Unions Press Clinton on Outsourcing Of U.S. Jobs

[Ethelk2044]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090702780.html?nav=hcmodule

When Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to New Delhi to meet with Indian business leaders in 2005, she offered a blunt assessment of the loss of American jobs across the Pacific. "There is no way to legislate against reality," she declared. "Outsourcing will continue. . . . We are not against all outsourcing; we are not in favor of putting up fences."

Two years later, as a Democratic presidential hopeful, Clinton struck a different tone when she told students in New Hampshire that she hated "seeing U.S. telemarketing jobs done in remote locations far, far from our shores."


The two speeches delivered continents apart highlight the delicate balance the senator from New York, a dedicated free-trader, is seeking to maintain as she courts two competing constituencies: wealthy Indian immigrants who have pledged to donate and raise as much as $5 million for her 2008 campaign and powerful American labor unions that are crucial to any Democratic primary victory.

Despite aggressive courtship by Democratic candidates, major unions such as the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union have withheld their endorsements as they scrutinize the candidates' records and solicit views on a variety of issues.

High on the agenda of union officials is an explanation of how each candidate will try to stem the loss of U.S. jobs, including large numbers in the service and technology sectors that are being taken over by cheap labor in India. During the vetting, some union leaders have found Clinton's record troubling.

"The India issue is still something people are concerned about. Her financial relationships, her quotes -- they have both gotten attention," said Thea M. Lee, policy director for the AFL-CIO

[Deja Q]

1. Nothing wrong with outsourcing... until it affects too many Americans.

But she's right; we oughtn't put up fences.

But there's no reason to nix American jobs to move them; if companies are to grow, why can't they keep adding staff while keeping the existing ones?

But right now, she's flip flopping more than any candidate of either party from the last 3 years. She has some good ideas on foreign policy, but for domestic policy she's clearly unsure of herself.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. my husband's job is being threatening by outsourcing. he's an engineer.