Hillary Embraces Nancy, Advises Barack On TPP Deal
A few hours after Hillary Clinton’s campaign Chairman John Podesta told “Meet the Press” she was taking a wait-and-see approach on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, Mrs. Clinton went on the stump Sunday siding with House Democrats against US President Barack Hussein Obama.
Resistance within his party to his trade push could actually strengthen America’s hand at the bargaining table Mrs. Clinton told a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
Any deal should protect American workers and improve security, she told a crowd of 600 supporters at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
“In order to get a deal that meets these high standards, the president should listen to and work with his allies in Congress, starting with Nancy Pelosi, who have expressed their concerns about the impact that a weak agreement would have on our workers, to make sure we get the best, strongest deal possible,” Mrs. Clinton said. “And if we don’t get it, there should be no deal.”
Mrs. Clinton did not take a position on TPP specifically, or on the action last week of House Democrats voting down trade promotion authority for the president.
Her campaign manager, John Podesta, said on “Meet the Press” that Mrs. Clinton is waiting to see what is in a final agreement before rendering judgment on TPP.
Mrs. Clinton echoed that in Des Moines, saying, “There are some specifics in there that could and should be changed. So I am hoping that’s what happens now. Let’s take the lemons and turn it into lemonade.”
Clinton in the past has been more specific in her criticisms, saying trade deals should be tough on countries that devalue their own currencies for price advantages of their own goods. The White House says no such rule will be included in TPP.
Hillary also has been critical of a rule allowing an international arbiter to rule on whether a country’s laws and regulations violate the trade deal.
Funny, because in years past, Mrs. Clinton praised the potential deal.
In Y 2010, she called it an “exciting opportunity,” in Y 2011, a “benchmark for future agreements,” in Y 2012 a “gold standard for trade agreements” in Ys 2012, and in 2013 said it could “really enhance our relationship with Asia.”
Mrs. Clinton also implied that if she were president she would negotiate tougher with countries such as Japan, Australia, Canada and Mexico than Mrs. Obama has.
“No president would be a tougher negotiator on behalf of American workers, either with our trade partners or Republicans on Capitol Hill, than I would be,” Hillary said.
Mrs. Clinton sought to address Democratic opponents of the trade legislation, including liberals and labor unions, who have said the Obama-backed plan will cost US jobs.
The agreement has not been finalized or submitted to Congress.
Ms. Pelosi announced on the House floor last week that she would side with House Democrats and oppose Mr. Obama’s plan, saying it required a “a better deal for America’s workers.”
Hillary appeared to be seeking a middle ground, saying while some support the deal and others vehemently oppose it, “I kind of fall in the group that says ‘what’s in it?’ And ‘let’s make it as good as it can be, and then let’s make a decision.’” Hillary said Mr. Obama had an “amazing opportunity” to negotiate better terms and reiterated the criteria of worker protections, wages and national security provisions she would seek in a final deal.
She said any deal should include the scuttled Trade Adjustment Assistance program to help retrain workers.
The Obama Administration has said it is still confident there are ways to get the trade provisions through Congress. Republican leaders generally support Mr. Obama’s trade proposal and have suggested they may try to revive the bill as early as this week.
Hillary Clinton called the pact the “Gold Standard” of trade agreements while serving as Secretary of State, she has refused to take a position on the deal since announcing her candidacy. That brought criticism from Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Short Sunday.
“By waffling on a trade deal she helped negotiate and once called a “Gold Standard,” Hillary Clinton continues to show why voters overwhelmingly see her as dishonest and untrustworthy,” Mr. Short said in a statement.
Hillary spent most of the weekend in Iowa after formally launching her campaign in New York City Saturday, seeking to build a consensus in the state that torpedoed her 1st presidential campaign against Mr. Obama.
Have a terrific week.
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
The post Hillary Embraces Nancy, Advises Barack On TPP Deal appeared first on Live Trading News.