Sanders hits Clinton over Panama Papers leaks

[Bread and Circus]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/panama-papers-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-221592


Sanders hits Clinton over Panama Papers leaks

By Nick Gass

04/05/16 04:48 PM EDT

Responding to the 11.5 million documents leaked this week showing how a Panama law firm helped some of the world's wealthiest people establish offshore tax havens on the Central American country — the so-called Panama Papers — Bernie Sanders on Tuesday vowed to end the Panama Free Trade Agreement, tying Hillary Clinton to the same policies that he claimed fostered the practice.

“The Panama Free Trade Agreement put a stamp of approval on Panama, a world leader when it comes to allowing the wealthy and the powerful to avoid taxes," the Vermont senator said in a statement released through his campaign, adding that he has been opposed to it "from day one."

Vowing to use his authority as president to "terminate the Panama Free Trade Agreement within six months," Sanders said his administration would "conduct an immediate investigation into U.S. banks, corporations and wealthy individuals who have been stashing their cash in Panama to avoid taxes."

[riversedge]

1. yeah yeah. Everything wrong in the world is Hillary's fault per Sanders.

BORING

[Carolator]

2. Panama was very useful to UBS.

Hillary got their U.S. clients protected from the IRS and Mossack Fonseca took over the clients without the usual due diligence.

[chascarrillo]

5. "We will not be content until these agreements are fully implemented" - Sec. Clinton

"The Free Trade Agreements passed by Congress tonight will make it easier for American companies to sell their products to South Korea, Colombia and Panama, which will create jobs here at home. The Obama Administration is constantly working to deepen our economic engagement throughout the world and these agreements are an example of that commitment.

"The stakes are not just economic. South Korea, Colombia and Panama are three important partners in strategically vital regions. With the passage of these agreements, America has delivered for our friends and allies. I want to thank Presidents Lee, Santos and Martinelli for their patience and willingness to partner with the Obama Administration as these agreements moved through Congress.

"But our work is not yet done. We will not be content until these agreements are fully implemented so that American exporters can reap the benefits as soon as possible."

- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 10/13/2011

[beedle]

6. Fault?

He didn't blame her ... he commented on a current situation where the Panama Papers leak is exposing major financial scandals (already took down the PM of Iceland, and the US citizen/company releated docs are still to come.)

He correctly pointed out that he warned of exactly this kind of problem being magnified by the Panama free trade deal (Clinton pushed for it, but that's not Bernie's fault.)

What would you have him do? This is a valid differentiation point between Sanders and Hillary ... Sanders has good judgement, Hillary does things for political reasons and ignores long term consequences.

[DanTex]

3. Trying to rack up some more Pinocchios, I guess.

Does he really think that a trade agreement between the US and Panama is what allowed the Prime Minister of Iceland to stash money there? It's becoming increasingly clear that Bernie really doesn't understand much about how the world works.

[dana_b]

4. Good!

But let's let their own words do the talking: