Who's getting the SHAFTA? Canadian Conservatives Accused of Hampering Obama Bid

[Avalux]

Looks as if the ruling conservative party across the border have been doing their darndest to keep Obama from the nomination. Read on....

OTTAWA–Canada's "right-wing" government has been accused of meddling in the U.S. Democratic presidential campaign and, in particular, in that of front-runner Barack Obama.

Long-time Democratic strategist Bob Shrum made the comment yesterday on NBC's Meet The Press while talking about the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"You've got a right-wing government in Canada that is trying to help the Republicans and is out there actively interfering in this campaign," Shrum said of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's regime.

The Conservatives have made it clear they don't welcome threats by Democratic candidates Obama and Hillary Clinton to re-open the 1994 deal involving Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, and have levelled some threats of their own.

http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/308805

[peace13]

1. Wow!

I'll have to pass this on to my Canadian friends. Peace, Kim Hussein

[Red Zelda]

2. To hell with Harper's Canada

[leftofcool]

3. I thought is was all a lie.

If it is a lie as Obama contends, then why worry about what a few Canadians think or do or say.

Left of Cool

[TwilightGardener]

4. McCain is in on this too--telling everyone that Canada won't help us in Afghanistan

if we review NAFTA. Sickening.

[Window]

5. ..

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. But This Doesn't Explain The Story That Came Out This Morning, Which Makes It Appear His Camp

blatantly lied. If that memo is in fact for real and genuine, how does what's in your OP explain it away?

[Avalux]

7. It's all fairly murky.

You're right, this article doesn't address the story that came out this morning, so I don't know what to think. However if this is really happening, makes me wonder what's true and what isn't.

[flyarm]

11. nothing murky about it..Obama's camp lied..eom

[flyarm]

8. yes indeed ..CNN showed the Memo this morning with Candy Crowley..i saw it..

so again the obamites are blowing bullshit stories to make the messengers the bad guys..gosh does this remind anyone of someone we have been dealing with the past 8 years????????

and anything Shrum says is bullshit to me too! if anyone is loose with truth..it is Schrum.

everyone is the bad guy to the obamites..anyone who tells the truth about their messiah that is...

the list is growing long indeed!

fly

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. When the messengers are Pickler and Crowley...

...goddamned right I'm going to be suspicious.

There's a reason: They have a long history of printing/broadcasting bullshit, no matter the target. Funny how the target is almost always a Democrat, though. Pickler smeared Kerry in the last go-round and I condemned it then as a Dean supporter.

The real question is why are you barking at their dog whistles?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Was The Memo Real Or Not?

If it was, then it's the words that are important, not the messenger, since the latter would be an empty ad-hominem attack.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. From the memo:

Goolsbee "was frank in saying that the primary campaign has been necessarily domestically focused, particularly in the Midwest, and that much of the rhetoric that may be perceived to be protectionist is more reflective of political maneuvering than policy," the memo's introduction said. "On NAFTA, Goolsbee suggested that Obama is less about fundamentally changing the agreement and more in favour of strengthening/clarifying language on labour mobility and environment and trying to establish these as more `core' principles of the agreement."

What do we have?

1. Obama is not a protectionist.
2. Obama is in favor of strengthening/clarifying labor and environmental standards.
3. Obama wants labor/environmental standards to be core to NAFTA.

Exactly his position on the stump and at the debate.

[1776Forever]

20. Thank you - Let's get real - I think you stated exactly what Obama has been saying all along!

I appreciate the clarity on this issue!

:hi:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

21. You Can't Just Pick Out The Parts You Like, Lest You Be Ignorant.

You have to take the whole thing in and look at it objectively. When viewed in entirety, there most definitely appears to be something to this story, and it most definitely doesn't make them look good. Furthermore, with the breaking of this story today, it is already now clear that the Canadian embassy lied as well as the Obama camp. I can understand why this story is something you want to hide under the rug. After all, it definitely doesn't make the messiah look too great. But no matter how much sweeping under the rug some want to do, there is definitely some meat there and it is definitely worthy of looking into further, with or without you.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

22. Bring it on.

I quoted from the memo. Your turn.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. You're Lucky It's Winter...

...I'd hate to see the tan marks your blinders would leave if it wasn't.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. May I assume that you've got nothing then?

:shrug:

Facts, quotes and analysis vs. insults.

[ContinentalOp]

25. The Canadian embassy did not lie.

This has nothing to do with the Canadian embassy as originally claimed by CTV. It's the Canadian Consulate in Chicago. CTV changed their story. CTV lied.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Well, With Respect To The OP, The Facts Supplied In The OP Are Important Too.

Even if they turn out to not have anything to do with the story this morning, it is still important information we want to be aware of anyway, just on its face. I always want to be informed of RW plots and we should all have an interest in that, so that we could defend against them. But after the story from this morning, there seems to be some possible legitimacy to the story after all, which also definitely concerns me. In the end it's about truth and awareness. I'm thankful to know the truth supplied in the OP, even if it ends up having nothing to do with the Nafta story, but I'm also quite interested in finding out the truth to the latter story as well. The story this morning is quite damning in many ways in my opinion, and I'm actually a bit surprised to see there was evidence that substantial that supports the CTV story.

[Cogito ergo doleo]

9. An unintended conscequence of globalization?

Have entire countries been in such a position to become too-powerful players in our elections before?

[Marie26]

10. Bob Shrum is an Obama supporter

His statement is part of the Obama campaign's effort at damage control - blame the messenger. Obama's advisor is the one who reached out to Canada's counsel to "renounce & repudiate" his criticisms of NAFTA. The Canadian office wrote a memo to convey Obama's sentiments, just as he wanted. The Canadian press actually did a good job & reported the meeting. And now it's all a conspiracy? Lame, lame, so lame.

[flyarm]

12. Marie you had a great post on another thread about this..would you repeat it here please..

"Obama Adviser Denies CTV's Latest On NAFTA"
"February 29, 2008

"Another Version Of The Goolsbee Story From ABC News"

thank you!!

fly

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. Obama peeps on DU trying to say that CTV, Canadian officials, MSNBC, CNN, AP are 527 swiftboaters

it is just sad that Obama has hurt them deeply with his deception

[redqueen]

18. SO not shocking.

Looks like the now viral (heh) "3 am" ad isn't the only fear card being played.

Sorry, but I still trust Obama more than her. WAY fucking more.

[Neshanic]

19. Blame Canada!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buSwRxvYPZI

[anonymous171]

26. Hillary and RWers have a sickening alliance.

[rodeodance]

27. oboma is not the progressive you think he is.