Edwards says NAFTA can be fixed

[maddezmom]

By MONI BASU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/25/04

Campaigning for a second day in Georgia, John Edwards defended his position on international trade Tuesday, saying the North American Free Trade Agreement he often criticizes can be made to work if it is revised to include labor and environmental standards.

In Ohio, front-runner John Kerry also addressed the trade issue, telling metal workers that, if elected, he would intervene in trade arrangements to try to stem foreign nations' illegal dumping of subsidized products.

Both men cautioned that international trade can't be stopped, only made fairer.

Utah, Idaho and Hawaii held caucuses and primaries on Tuesday. But Kerry and Edwards spent their time in states that are among the 10 participating in next week's Super Tuesday voting, when the biggest haul of delegates yet this campaign season will be at stake.

In an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution editors, Edwards — who distinguishes himself from Kerry as opposing most trade deals the Massachusetts senator has favored — said international trade is a necessity.

"It would be foolish to stick our head in the sand and pretend that there's not going to be trade and pretend we don't live in a global economy," said Edwards, a senator from North Carolina. "I do believe there are things we can do with these trade agreements to allow American workers to be more competitive."

more: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0204nation/25edwards.html

[Care Bear]

1. Another

flip-flop from the presumptive nominee.

He has been changing positions so fast recently he's making my head spin.

He's pro-NAFTA, will say anything to become our nominee and I think it's a damn shame.

[AP]

3. He has been consistently FOR trade and AGAINST the devaluation of labor.

I know, after Bush labeled Kerry a flip-flopper, there's an urge to call Edwards one too.

However, I think Laura Knoy put it the best on CSPAN -- she said that Edwards has been uniquely and amazingly consistent since the day he first entered the race. She said that other candidates have fine-tuned their messages to match voter sentiment which they misperceived at first. Every policy Edwards has proposed, he has been talking about for months. Real Solutions came out a long time ago. Ain't nothing changed but his haircut.

[jpgray]

2. So his position is the same as Kerry's? (nt)

[AP]

4. Kerry doesn't think environmental and labor protections are so important

that he'd vote against a trade bill which didn't have them.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. Bush, Kerry, and Edwards all agree! NAFTA is great!

amazing to see such agreement among political "rivals". I wonder how many American voters think NAFTA is no good and outsourcing a problem? Who can those Americans vote for to represent their interest?

[trogdor]

6. Last I heard...

...NAFTA involves Canada, Mexico, and the USA. Nobody else. Correct me if I happen to be full of it, but Mexico's 90 million or so population poses a negligible threat to US workers compared to China and India. Furthermore, a prosperous Mexico is in our best national interest. "Offshoring" has nothing at all to do with NAFTA.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. yeah, you may be full of it

"Mexico's 90 million or so population poses a negligible threat to US workers compared to China and India."

It's not Mexico's workers that pose a threat to American workers - it's US corporations that have decided to transfer jobs to drive down American wages.

""Offshoring" has nothing at all to do with NAFTA."

Balderdash! NAFTA (and Nafta, the catch-all name for "free trade agreements" ) have EVERYTHING to do with outsourcing. The tariffs are the red herrings. The value of labor is the main issues - they want a "flexible work force".

[Bombtrack]

7. If Edwards thought NAFTA was great, he would have supported it

but he never has. I don't think that even Gephardt said he would repeal NAFTA, although I could be wrong

[diamondsoul]

10. No Gep wouldn't repeal it either.

He said as much in at least one debate in response to a challenge from Kucinich.

The thing is, seriously folks, if it could be fixed, don't you think we'd have DONE IT in the 10 years we've had NAFTA in place?!

[KittyWampus]

9. Kerry Was There During The Clinton Economic Boom

NAFTA is/was heavily flawed but the basic premise is correct.

Which is why Kerry voted for it.
Which is why Edwards thinks it can be "fixed".

Which is why Edwards was stupid to take up Dean's failed Protectionist Rhetoric in attempting to bring down a SEASONED LIBERAL like Kerry.

Edwards has ZERO experience creating jobs or economic properity and he ended up sounding like he is against Clinton.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

11. What Protectionist Rhetoric? Dean was pro-NAFTA too

In fact, I can't find a single bit of difference betweeb Bush, Kerry, Edwards, or Dean on "free trade" and exporting jobs. I assume the Dems will want more environmental side agreements that corporations will ignore, while Bush won't bother. So, yeah, there is a difference.

"NAFTA is/was heavily flawed but the basic premise is correct."

What's the basic premise? It's sure as hell not about free trade or lowing tariffs - it's more about protecting "intellectual property" and creating a "flexible labor market". It's a corporate rights agreement, with human rights delegated to ignored side agreements. The basic premise is evil.