Sen. Obama Offers 5th Explanation of NAFTA SHAFTA-Gate today at a Mississippi Rally,

[ElsewheresDaughter]

After days of misleading denials, Sen. Obama has finally acknowledged that a meeting took place between his senior economic advisor and Canadian officials regarding NAFTA. But Sen. Obama now claims that the detailed memo obtained by the AP describing the meeting – and Goolsbee’s downplaying of Obama’s anti-NAFTA rhetoric – is inaccurate. This is at least the fifth different explanation offered by Sen. Obama and his campaign.

1. 2/27/08 – ‘No conversations have taken place’ with the Canadian government on NAFTA. “Earlier Thursday, the Obama campaign insisted that no conversations have taken place with any of its senior ranks and representatives of the Canadian government on the NAFTA issue.” http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080228/turkey_Gates_080228/20080229?hub=TopStories[br />

2. 2/27/08 – Obama advisor just said ‘hello.’ “Goolsbee: Canada’s consul general in Chicago contacted him ‘at one point to say ‘hello’ because their office is around the corner.” http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=3105455=1 [br />

3. 2/28/08 - Rice: ‘There had been no contact.’ “The Canadian ambassador issued a statement that was absolutely false. There had been no contact. There had been no discussions on NAFTA. So we take the Canadians at their word…period.”


4. 2/29/08: Sen. Obama: ‘It did not happen.’ Anchor: “So, completely inaccurate, did not happen, end of discussion.” Sen. Obama: “It did not happen.” http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=55958 <http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=55958&bw> > >


5. 3/10/08 – Sen. Obama: The meeting did happen, they did discuss NAFTA, but advisor just said Obama wanted to make NAFTA ’stronger for U.S. workers.’ “So here’s what happens. You’ve got one of my economic advisors goes and visits a Canadian embassy and they’re asking him questions and he says, ‘Well, Senator Obama isn’t planning to repeal NAFTA, but he wants to amend it to make it stronger for U.S. workers.’ The Canadian embassy writes it up as, ‘Well, maybe Obama is not as tough on NAFTA as you might think.’ And the Clintons start waving this and saying, ‘See? Actually, he’s the one.’”


So... he won't repeal NAFTA like he promised....erm..... until he was cornered to win votes.
.

[Birthmark]

1. Well, then...

...he should be getting pretty good at it.

[anamandujano]

2. Keep 'em coming Barrack! Something will catch on after awhile.

[JackORoses]

4. No need to. Hillary is finished.

President Obama forgives you for your lack of understanding.

[indimuse]

5. you again!

...:P

[anamandujano]

8. He says virtually he same thing in every post. lol

[JackORoses]

30. and it's true every time. That must burn you up, eh?

[anamandujano]

40. Take your meds.

[JackORoses]

53. you mean the Reefer?

Don't worry about my head.

Worry about what your going to do with yourself after the Hillary.

[depakid]

50. Maybe what burns some up is how the campaign is likely to get punked by the far right

leaving you (and others) whimpering and singing a different tune.

[rinsd]

3. You missed one.

Burton claiming Goolsbee's discussions had nothing to do with the campaign.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Goolsbee's visit was not as an emissary from the campaign, but as a professor from the University of Chicago. He was not authorized to share any messages from the campaign, Burton said.

[anamandujano]

6. REC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodeodance]

38. k

[AtomicKitten]

7. She now shares Obama's position on NAFTA -- modification.

However, she USED to be pro-NAFTA until she started running for office. That's indisputable and on the record.

The head of the Canadian Broadcasting Company was on Washington Journal a couple days ago and said it was Clinton's campaign that proffered the wink-wink and that Clinton is a political opportunist for trying to frame Obama for it.

I agree.

[anamandujano]

10. Your wrong. He took her position and it's been confirmed that BO's

adviser took the meeting, not Hillary.

[AtomicKitten]

11. The head of the Canadian Broadcasting Co is infinitely more believable than ClintonCo.

[anamandujano]

13. Link or lie.

[AtomicKitten]

14. I admire your ability to admit you are lying.

[anamandujano]

39. Stupid response as usual. Here's my link to prove your story is crap.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gNMJKvj5eQRQBNSeQj3bTyETSagQ

[AtomicKitten]

55. did you see Keith Olbermann tonight?

the truth shall set you free

[anamandujano]

58. I don't watch that puke.

[AtomicKitten]

61. I can imagine the truth would make you want to puke.

Keep those fingers in your ears and those blinders on.

[anamandujano]

71. Same to you and many more.

[judaspriestess]

73. are you looking at yourself in the mirror while you say that

because you are talking to yourself. you don't even have blinders on you have a potato sack over your head you are so blinded.

[libbygurl]

63. How about the smoking gun, er...memorandum? Pesky thing surfaced last week....

From March 4, 2008, New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/politics/04nafta.h ...

On Monday, a memorandum surfaced, obtained by The Associated Press, showing that Austan D. Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who is Mr. Obama’s senior economic policy adviser, met officials last month at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

According to the writer of the memorandum, Joseph De Mora, a political and economic affairs consular officer, Professor Goolsbee assured them that Mr. Obama’s protectionist stand on the trail was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.”

It also said the professor had assured the Canadians that Mr. Obama’s language “should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

Read the text of the ACTUAL memo here. Focus your attention especially on the first paragraph, 'Summary':

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/2185754 /

[AtomicKitten]

67. The one that mentions both of them, the one was debunked?

Unfortunately for the loons here at DU it was the HRC campaign that delivered the wink-wink comments, and Hillary got out ahead of the now debunked memo that also mentions her name and threw it at Obama like a sack of flaming poo.

The head of the Canadian Broadcast Company confirmed the above on Washington Journal two days ago, and he and the moderator agreed Hillary is a political opportunist.

If you continue to close your eyes and ears to information that you feel isn't being sensitive to your candidate's needs - her need to win at any cost - then you miss out on a lot and just make yourselves look silly.

Keith Olbermann will spell it out for you.

[libbygurl]

83. Keith Who? I guess that damning memo just scares you. Continue with the denials.

nt

[rodeodance]

86. "The answer is no, they did not," said Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler.

Go back to previous topic
Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject PMO: Canadian officials only got briefing from Obama campaign - not Clinton
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5009436#5009845
5009845, PMO: Canadian officials only got briefing from Obama campaign - not Clinton
Posted by kikiek on Mon Mar-10-08 06:19 PM

Thought you would have seen this.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gNMJKvj5eQRQBNSeQj3bTyETSagQ

OTTAWA — Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton never gave Canada any secret assurances about the future of NAFTA such as those allegedly offered by Barack Obama's campaign, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office said Friday.

With the NAFTA affair swirling over the U.S. election and Canadian officials skittish about saying anything else that might influence the race, it took the PMO two days to deliver the information.

After being asked whether Canadian officials asked for - or received - any briefings from a Clinton campaign representative outlining her plans on NAFTA, a spokeswoman for the prime minister offered a response Friday.

"The answer is no, they did not," said Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler.
……

[jody]

9. That's to be expected from a candidate who promises change, change, change. The only thing we have

to fear is change itself.

[anamandujano]

12. It's the latest craze in flip-flopping. I changed my nuance,

I changed my mind, okaaaaaaay!

[rodeodance]

85. BO's nuance=aka weasel

[CyberPieHole]

15. Obama the liar, cheat and crook...

getting exposed. How sad for him.:evilgrin:

[anamandujano]

54. Exposing himself, actually.

Hmmmm, that didn't come out right but you know what I mean.

:evilgrin:

[Barack_America]

16. And what was Hillary's statement regarding the fact that it was HER campaign...

that actually gave the ol' *wink wink*?

:shrug:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. link?

[Barack_America]

19. Of course.

I had figured you would have read about this already.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/report_naftagate_leaker_said_h.php


"Report: NAFTA-Gate Leaker Said Hillary's People Were Reassuring Canada, Too
By Eric Kleefeld - March 5, 2008, 11:33PM

The NAFTA-Gate controversy has taken another turn, one that could potentially boomerang back on Hillary Clinton after initially damaging Barack Obama.

The Canadian Press — Canada's domestic equivalent of the AP — is reporting that the original source of the leak was Ian Brodie, chief of staff to Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And as it turns out, Brodie's original conversation with reporters focused much more on Hillary as the candidate whose people were reassuring Canada that the anti-trade rhetoric was all just campaign talk.

"He said someone from Clinton's campaign is telling the Embassy to take it with a grain of salt," said one participant in the conversation. The source added, "someone called us and told us not to worry."

[kikiek]

22. PMO: Canadian officials only got briefing from Obama campaign - not Clinton

Thought you would have seen this.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gNMJKvj5eQRQBNSeQj3bTyETSagQ

OTTAWA — Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton never gave Canada any secret assurances about the future of NAFTA such as those allegedly offered by Barack Obama's campaign, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office said Friday.

With the NAFTA affair swirling over the U.S. election and Canadian officials skittish about saying anything else that might influence the race, it took the PMO two days to deliver the information.

After being asked whether Canadian officials asked for - or received - any briefings from a Clinton campaign representative outlining her plans on NAFTA, a spokeswoman for the prime minister offered a response Friday.

"The answer is no, they did not," said Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler.

[Barack_America]

26. Sort of like this, right?

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/canadian_embassy_report_on_oba.php


Canadian Embassy: Report On Obama And NAFTA Is False
By Greg Sargent - February 28, 2008, 12:47PM

Roy Norton, the minister of public affairs for the Canadian embassy, is flatly denying that any Obama campaign official spoke to the Canadian ambassador in recent days or told him that Obama's anti-NAFTA stump speech is merely "campaign rhetoric."

"No, none," Norton told me when I asked him if Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., had spoken to any Obama advisers recently. He added: "Neither before the Ohio debate nor since has any presidential campaign called Ambassador Wilson about NAFTA."

Norton did allow, however, that the embassy on the staff level had discussed multiple issues, including NAFTA, with the Obama and Hillary campaigns at various times, and had urged them to look at NAFTA in a positive light.


And yet posters here are STILL trying to smear Obama with this.

[kikiek]

28. No. Obama has since admitted it. That is dated 28th of Feb. If you read the

links in the op it does outline the changing story by Obama's camp.

[Barack_America]

31. Obama has admitted no such thing.

He has stated that, yes, a member of his campaign met with a low-level Canadian consulate employee. He in no way agreed with what Brody claims was said.

Is Hillary's campaign calling the Canadian government liars? Are they insisting that they did not meet with Canadian officials, as the Canadians are claiming?

[kikiek]

33. The Canadians are saying Hillary didn't Only Obama did. He has said they did.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/latinamerica/la-na-nafta8mar08,1,2538961.story?track=rss

Another link the the AP story on it. Leave Hillary out of it. Only ones dragging her into it is Obama supporters trying to fight their way out of the bag on this one. Any wonder why there isn't any credibility given to Obama supporters?

[libbygurl]

46. Oops, then there's also that gosh-darn memorandum....

From March 4, 2008, New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/politics/04nafta.h...

On Monday, a memorandum surfaced, obtained by The Associated Press, showing that Austan D. Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who is Mr. Obama’s senior economic policy adviser, met officials last month at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

According to the writer of the memorandum, Joseph De Mora, a political and economic affairs consular officer, Professor Goolsbee assured them that Mr. Obama’s protectionist stand on the trail was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.”

It also said the professor had assured the Canadians that Mr. Obama’s language “should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

Read the text of the ACTUAL memo here = focus on the first paragraph, 'Summary':

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/2185754 /

[arikara]

37. Harper's office is flat out lying...

if they are still saying Hillary's camp never talked with them.

... Brodie was asked about remarks aimed by the Democratic candidates at Ohio’s anti-NAFTA voters that carried serious economic implications for Canada.

Since 75 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., Obama and Clinton’s musings about reopening the North American free-trade pact had caused some concern.

Brodie downplayed those concerns.

“Quite a few people heard it,” said one source in the room.

“He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt ... That someone called us and told us not to worry.”

Government officials did not deny the conversation took place.

They said that Brodie sought to allay concerns about the impact of Obama and Clinton’s assertion that they would re-negotiate NAFTA if elected. But they did say that Brodie had no recollection of discussing any specific candidate — either Clinton or Obama. CTV News Vice-President Robert Hurst said he would not discuss his journalists’ sources.

But others said the content of Brodie’s remarks was passed on to CTV’s Washington bureau and their White House correspondent set out the next day to pursue the story on Clinton’s apparent hypocrisy on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Althought CTV correspondent Tom Clark mentioned Clinton in passing, the focus of his story was on assurances from the Obama camp. ...

And the article doesn't even talk about Obama's people except to bait and switch the players. From here, it looks like Hillary is the culprit as the Canadian gov't doesn't want to ditch NAFTA, they lied. Harper is an ass and the Canadian media is just as complicit as the American media in spreading his lies.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/03/05/4920601.html

[anamandujano]

42. Well, the Mounties are on the case so watch for another nuanced statement from BO.

[kikiek]

43. Yeah right.

[LVjinx]

75. "Someone" from the Clinton camp... Riiiiight.

Is that the persons actual name?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

25. NOT

[ElsewheresDaughter]

27. NOT a link to any official verification.

[Barack_America]

29. It's the same level of proof that the claim against Obama has.

Someone recounting what they *think* they heard somebody else say.

[libbygurl]

45. And then there's that pesky memorandum...

From March 4, 2008, New York Times:


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/politics/04nafta.html

On Monday, a memorandum surfaced, obtained by The Associated Press, showing that Austan D. Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who is Mr. Obama’s senior economic policy adviser, met officials last month at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

According to the writer of the memorandum, Joseph De Mora, a political and economic affairs consular officer, Professor Goolsbee assured them that Mr. Obama’s protectionist stand on the trail was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.”

It also said the professor had assured the Canadians that Mr. Obama’s language “should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

Read the text of the ACTUAL memo here = focus on the first paragraph, 'Summary':

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/2185754/

[anamandujano]

41. Offered blanket immunity to the alleged culprit. So far, none has been

produced.

No memo either. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[rodeodance]

18. REC

[Ileanasouza]

77. kicked n/t

[rodeodance]

20. There is a reason why OHIO did not vote for him--that being they could not trust him to get his

story right

[Diane R]

21. You copied this straight from a Clinton Press Release. It's spin and lies.

[MagsDem]

35. Get real -- they are actual quotes from BO

What does it take for his supporters to see he is completely full of shit with the speeches he gives. My god, it is so obvious even my 15 yr old son called him out as a phony months ago, before I had even decided to support HRC because Edwards dropped out. This is not a mystery. All you have to do is open your eyes. He's the king of BS.

[libbygurl]

65. Oh, but this isn't:

From March 4, 2008, New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/politics/04nafta.h...

On Monday, a memorandum surfaced, obtained by The Associated Press, showing that Austan D. Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who is Mr. Obama’s senior economic policy adviser, met officials last month at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

According to the writer of the memorandum, Joseph De Mora, a political and economic affairs consular officer, Professor Goolsbee assured them that Mr. Obama’s protectionist stand on the trail was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.”

It also said the professor had assured the Canadians that Mr. Obama’s language “should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

Read the text of the ACTUAL memo here = focus on the first paragraph, 'Summary':

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/2185754 /

[golddigger]

23. REC!!! Obama supporters and Keith should be ashamed for the lies they spewed

about Hillary. What a piece of work this guy is.

[loveangelc]

24. who cares.

[rodeodance]

44. He obviously does--he is on the stump again today RE-splaning!!

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[libbygurl]

66. Non-sequitur there?

Would it be you who's slow, not rodeo?

[rodeodance]

80. Dishing out personal insults just because I disagree with you is wrong.

[Cameron27]

32. K&R

[MagsDem]

34. If BO supporters don't see he is a phony after that.....

then they have become basically cult leader followers, IMO. I don't know how it can be any clearer that he is exactly what HRC says he is... a guy long on rhetoric and short on action. He's as full of shit as Bush was in 2000. But they are comitted to their demi-god, so facts have become irrelevant.

[thevoiceofreason]

36. Same one, goose.

You all just want to shout at him.

Admit it. He's a good guy who is going to win. Or would you rather send the Democratic Party back to the stone age.

[libbygurl]

47. LOL. He's got to get this story straight, by gods! nt

[depakid]

48. I hope that how the campaign's handled this isn't indicative

of how they'd handle other issues like this when they'd come up down the line....

Unfortunately, from what I've seen, I'm not optimistic -though one can hope.

[Maribelle]

49. Changing the story line seems to be a pattern Obama has developed.

He probably has done this for quite some time, and has gotten away with it because he was not under the microscope as he is today. I believe Obama is a tad better at acting than Bush, but merely a tad. Underneath the grand facade, there is this vast emptiness.

[DemGa]

51. Wow, the right-wing would tear this guy up!

His negatives would go through the roof! I almost pity poor Barack IF he were nominated -- the base would be fractured, repugs and indies scattered to the wind, and the right-wing machine making him look utterly silly with attacks.

It would be the grandest political failure of our time -- and set back the Dems possibly for decades.

Hey, just my commentary.

[Infinite Hope]

56. The 5th is what I predicted all along nearly to the word.

It reconciles Obama's stance on NAFTA with the Canadian claim about what was said (miscontrued) at the meeting.

[Drachasor]

57. It's actually all very sensible, listen here....

Here's what seems to have happened:

1. Goolsbee is contacted by Canada's consul general in Chicago to say "hello."

2. They meet, talk, etc. (Consistent with "hello")

3. Obama is not informed about this low level meeting.

4. "NAFTA-GATE" happens, Obama is solely accused even though Hillary's campaign is also implicated in the original conversation the Press had.

5. The memo out, Obama gets informed on the meeting, the memo is declared inaccurate. (There's no reason to think he is lying).

6. Canada decries their involvement in the U.S. primary, vow to investigate the matter, and clear Clinton's AND Obama's campaign of any wrong-doing.

7. You ignore some of these facts, particularly point 6, and make this message.

Oh, and anyone that thinks either candidate is going to get rid of NAFTA, you are greatly mistaken. They both just want to renegotiate some parts of it, and will merely threaten leaving it. Canada and Mexico will both renegotiate, and NAFTA will be changed.

Anyhoo, Obama's stance, is that he wants to renegotiate NAFTA and other trade treaties so they have tougher worker/human rights protections (on both sides), and environmental protections. He's been very consistent on this.

[anamandujano]

59. You should fax them this asap. LMAO

They can't seem to get the right spin. They might like it.

[Drachasor]

60. Look at the timeline.

It's pretty clear that it took a couple of days for Obama to find out it was about the Goolsbee meeting. Pretty understandable, since Canada backed up Obama's initial claims, and Goolsbee only backed up Obama's previously stated position. Remember that the initial accusations made no reference to where the meeting was or who with.

Did Obama's campaign handle it perfectly? No, but that hardly means he was engaged in double-talk.

[anamandujano]

72. They're slow thinkers.

[Drachasor]

89. That's all you got?

Clinton's campaign has been slow to respond to plenty of things themselves. I don't think an instance of slowness is a big deal for EITHER side.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

81. `you miss the point that he LIED to the American voters in the DEBATE

[Drachasor]

84. That's not true

He didn't lie in the debate. Here's what he said:

"Now, I think that Senator Clinton has shifted positions on this and believes that we should have strong environmental standards and labor standards. And I think that's a good thing.

But when I first moved to Chicago in the early '80s and I saw steel workers who had been laid off at their plants, black, white and Hispanic, and I worked on the streets of Chicago to try to help them find jobs, I saw then that the net costs of many of these trade agreements, if they're not properly structured, can be devastating.

And as president of the United States, I intend to make certain that every agreement that we sign has the labor standards, the environmental standards and the safety standards that are going to protect not just workers, but also consumers."

He also said he'd use the same opt-out mechanism that Hillary talked about (which makes sense).

In addition, he didn't say NAFTA was worthless either:

"What I said was that NAFTA and other trade deals can be beneficial to the United States, because I believe every U.S. worker is as productive as any worker around the world. And we can compete with anybody.

And we can't shy away from globalization. We can't draw a moat around us. But what I did say in that same quote, if you look at it, was that the problem is we've been negotiating just looking at corporate profits and what's good for multinationals, and we haven't been looking
at what's good for communities here in Ohio, in my home state of Illinois, and across the country. And as president, what I want to be is an advocate on behalf of workers."

So Obama has actually been completely consistent.

[Quixote1818]

62. Whats Hillary's excuse? nt

[libbygurl]

64. For what? This?

From March 4, 2008, New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/politics/04nafta.h...

On Monday, a memorandum surfaced, obtained by The Associated Press, showing that Austan D. Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who is Mr. Obama’s senior economic policy adviser, met officials last month at the Canadian consulate in Chicago.

According to the writer of the memorandum, Joseph De Mora, a political and economic affairs consular officer, Professor Goolsbee assured them that Mr. Obama’s protectionist stand on the trail was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.”

It also said the professor had assured the Canadians that Mr. Obama’s language “should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

Read the text of the ACTUAL memo here = focus on the first paragraph, 'Summary':

http://www.slate.com/id/2185753/entry/2185754 /

-----------

Note: I think it's BO who needs to submit an excuse - his sixth one now, is it?

[boppers]

70. Wow. When somebody's primary contribution is copy paste..

It's a tad like somebody screaming the same talking points, over and over again, hoping for traction.

[libbygurl]

82. Oh, are you afraid of the truth? Something wrong with the articles quoted and cited?

Attack the messenger if the message hurts.

There are rules here on DU about backing up one's claims, y'know.

[LVjinx]

76. Turns out the Obama camp was lying about that. As usual.

[AX10]

68. He's just another politician.

He will do/say anything to win.

[AtomicKitten]

69. "Hillary Clinton's Wink-Wink On NAFTA That She Blamed On Obama"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5014366&mesg_id=5014366

[Usrename]

74. I think that was Kucinich you're thinking of.

He was the one who would have repealed NAFTA.

[Yossariant]

78. He has sooo fouled his own nest. Discredited and a liar.

[avrdream]

79. Shit, will this ever end? He is pathological in his lies.

Wonder if he went back to smoking?

[mod mom]

87. GO TO THE DLC WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THEIR POLICY PAPERS ON TRADE! and thank Bill Clinton

for his role is exporting middle class jobs not just in North America but China:

White House Had Ended System of Checking Foreign Guests

By TIM WEINER
Published: February 3, 1997

Ten years ago the Reagan White House adopted a rule about foreign businessmen, lobbyists and consultants who wanted to get in to see the President without the blessing of their embassies: they shouldn't.

But President Clinton's aides did not follow that rule. In their eagerness to raise campaign money, they invited friends of the President's fund-raisers -- including China's biggest arms merchant, favor-seeking Indonesian businessmen, a reputed Russian mobster and other dubiously credentialed dealmakers -- to meet with Mr. Clinton. Nor did the White House check the suitability of Americans invited by the Democratic National Committee to meet the President, allowing, among others, a twice-convicted felon to sip coffee with Mr. Clinton.

-snip

And that is why nobody on the White House political team saw fit to ask the National Security Council staff a year ago about a man named Wang Jun, who showed up on a guest list for a White House coffee with the President. The question of exactly how Mr. Wang got into the White House has a simple answer: ''Nobody ever asked anybody,'' a National Security Council official said.

So, at the behest of a tireless political fund-raiser from Arkansas, Charlie Yah Lin Trie, Mr. Clinton wound up sipping coffee with Mr. Wang, who runs the Chinese Government's weapons manufacturing and procuring agency, which is involved in secret arms deals around the world. These coffees for fund-raisers and donors began as a way to raise morale among party loyalists after the Democrats' disastrous showing in the 1994 election. By 1995, they became a way to reward big donors and prospect for new ones, according to Democratic fund-raisers.

-snip

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E2DC103DF930A35751C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all



New York Times, May 17, 1998



How Chinese Won Rights to Launch Satellites for U.S.

(BY JEFF GERTH AND DAVID E. SANGER)
On Oct. 9, 1995, Secretary of State Warren Christopher ended a lengthy debate within the Clinton Administration by initialing a classified order that preserved the State Department's sharp limits on China's ability to launch American-made satellites aboard Chinese rockets.

Both American industry and state-owned Chinese companies had been lobbying for years to get the satellites off what is known as the `munitions list,' the inventory of America's most sensitive military and intelligence-gathering technology. But Mr. Christopher sided with the Defense Department, the intelligence agencies and some of his own advisers, who noted that commercial satellites held technological secrets that could jeopardize `significant military and intelligence interests.'

There was one more reason not to ease the controls, they wrote in a classified memorandum. Doing so would `raise suspicions that we are trying to evade China sanctions' imposed when the country was caught shipping weapons technology abroad--which is what happened in 1991 and 1993 for missile sales to Pakistan.

-snip

Other powerful Chinese state enterprises also had multibillion-dollar stakes in getting access to American satellites. Among them was the China International Trade and Investment Corporation, whose chairman, Wang Jun, gained unwanted attention in the United States last year when it was revealed that he attended one of Mr. Clinton's campaign coffee meetings in the White House. The day of Mr. Wang's visit, Mr. Clinton, in what Mr. Rubin said was a coincidence, signed waivers allowing the Chinese to launch four American satellites--though they were unrelated to the business interests of China International Trade.

-snip

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/china/1998/h980618-prc5.htm

[femrap]

88. I thought BO walked on

water....Well, then changing stories about events is a good thing, right????