Obama Fires Back At Elizabeth Warren And Trade Critics, Escalating Democratic Feud

[UCmeNdc]

"The fact of the matter is that TPP will end up being the most progressive trade agreement in our history," Obama said.

But in a few areas, the pitch to progressives seemed to falter. Public health groups including Doctors Without Borders have criticized a leaked draft of one of the agreement's chapters for including overly strong intellectual property terms that would inflate the price of medicine, particularly in poor countries. On the call, Obama pointed to strong intellectual property standards as evidence that he was protecting American companies.

The president also argued that TPP would help American automakers sell more cars in Japan, but didn't note that Ford Motor Co. actually does not support TPP, since the agreement does not address currency manipulation, the main tactic Japan uses to protect its own car makers. Obama said on the call that a poorly worded currency manipulation provision could interfere with the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/24/obama-tears-into-elizabet_n_7137854.html

[stillwaiting]

1. Yay Congressional Republicans and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce!

Our Progressive Heroes!!

I'ma jump ship. It's the Republicans who are progressive!!

[gobears10]

2. why don't they make it public?

what have they got to fear?

[savalez]

4. It is secret? Or is the usual fundraising going on?

Of all the criticisms, "The one that gets on my nerves the most is the notion that this is a secret deal," he said. "Every single one of the critics saying this is a secret deal, or send out e-mails to their fundraising base that they're working to stop a secret deal, could walk over and see the text of the agreement."

"If and when TPA [Trade Promotion Authority] passes, I still have to present the final detailed text of TPP to Congress, and a minimum of three months will be provided to Congress for them to scrutinize every comma and period and number in the text," he said. "So there's nothing secret about it, and when I just keep on hearing people repeating this notion that it's secret, I gotta say, it's dishonest. And it's a little concerning when I see friends of mine resorting to those tactics."

[hollowdweller]

3. We have passed numerous trade deals over the last 30 years

All I've seen from it is closed factories. No health care or defined pensions. Nobody getting any pay raises.

Oh and tons of illegals as factory farmed food put central American farmers out of business and to the US to work as indentured servants on our farms.


I just think until the middle class sees some pay raises and improved working conditions that we should hold free trade agreements hostage till we get what we want. Hell the GOP does it all the time.

[savalez]

5. More on this...

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in a media conference call with Labor Secretary Tom Perez on Friday to push back on what he called "dishonest" criticism from progressives — apparently including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) — that the Trans-Pacific Partnership was a "secret" deal.

"What I am averse to is a bunch of ad hominem attacks and misinformation that stirs up the base but ultimately doesn't serve them well. And I'm going to be pushing back very hard if I keep hearing that stuff," Obama told a small group of reporters on the call.

Of all the criticisms, "The one that gets on my nerves the most is the notion that this is a secret deal," he said. "Every single one of the critics saying this is a secret deal, or send out e-mails to their fundraising base that they're working to stop a secret deal, could walk over and see the text of the agreement."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obama-progressives-trade-tpp

[appalachiablue]

6. "..the most progressive trade agreement in our history." Progressive, for who?