What Chicago Democrats tell us about President Obama’s problems on trade
On the day Barack Obama launched himself on the fast track to the presidency, running for a U.S. Senate seat in 2004, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) was right there with him.
He served, in fact, as master of ceremonies for his campaign launch, Davis recalls with a chuckle: “He’s a person that I have supported pretty much straight down the line.”
Until now.
With his presidency waning and a Republican Congress obstructing all but a handful of items on his legislative agenda, Obama has one more big request for House Democrats such as Davis: a vote to grant his administration “fast track” negotiating authority, paving the way for the completion of the vast Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord.
Final votes on the trade legislation are set for Friday, and its fate remains uncertain — thanks mainly to the skepticism that runs deep among Obama’s fellow Democrats. Some were talking openly of sabotaging the bill, and only eight Democrats backed a key procedural measure that squeaked through on Thursday evening.
Davis was not among the eight. Despite months of lobbying and personal appeals from Obama, he has made clear the president can look elsewhere for support.
”I recognize that the president does indeed want this legislation passed,” he said. “The people who vote for me in the 7th District have their position, and accurate, right, wrong, whatever — it’s the position of the people.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-chicago-democrats-tell-us-about-president-obamas-problems-on-trade/2015/06/11/ef4e2c0c-0f75-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html
