White House: Trans Pacific Partnership ‘remains a top priority’ for Obama

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

The White House sent a strong signal Monday of its desire to create a huge Pacific free trade area, despite the slippage of its year-end deadline for the 12-nation project.

President Barack Obama gathered senior trade advisors in the Oval Office and invited news photographers to document the meeting, in the wake of the latest ministerial talks last week on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Singapore.

“This remains a top priority of the president because of the positive economic benefits that come from it,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

“Congress and the American public have high expectations for the TPP.

“The administration is determined to get the best deal possible, and we are pleased with the progress made towards achieving an ambitious, comprehensive, high-standard agreement.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/16/white-house-trans-pacific-partnership-remains-a-top-priority-for-obama/

[KamaAina]

1. As a member of the American public,

my expectations for the TPP are that it will usher in an era of unprecedented corporate hegemony.

[Indi Guy]

24. I'm sure that's the plan. However...

...I doubt that the global corporate elite have accurately assessed the push back they're getting from all directions. Unfortunately for them, they have failed thus far to overturn net neutrality -- so they can't cover up & stifle the voices of their dissenters.

So everyone should continue on protesting this effort in all available media.

[djean111]

2. “Congress and the American public have high expectations for the TPP. "

What the hell are they smoking? Are they that smug and sure of themselves?

A "top priority" for me - no support or votes for anyone who supports the TPP.

[Populist_Prole]

6. No, it's just a shameless attempt at the 'Appeal to Authority' angle.

Same type of inside the beltway, inside the corporate media thinking. It used to be called "Conventional Wisdom" back in the 80's and 90's, and it infuriated the well read among the 99 percent then. Of course they're going to spin it as a positive, or frame it in the abstract sense of "getting things done". I don't even think it's so much out of contempt for the 99 percent: It's just how they see the world....or rather, their sterile version of it in which they live.

[skepticscott]

23. How the hell can the American public

have ANY expectations for the TPP when they've done everything they could to keep the details secret?

[sakabatou]

3. ...

[KoKo]

58. That sums up my feelings about this news. eom

[anti partisan]

4. Mitt Romney approves this message

We re-elected Obama and this is what we get.

And you can just get a feel of how much more complacent the left is because it's a Democrat doing it. Sad.

[Dopers_Greed]

5. My hope is that...

The TPP will crash and burn.

My expectation is that the corptocracy will win again.

[Populist_Prole]

7. My top priority is that it flounders, amongst plutocrats having a temper tantrum

Yeah I hope it'll crash and burn too, and I believe they'll prevail even if the actual agreement doesn't survive.

Of course, the exposing of it amidst populist backlash is an encouraging sign.

[anti partisan]

8. R and D

Seem all too much like different flavors of the corporacratic sewage that keeps spewing out of DC.

I have written a letter to my Congressman and Senators. We all should, but I don't feel like they even care.

What good is a blue America if de facto Republicans are running it?

[blkmusclmachine]

32. It's not red America, or blue America, it's purple America, with a very red tint.

[arcane1]

9. Yes, our expectations are so high that they details must be kept secret from us.

[Enrique]

13. i was trying to think of a way to make that point

you did a nice job

[SamKnause]

10. TPP

As a member of the American public I call them as I see them.

DC is filled with liars and cons.

ANYONE who is pushing this TPP deal is not a friend of the American worker.

President Obama is the cheerleader for the TPP.

That makes him a foe of the American worker.

Just say no to the TPP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[warrant46]

18. Minimum wage for the bulk of workers will be $8.00 an hour

Grandma enjoy your Friskies dinner

[2naSalit]

30. Actually

I expect that the MAXIMUM wage will be $8/hr.

[warrant46]

43. In the right to work state

Absolutely

[KansDem]

40. A little optimistic, aren't you?

I suspect we'll all be eating a generic brand--



We'll be saving "Friskies Selects Indoor Homestyle Turkey Dinner" for special occasions like Thanksgiving...

[warrant46]

42. I stand corrected

You are right. That 56 ounce bag will feed a family for several days !!

[woo me with science]

11. Corporate Trojan Horse ushering in corporate fascism. nt

[BrotherIvan]

38. Winner!

Where are all his admirers on this thread?

[jsr]

46. Best executive summary ever

[Indi Guy]

49. Extremely well said. So far the Trojan horse is still outside the city gates.

Let's keep it that way by being very vocal in every medium, at all times.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. The TPP is the 1% declaring class warfare

Go ahead and pass it, twits. It won't stand.

The American public has high expectations of it my ass. The American public wasn't consulted about the TPP. This member of the American public notes that the "agreement" was negotiated in public and believes that without a doubt there was a reason why negotiations were conducted in secret.

We, The People, are not party to the TPP and we will not be bound by it.

[Vincardog]

14. I believe that surrendering US sovereignty is a High Crime.

[msongs]

15. it is so awful that it must be hidden from the American people. thanks Obama nt

[blkmusclmachine]

33. More of Obama's transparent bullsh!t. Another slick GOP wanna-be.

[quadrature]

16. 2nd terms are always unpleasant...nt

[Doctor_J]

25. Not this one! He's going to unleash his inner FDR!

I heard that in the BOG when they were rallying voters in October 2012.

Might go down as the most disappointing president in history. His campaign was a complete fraud.

[blkmusclmachine]

34. 11 Dimensional Bullsh!t

[pampango]

45. Since FDR came up with GATT and the International Trade Organization, you could say

that Obama is channeling his inner FDR by negotiating a trade agreement. Neither feared trade any more than today's Europeans fear it. The TPP has chapters on labor rights and the environment which GATT and the ITO did not have.

[tblue]

17. This is me

Does he not know this will massacre his legacy? Not for all of us but certainly for some.

[Doctor_J]

26. What legacy?

He's probably the biggest disaster in history among democrats. He hasn't passed a single piece of legislation that didn't favor corporations. Every single thing he's done has made his campaign one big lie.

[blkmusclmachine]

35. But...Obama's a "librul." Faux Nooz says so!!!

[OnyxCollie]

19. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[QuestForSense]

20. Positive economic benefits for whom?

[Doctor_J]

27. The same people who benefited from Heritage Care.

His corporate donors.

[JoePhilly]

53. Oh, I thought you meant my neice who had cancer at 2, could not get coverage for

the last 15 years, but who now has coverage because they can't deny her due to her prior cancer.

[Doctor_J]

54. I am sure the fan club will find something to like about TPP as well

and maybe KeystoneXL after that. But you're not helping the president, the party, Americans, or america by cheering for these half-assed, far-right, and Republican solutions. If the president had carried through his campaign promise of a public option for HC, your niece would still have coverage, and the insurance companies would not be sucking 600 billion dollars out of the system. He promised there would be a public option as part of any package. Then after taking office he changed that to, "The insurance companies deserve to make a profit". If you can't see that for the complete sell-out of a huge chunk of the people who voted for him, then there really is no hope for you. And as such the party is doomed, and since they are the only alternative to Ted Cruz and his ilk, America is pretty much done for. Thanks for giving up on fixing this mess.

[JoePhilly]

57. You tried to tie the 2 items together, not me.

As for my "helping the President" ... he doesn't need my help.

A PO was never going to pass. Time to move on.

Or ... whine about the ACA in a thread that isn't about the ACA ... and then get into a huff when some one points it out ... that will improve things.

[Swede Atlanta]

21. Look, I support BO over Mittens Romney

He has done many good things including the stimulus, the Ledbetter Act, the ACA, ending DADT, refusing to defend DOMA, bringing home the troops from Iraq, trying to close Gitmo, etc.

But his hands are by no means clean. He continues with perpetual war in Afghanistan including committing Americans to another 10 years there, continues with the indiscriminate killing using drones, loves him some NSA spying and supports this TPP crap.

So while he is the lesser of two evils I am very disappointed he is as much of a corporatist as the rest of them. I'm sure he is eying the big financial empire he will build after being in office.

I wish we could actually elect someone who was in it to improve the lives of the American PEOPLE, living, breathing human beings with needs than feeding the corporate beast and looking out for his or her interests after leaving office.

[blkmusclmachine]

36. Obama supports the Keystone Pipeline. And his phony Third Way "Grand Betrayal" on Social Security...

Obama is far to the right of Center.

[another_liberal]

22. "Positive economic benefits," for who?

Not for anyone who actually works for a living in this country. That's for damn sure!

[Kelvin Mace]

28. For the people who own the government

as in all three branches.

Once again hard evidence that Obama is no "liberal".

[solarhydrocan]

39. Obama himself said his policies are republican

How he convinced a whole party to embrace Republican "health care" ideas might be a good question. It's fascinating though- if you don't support a republican health care plan you must be....a REPUBLICAN! Hilarious.

[Phlem]

29. What a bunch of hair on fire alarmists.

Obama's got this. Do you actually think he would do this to the working class? Try educating yourselves and actually learn about government! What a bunch of .......

OK I'm totally creeping myself out, I was going to do this for longer but I can't. I need t take a shower. Bye.

-p

[blkmusclmachine]

31. Another of Obama's "Grand Bargains." 11 Dimensions of Bullsh!t.

[1000words]

37. Now, now ... we mustn't criticize the President, folks.

His position is so tenuous ... his presidency so weak, to do so is simply carrying water for the nutters and racists.

[NuttyFluffers]

41. "i want my legacy to be about undermined USA sovereignty & lost jobs." :)

"just like Clinton! except he was also lucky enough to kick desperate welfare kids in the ass, too."

... disappointing!

[Marblehead]

44. he's playing 3D chess

to screw us!

[Fuddnik]

48. He's playing Russian Roulette.

But, he's pointing the gun at us.

[pampango]

50. Either that or he wants an alternative to the rules of the WTO and an unrenegotiated NAFTA.

The TPP has chapters on labor rights and the environment. The WTO and NAFTA, not so much.

[djean111]

52. It sounds like the TPP will monetize environmental concerns.

And that countries can sue for damages if other countries - or municipalities - say no to things like fracking.
Just having a chapter doesn't mean much - too bad it is so secret.

[pampango]

55. I agree that just having chapters on labor rights and the environment does not mean much if

there is no substance to them. If there are not strict standards and effective enforcement mechanisms (that might dismay the 'national sovereignty' folks), then they will mean nothing.

[NorthCarolina]

47. America is in the process of self correcting politically <<leftward.

The TW'ers have been rightfully exposed, and now realize they need to step up their efforts on behalf of their benefactors while they still have the power to do so. Time is running out for them.

[FatBuddy]

51. generations upon generations of HIS descendents

will thank him for this.

[madrchsod]

56. remains top priority to fuck over what`s left of american labor

thanks mr president!