; now that we know she held at least five meetings to strategize about how to win congressional approval of the deal; now that we know she was in the thick of the manuevering to block the efforts of labor, farm, environmental and human rights groups to get a better agreement. Now that we know all of this, how should we assess the claim that Hillary's heart has always beaten to a fair-trade rhythm?

Now that we know from official records of her time as First Lady that Clinton was the featured speaker at a closed-door session where 120 women opinion leaders were hectored to pressure their congressional representatives to approve NAFTA; now that we know from ABC News reporting on the session that "her remarks were totally pro-NAFTA" and that "there was no equivocation for her support for NAFTA at the time;" now that we have these details confirmed, what should we make of Clinton's campaign claim that she was never comfortable with the militant free-trade agenda that has cost the United States hundreds of thousands of union jobs, that has idled entire industries, that has saddled this country with record trade deficits, undermined the security of working families in the US and abroad, and has forced Mexican farmers off their land into an economic refugee status that ultimately forces them to cross the Rio Grande River in search of work?

As she campaigns now, Clinton says, "I have been a critic of NAFTA from the very beginning." ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=300860

[Zhade]

1. Well, yeah, her lies destroyed her credibility long ago.

NT!

[earthlover]

2. "What is the proper word for the claim..."?

I think we know the word. Two syllables. Bovine Excrement.

[City Lights]

3. Ouch!

And we must all now recognize that when Hillary Clinton speaks about trade policy, she begins with a lie so blatant--that she's been "a critic of NAFTA from the very beginning"--that everything else she says must be viewed as suspect.

Couldn't agree more.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Clinton DID NOT lie!!!!

She hated NAFTA from the start and only pretended to support it to get it passed so everyone could see what a disaster it would be. In her divine foresight, she realized she would be able to withdraw in 2009 when she became president and that way she could destroy it forever.

Also, she deliberately bungled the health care proposal as First Lady in order to increase the chance of getting it passed in 2009.

You have to admit with her brilliant and canny ability to see things in the long term and plan accordingly and her ability to fool everyone in her long range planning, we'd be idiots not to nominate her.


C'mon.....that's plausible! Right? Right?


WOULD SOMEONE SHUT THOSE DAMNED CRICKETS UP??????

[marmar]

5. LOL....

.... And when she voted for the IWR, she had a scowl on her face, proving she was against the war from the start. :P

[Voice for Peace]

6. Sure it's plausible! And the reason she is fighting so hard

(to put it politely) against Obama is to help him build his strength for the GE
so he can win against McCain. She's trying to help him!

[Whisp]

7. what a brazen liar, just like a fucking Bush.

more disgusted each day.

I knew she was lieing about this all along, but I also know SHE WILL STILL DENY THIS, even tho it is black and white right in our faces that she is a big fat liar, SHE WILL STILL DENY IT. like a fucking bush.

[Danger Mouse]

8. the white house records make her 'experience' argument collapse...

like a house of cards.

[XemaSab]

9. And we wonder why she didn't release this stuff months ago

:crazy:

[Danger Mouse]

10. too bad she couldn't hide her lies forever.

[AzDar]

11. Yea, verily.

:thumbsup:

[jgraz]

12. Nichols is a national treasure

And a Madison boy like myself!

[KittyWampus]

13. Clinton is the Potemkin Candidate. Totally fake front for an anti-democratic agenda

sorry, putting a kinder, gentler face on fascism isn't what the Democratic party is all about.

[Danger Mouse]

14. kick...