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Showing Original Post only (View all)I’ve Read Obama’s Secret Trade Deal. Elizabeth Warren Is Right to Be Concerned. [View all]
Ive Read Obamas Secret Trade Deal. Elizabeth Warren Is Right to Be Concerned.
by Michael Wessel
5/19/2015
You need to tell me whats wrong with this trade agreement, not one that was passed 25 years ago, a frustrated President Barack Obama recently complained about criticisms of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Hes right. The public criticisms of the TPP have been vague. Thats by designanyone who has read the text of the agreement could be jailed for disclosing its contents. Ive actually read the TPP text provided to the governments own advisors, and Ive given the president an earful about how this trade deal will damage this nation. But I cant share my criticisms with you.
I can tell you that Elizabeth Warren is right about her criticism of the trade deal. We should be very concerned about what's hidden in this trade dealand particularly how the Obama administration is keeping information secret even from those of us who are supposed to provide advice.
So-called cleared advisors like me are prohibited from sharing publicly the criticisms weve lodged about specific proposals and approaches. The government has created a perfect Catch 22: The law prohibits us from talking about the specifics of what weve seen, allowing the president to criticize us for not being specific. Instead of simply admitting that he disagrees with meand with many other cleared advisorsabout the merits of the TPP, the president instead pretends that our specific, pointed criticisms dont exist.
What I can tell you is that the administration is being unfair to those who are raising proper questions about the harms the TPP would do. To the administration, everyone who questions their approach is branded as a protectionistor worsedishonest. They broadly criticize organized labor, despite the fact that unions have been the primary force in America pushing for strong rules to promote opportunity and jobs. And they dismiss individuals like me who believe that, first and foremost, a trade agreement should promote the interests of domestic producers and their employees.
....Snip....
...On this count, the current TPP doesnt measure up. And nothing being considered by Congress right now would ensure that the TPP meets the goal of promoting domestic production and job creation.
Please read entire article(!)~
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/tpp-elizabeth-warren-labor-118068.html
by Michael Wessel
5/19/2015
You need to tell me whats wrong with this trade agreement, not one that was passed 25 years ago, a frustrated President Barack Obama recently complained about criticisms of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Hes right. The public criticisms of the TPP have been vague. Thats by designanyone who has read the text of the agreement could be jailed for disclosing its contents. Ive actually read the TPP text provided to the governments own advisors, and Ive given the president an earful about how this trade deal will damage this nation. But I cant share my criticisms with you.
I can tell you that Elizabeth Warren is right about her criticism of the trade deal. We should be very concerned about what's hidden in this trade dealand particularly how the Obama administration is keeping information secret even from those of us who are supposed to provide advice.
So-called cleared advisors like me are prohibited from sharing publicly the criticisms weve lodged about specific proposals and approaches. The government has created a perfect Catch 22: The law prohibits us from talking about the specifics of what weve seen, allowing the president to criticize us for not being specific. Instead of simply admitting that he disagrees with meand with many other cleared advisorsabout the merits of the TPP, the president instead pretends that our specific, pointed criticisms dont exist.
What I can tell you is that the administration is being unfair to those who are raising proper questions about the harms the TPP would do. To the administration, everyone who questions their approach is branded as a protectionistor worsedishonest. They broadly criticize organized labor, despite the fact that unions have been the primary force in America pushing for strong rules to promote opportunity and jobs. And they dismiss individuals like me who believe that, first and foremost, a trade agreement should promote the interests of domestic producers and their employees.
....Snip....
...On this count, the current TPP doesnt measure up. And nothing being considered by Congress right now would ensure that the TPP meets the goal of promoting domestic production and job creation.
Please read entire article(!)~
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/tpp-elizabeth-warren-labor-118068.html
*Michael Wessel has been involved in trade policy for almost 40 years. He served as trade policy adviser to the Kerry-Edwards campaign & Obama's 2008 campaign.
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I’ve Read Obama’s Secret Trade Deal. Elizabeth Warren Is Right to Be Concerned. [View all]
RiverLover
May 2015
OP
He just better be sure he locks in a good retirement job, as his "legacy" is turning to SHIT now!
cascadiance
May 2015
#11
Well you seem to only care about the ACA and stated as much in a previous post.
cui bono
May 2015
#144
You are giving him more credit than he deserves. He did little to advance marriage equality and
rhett o rick
May 2015
#146
ACA? No fucking way. Costs unchecked, 10s of millions took pay cut in terms of higher premiums
whereisjustice
May 2015
#161
I don't think it is any more extreme than his letting Geithner, Bernanke and
truedelphi
May 2015
#148
Why dont you list his lies for all of us, I for one would be interested in that.
randys1
May 2015
#102
The Clinton's have made $25 million in speaking engagements in the past 16 months alone.
jalan48
May 2015
#108
It isn't "secret" just because he's too special to hie himself down to the basement
ucrdem
May 2015
#26
I've noticed the talking points aimed at anyone who opposes signing over Congress' right to
sabrina 1
May 2015
#77
Poster rips Obama's presidency with a tired Sarah Palin line and you defend it
BeyondGeography
May 2015
#78
I'm not interested in childish games when it comes to issues as serious as this.
sabrina 1
May 2015
#81
If you read the thread, I criticize the President's approach to this deal up top
BeyondGeography
May 2015
#84
No desperation or grab involved. I was pulled into it by jury service. Nice try though. nt
stevenleser
May 2015
#132
This is a VERY important article, by one of our most experienced trade experts,
Faryn Balyncd
May 2015
#23
He mentions Warren as bravely speaking out against, and Hillary as correctly identifying some items
peacebird
May 2015
#43
President Barack Obama said today that he would like to work with kids in the next phase of his life
midnight
May 2015
#44
There's a difference between making public statements and making concerns known to the President.
randome
May 2015
#59
That's just it, we can all see it after fast track, but no changes can be made.
RiverLover
May 2015
#74
Agree. Follow the money. Who is going to supply the millions that come from speeches
libdem4life
May 2015
#82
Yes. which tells us a LOT about how EVIL this "trade deal" really is. -nt-
99th_Monkey
May 2015
#104
Now that she's a Democrat, this might be a good time for Senator Warren to read the party platform.
ucrdem
May 2015
#75
The results are in. At least the alerter is now getting a 24-hour vacation from alerting.
Sheldon Cooper
May 2015
#94
JD, this isn't about the upcoming election. This is the frustration of one of Obama's advisers, who
RiverLover
May 2015
#100
He's an adviser to the President. Why would he suddenly become an adviser to the public?
randome
May 2015
#124
VERY telling that the biggest, worst thing they can think of calling an opponent is "protectionist"
MisterP
May 2015
#114
"Really half black president"? Well aren't you special.Back home we would have called him hapa-haole
Hekate
May 2015
#153
The administration should have hired Michael Wessel, not Michael Froman.
Faryn Balyncd
May 2015
#135
Obama and Mitch McConnell are opening the flood gates with TPP, jobs pouring into Asia without
whereisjustice
May 2015
#163