With an obviously tight race in NH, I think it is important for progressives to consider where they will throw their support over the next few days. I would like to examine some of the possible problems with Gephardt's positions.
I will skip Gephardt's votes on IWR and the PATRIOT Act, as those have been discussed at length.
One of the big wedges that Gephardt uses against Dean is Dean's support for NAFTA and MFN trading status for China (both of which Gephardt opposed). I don't think it can be refuted that Dean was orginally a supporter of these measures, particularly in light of the fact that he attended the NAFTA signing ceremony; although, it should be noted that Dean began to express reservations about NAFTA in 1998.
But, we talk enough about Dean and Clark around here, and I want to focus on Gephardt.
While I strongly agree with his votes on NAFTA and China, I have seen a pattern in his voting record for supporting the larger mechanisms of corporate globalization that are leading to job loss, environmental degredation and neo-colonial control of the Third World. Most specifically, Gephardt's past and continued support for the WTO. Now, I will admit that he has said he favors wage and environmental controls in trade deals, but I have yet to figure out how he plans to implement these things while constrained by rules of the World Trade Organization.
In addition, I hear in his own words continuing support for the disastrous policies of privatization pushed by the IMF and World Bank. I a recent debate he said:
"I got a treaty with Jordan through the Clinton administration that really paid attention to labor and environmental rights."
The Jordanians don't seem to see it that way, as their national interest is sold out in a wave of privatization.
http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PRT.jsp?articleid=9336***
Jordan's privatization program was initiated in the late 1980s when the country unable to service its US$8 billion external debt in 1989 and was bailed out by the International Monetary Fund, at the price of conforming to that institution's neo-liberal prescriptions. The implementation of structural adjustment policies was put on hold, however, during the 1990-91 Gulf War.
But policies of privatization and deregulation were reestablished by King Abdullah in the last several years. In 2000, the Parliament approved a law that governs the privatization process and the spending of proceeds from privatization. In April of that year Jordan joined the World Trade Organization, which mandated that the country remove restrictions on foreign ownership of Jordanian companies amongst other liberalization reforms. In October 2000 Jordan signed a free trade agreement with the United States, which regards Jordan as a key strategic ally in the region, making the country the fourth after Canada, Mexico and Israel to have such an arrangement with the US.
USAID in particular has played a vital role in the privatization push in Jordan. USAID "directly supports U.S. foreign policy interests by promoting open markets and broad-based economic growth," according to the agency. "The USAID economic opportunities strategy is designed to promote trade and investment, support the small and micro-enterprise sector, and advance Jordan's market-based economic restructuring program." USAID helped position Jordan for membership in the WTO and facilitated the establishment of the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, including the establishment of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) in early 2001.
***
On environmental issues, Gephardt has made some very good votes; however, he continues to be an active opponent of any legislation requiring an increase in fuel efficieny standards. He has consistently voted against even the moderate increases contained in the CAFE legislation.
While his environmental record has shown generally positive trends in the past few years, his overall score from the League of Conservation Voters (66%) is well below that of three of his opponents: Edwards 73%, Kucinich 90% and Kerry 96%. For myself, a D grade just doesn't cut it.
As an aside here, I should note that is labor voting score from the AFL-CIO is also below that of Edwards, Kucinich and Kerry; though not by as wide a margin.
Finally, I have some serious issues with his positions on crime, punishment and rehabilitation. While I actively oppose the death penalty, I do think his proposal for universal DNA testing in DP cases is a step in the right direction. Still, he has been very hawkish on crime issues. He is a strong supporter of "Three Strikes" mandatory sentencing and has voted against funding for alternative sentencing instead of prison. Gephardt has put himself forth as a "War on Drugs" warrior and has even gone so far as voting for military border patrols to "fight drugs."
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