Senator Warren hits back at Obama in Pacific Rim trade fight

[IDemo]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren hit back at President Barack Obama in their tussle over "fast track" power to negotiate a Pacific Rim trade treaty, a power she says could be used in the future to weaken Wall Street reforms.

The president, who wants the expedited negotiating power, said last week that Warren's claims were "absolutely wrong." [ID:nL1N0Y00K3]

Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat and prominent liberal voice, stuck to her argument in an interview published on Monday with a left-leaning Washington Post blog, saying Obama should release details of the Pacific trade talks so legal experts can determine if it could be used to weaken U.S. bank rules.

"If the president is so confident it's a good deal, he should declassify the text and let people see it before asking Congress to tie its hands on fixing it," Warren said in the interview with the Plum Line blog.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/11/us-trade-obama-warren-idUSKBN0NW1N020150511

[BillZBubb]

1. That's not fair!

If Obama shows it, it won't be secret anymore.

[erronis]

6. Maybe he hasn't seen it yet, either....

You know, Right To Know, Eyes-Only, etc. Maybe he's afraid that pocketed congress-critters already know more than he does and he doesn't want to look foolish. If the best he can say is she is "absolutely wrong", that sounds like schoolyard banter. Jest 'cause.

Why does a lame-duck black president need to see what the top corporations are crafting? He's not going to be around and he may leak the contents to his Muslim brothers in Kenya.

[roguevalley]

7. this is why she is my hero and the president isn't.

[BrotherIvan]

2. She's not backing down

Wow, good for her. That's some guts. I think she will probably lose and be out maneuvered with a little help from Republicans, but I do like someone who stands her ground.

[ashling]

16. A little background music

[Kelvin Mace]

3. I really don't know what Obama hopes to accomplish with these snide attacks

Oh wait, six and seven figure jobs after he leaves office.

Never mind.

[SoapBox]

5. Something smells bad with the way he keeps attacking her publicly.

There is something really wrong with those deals.

[historylovr]

22. It's very disturbing, to say the least,

that not only is this what he chooses to really fight for, but that this is the tactic he chooses.

[Baitball Blogger]

51. And guaranteed $100,000 entry level jobs for his children?

No reason to stop being cynical.

[SoapBox]

4. Good for her!

And I'm more and more disgusted with the President over this.

[Augiedog]

8. If...

Your argument isn't sufficient, then you attack the messenger. There must be something in the TPP that will repel the American people if it is exposed. I can understand secrecy while negotiations are in progress, but once they end and a decision is to be made then anyone who will be effected has a right to see what's coming. Those who represent us must vote based on knowledgeable information and they need to be allowed to not only see what's in the trade agreement, they must explain their position on it and how they will vote. Personally I'm a bit disturbed at the presidents acquiescence to Nike and it's horrible human rights record, but will believe he had a good reason for what he did. That said, I hope Nike being exposed once again will bring pressure on them and those that support Nike. I try not to buy things I know are of suspect origin but I'm rarely very successful, it is an unavoidable global economy that is swarming over us, just like global warming is bringing about undeniable climate change consequences. I hope senator Warren is successful in bringing light to this issue before we again find ourselves trapped in a nationally harmful agreement..

[fbc]

9. Analysis of this trade agreement needs to be crowd sourced

We can't expect the few members of congress who read it completely to catch every little thing hidden away inside it.

[chknltl]

10. Do We The People have Veto ability over the TPP?

I am not the trusting type, President Obama might think I am but he is wrong. I am with Senator Warren in this matter, declassify this deal.

[Demeter]

42. We have torches and pitchforks

and a wise government won't force us to use them. Anybody seen a wise government around, lately?

[Geronimoe]

11. Warren is wrong becuase....

the Banksters have told Obama it is so.

Notice how Obama can not give any specifics about the deal, as if even he has not been allowed into the loop of what it is.

Obama economic policies are Reaganomics (trickle down) on steroids.

[immoderate]

26. Bingo! Obama is a Reaganite. And so are the Clintons.

--imm

[donnasgirl]

48. +1

[Plucketeer]

50. +1K

and then some! If this is transparency in governing, then I can see right thru iron lenses!

[Art_from_Ark]

63. Yup, he's a "moderate '80s Republican" in his own words,

and TPP is his version of "voodoo economics".

[CharlotteVale]

12. K&R

[FlatBaroque]

13. I stand with Senator Warren. n/t

[Gregorian]

14. Obama told us to hold his feet to the fire.

I always thought that was code for "I'm not rocking the boat unless you all demand it."

The biggest problem facing us is apathy. I think a lot more people are paying attention than it appears. Somehow our thoughts don't make it up the chain of representation. Other times, they're ignored.

[jwirr]

15. You are totally correct on the idea of what holding his feet to the fire means. In FDR's case he

needed help rocking the boat.

I have also wondered if he really does not want this thing to pass. Attacking Elisabeth Warren whom must of us love is not the way to get support.

[polichick]

17. People like Warren, Brown and Sanders are trying to hold his feet to the fire...

and he just gets pissy - looks like that line was just campaign rhetoric.

[Gregorian]

21. Right. It's not millions in the streets, but the above mentioned are indeed representing us.

I can't buy the possible outcome of a secret trade negotiation as being for our benefit. If it were, I am certain it would be broadcast far and wide.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. The Populist Avenger

[Angry Dragon]

19. Has anyone seen the trade agreement??

[grahamhgreen]

20. Yes. Parts have been leaked on wikileaks. congress people can read it on secret but not take notes.

It includes the end of sovereignty for America labor, they can be overturned by corporate courts

[Angry Dragon]

23. So I say ..........

If there is nothing to hide, why are they hiding it??

[SusanCalvin]

24. That's the key question. nt

[Hoyt]

27. Not finished yet. Seems simple to me.

[daleanime]

28. OK, then let's wait for them to finish it....

and start this debate then. Why push so hard for an unfinished product that you won't let people see?

[Hoyt]

30. Because folks playing politics started criticizing it. Do you think Obama wanted this before it's

finished? Some politicians and lobby groups are trying to make a name for themselves or increase membership.

I love it when they criticize aspects of this "secretive agreement" that they seem to know everything about.

[daleanime]

31. Thanks, now when this is shoved down our thoats....

I'll at least have gotten a laugh out of it.


Just between us, were you really able to keep a straight face while typing that.

[Hoyt]

32. Easy. It's true. For example, Warren has been intentionally lying about the TPP or her research

people are incompetent.

[daleanime]

33. Well, we can agree on the last bit....

[JDPriestly]

37. It's secret from us, and we are the ones who want and need to

weigh in on it.

If our members of Congress and business leaders can see it, why can't we?

Makes no sense. The only possible reason is that if we saw it we would be very upset about what Obama is trying to foist upon us.

[Hoyt]

40. You can when it's finished. Until then you have to do a little research, but it's right there

if you look. You guys just wanna criticize.

We've seen all the lies about how bad it is, but most folks know better.

[A Simple Game]

44. If President Obama hadn't asked for fast track none of this would be happening.

So maybe the President didn't want it but he asked for it.

[Hoyt]

46. Oh lord, who does that Obama think he is asking for the same authority most Presidents have received

You think any of the countries would have talked to us if they thought our Congress could pick everything apart from font size, to whether Obama gets credit.

[A Simple Game]

56. Well the fact is that the law of our land says Congress gets to amend this if they don't sign off

by OKing fast track. So you think we should bypass our laws before we even enact an agreement that will bypass our laws?

Do I think any of the countries would have talked to us? You and the President need to realize we are still the biggest market in the world, we should own these negotiations and not be giving away everything our labor and environmentalists have worked for years to improve.

[Hoyt]

57. Sorry, I'm not a Nationalist bully. I don't think we are giving anything away.

I do think it is unfair to expect a poor country to adopt the same standards we have now, but didn't have at a similar point in our development. To do so, hamstrings them from ever progressing. Sadly, I think that is what some here want.

[grahamhgreen]

64. Then let's see the bullet outline

[Hoyt]

65. Go to USTR.gov. It's right there.

[Angry Dragon]

70. Thanks

just summaries there

[Rafale]

25. Treaties

Most treaties are secret during the negotiating process (so there's a lot of showboating going on about the secrecy surrounding the unreleased agreement that has not been reached yet), but there clearly is a track record of multilateral trade deals during the last three decades undermining US sovereignty and increasing US unemployment. We've been taught in college that protectionism is bad, but the reality is that globalism is worse because it increases the power of global multinational corporations at the expense of US national interests. Global multinational corporations today represent a greater threat to US national security than the Islamic State and on a daily basis take more US lives through corrupt life endangering practices, i.e., enjoy your salmonella-laced, hormone-filled, steroid-fortified, mercury-based fish dinner. Brakes working in your Prius today?

Fact is that these companies view all of us as wage slaves in the same way they see the workers building your iPhone. They are looking for a wage market correction so they may building in the States again one day and get all those sweet corporate tax subsides again.

[JDPriestly]

38. Thank you.

[Jesus Malverde]

29. bump...nt

[GoneFishin]

34. Release the current draft text or shut up. Your excuses don't wash.

[Thespian2]

35. Mr. President,

simple: put up or shut up. Publish the damn thing!

Oh, I am sorry...you are the same guy that introduced CPI...Oh, and forgot all about single-payer health care...should have recognized you...

[Major Hogwash]

36. Does Warren know . . .

. . . how disingenuous this makes her look?
Has she even read it yet?

[JDPriestly]

39. She probably has. We are not allowed to.

There is something wrong when members of Congress and the representatives of multinational corporations can see an agreement, participate in drafting it but we, the voters, the citizens cannot. That, right there, is a sure sign that the agreement stinks.

[Hoyt]

47. For something you can't read, you sure know how bad it is for us.

[libdem4life]

53. That's why elect people...to muddle through the muck and make determinations. I have no

desire to read it, but I insist that my representatives...not necessarily from my state, but Progressive representatives...the ONLY ones that speak for me...do so and report back to us. There is nothing "sinister" or "uneducated" about that. It's called Representative Democracy...not trudge up to Washington and read everything.

[Hoyt]

58. I consider it progressive for our government officials to take long-term action that preserves jobs,

innovation, our social safety-nets, etc. Refusing to trade, won't do that.

[libdem4life]

59. Well that's a fine minimalization...refusing to trade? Not. Relevant. To. The. Conversation.

[JDPriestly]

61. Yes. I do.

I'm not the only one. Here is what Dean Baker has to say about it.

In writing,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-baker/the-march-trade-deficit-a_b_7261570.html

And here is a great interview of Dean Baker on this topic, interview by Ian Masters of Pcifica.

http://ianmasters.com/sites/default/files/bbriefing_2015_05_12b_dean%20baker.mp3

[Hoyt]

62. And I can quote Ezra Klein, Jeff Spross, Deval Patrick, Brookings Institute, Obama, etc.

[JDPriestly]

68. Listen to his reasoning.

He is right. I don't care how many free trade idiots you line up that are paid or fooled into supporting "free" trade, it is not good for the US, not good for constitutional government, not good for American workers, not good for the environment.

No to the TPP.

[Hoyt]

69. I get it, you aren't going to listen to anyone, not even experts.

[JDPriestly]

71. Just maybe I have some expertise myself. How would you know?

When I hear the term, "expert" used to refer to someone who advocates for "free" trade and does not warn about its dangers, I have to laugh.

The free trade advocates are spouting theories that have been proven untrue when put into practice.

[wordpix]

66. it appears she hasn't read it b/c it's not declassified & she's right

Why is a trade deal classified in the first place? We the workers have the right to see how this deal will impact us, and so do the taxpayers. Not all of us want supercheap crap that harms workers (whether overseas or in the US) and the environment.

[BigBearJohn]

41. Tweety made a comment today that Obama erred in striking at Warren "you never strike down"

Shows how desperate Obama is.

[Demeter]

43. And politically incompetent

if more proof was needed.

[libdem4life]

54. Yes, but not ex-President income incompetent. Somebody has to fund his Library in Chicago and

various other things that The Taxpaying Public have no duty or, frankly, interest in.

[stonecutter357]

45. .

[NorthCarolina]

49. I don't recall Obama ever going after another legislator as agressively as he has Sen. Warren

over TPP. Imagine if he had been as determined in fighting for a public option during healthcare debates.

[Beowulf42]

52. Conflict?

I've got to side with Sen. Warren on this one.

[libdem4life]

55. Yes, and it sets her up as an expert and Obama as perhaps a charlatan, IMO.

[Hoyt]

60. Sets her up as a former Republican who views Dems as even more gullible.

[libdem4life]

67. Oh, good grief...I don't care if she was a Communist. She's right and he's wrong.

Gullible Dems...cute.