General Discussion

J_J_

(1,213 posts) Fri Jan 2, 2015, 02:06 PM Jan 2015

Obama lambasted opponents of free-trade agenda, arguing opponents are ignorant of the benefits [View all]

Under the auspices of the December meeting of the President's Export Council, Obama lambasted opponents of the free-trade agenda he adopted from Presidents Bush and Clinton, arguing that opponents are ignorant of the benefits of trade and admonished them to back off in their effort to oppose passage of TPA and TPP by stating: "Don't fight the last war. You already have."

http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/2014/President-And-CEOs-Meet%20To-Pass-TPA-And-TPP-1217141.html

I just read this in another article but it is not an exact quote.

Did he really say that?

I just cannot believe he would say something so insulting to the millions of Americans who lost their jobs to outsourcing and are now stuck on unemployment or working at walmart.

This after the spending bill that allows banks to continue derivative trading and the government will cover their asses and allowed companies to steal pensions.

Do we not understand the benefits of stealing pensions as well?

144 replies

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Obama lambasted opponents of free-trade agenda, arguing opponents are ignorant of the benefits [View all] J_J_ Jan 2015 OP

Why do you ignorant people want jobs in America?!?! PeteSelman Jan 2015 #1

when he disappoints, its massive. roguevalley Jan 2015 #33

Kick.... daleanime Jan 2015 #2

"Don't fight the last war. You already have." What war was that? NAFTA? Autumn Jan 2015 #3

Insulting, isn't it. And this "trade" deal has a LOT more to it than imagined worker and job djean111 Jan 2015 #8

+100 NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #18

He should educate us instead of calling us ignorant. Let us see what's in it Autumn Jan 2015 #54

I thought the same thing. Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #63

The Constitution gives our Congress, that is all future Congreses, the authority JDPriestly Jan 2015 #76

We NEED HILLARY! ONLY SHE CAN IMPOVERISH OUR GREAT NATION PROPERLY! Katashi_itto Jan 2015 #4

. Autumn Jan 2015 #5

+100 NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #15

Yeah, And ALL HER Ties To Wall Street... ChiciB1 Jan 2015 #81

+10000 JDPriestly Jan 2015 #105

Here's a Washington Post article on Obama's comments... PoliticAverse Jan 2015 #6

Well, he's made that statement before, about being willing to defy Democrats. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #9

+ The Whole Thing Octafish Jan 2015 #22

He'll be defying republicans (a majority oppose TPP) more than Democrats (60% support it). pampango Jan 2015 #40

If 60% of Democrats support the TPP, Maedhros Jan 2015 #56

I suspect even if both had not been signed that it would only have slowed the decline a bit but it cstanleytech Jan 2015 #68

The majority of "Democrats are woefully ignorant" because they do not agree with you. Ouch! pampango Jan 2015 #75

Just because a large percentage of Dems support it, don't make it right. lark Jan 2015 #86

Your statement about Europe is not correct. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #108

Posters such as Papango care nothing for any of what you've posted. Maedhros Jan 2015 #112

If not "woefully" ignorant, then willfully so. Maedhros Jan 2015 #111

60% is a meaningless number without context Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #121

That seems in line with how the system now works, doesn't it? sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #78

The Republicans don't support it because THEY DON'T SUPPORT ANYTHING THE PRESIDENT DOES. nm rhett o rick Jan 2015 #131

... treestar Jan 2015 #19

Thanks for the details, treestar. freshwest Jan 2015 #26

Happy New Year freshwest! treestar Jan 2015 #114

Same to you, treestar. Many changes this year. freshwest Jan 2015 #130

He needs to explain how it's different than NAFTA. When NAFTA was rammed thru rhett o rick Jan 2015 #45

1 through 10 all need proof and if Obama really thought any of them true treestar Jan 2015 #113

You're arguing in vain, treestar YoungDemCA Jan 2015 #126

So do you support the TPP? Or will you even commit? At least treestar will debate while rhett o rick Jan 2015 #128

A lot of people have looked at parts of the TPP and written about the damage that will be done. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #127

By the way I respect you for at least trying to debate this issue. No one else who supports the TPP rhett o rick Jan 2015 #129

He's either drinking the kool-aid lark Jan 2015 #79

What Obama said quoted from WaPo Article: KoKo Jan 2015 #35

Words Fail Me Demeter Jan 2015 #38

I think 'traitor' is the word you're looking for FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #71

Is this Free Republic? YoungDemCA Jan 2015 #124

He is Lucy with the football. Go ahead Charlie Brown, this time we are telling the truth. nm rhett o rick Jan 2015 #49

Benefits for whom? Guess I will stay "ignorant" mmonk Jan 2015 #7

The American workers ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #65

Yeah, now we compete with anyone in the world... kentuck Jan 2015 #107

Actually ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #135

maybe it benefits the foreign slave labor? fbc Jan 2015 #73

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jan 2015 #10

Do you have a more favorable Aerows Jan 2015 #80

kick 840high Jan 2015 #132

Now you did it Autumn Jan 2015 #134

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jan 2015 #140

Given that this thing has been enlightenment Jan 2015 #11

Exactly. Let us see the proposal. progressoid Jan 2015 #28

exactl;y if we are ignorant of the proposal it is only because you have shrouded it hollysmom Jan 2015 #36

AAAaaaarrrrgggghhhh! Populist_Prole Jan 2015 #12

+100 NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #14

'what else can they say at this point? "Fuck you, you're getting this"?' FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #74

so tell us what's in the trade deal obama, maybe we wouldn't be so ignorant if we knew what was NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #13

Point! a palpable hit, to go all Wm. Shakespeare Demeter Jan 2015 #39

Liar for the 1%ers. SamKnause Jan 2015 #16

Do you think he's purposely doing that? treestar Jan 2015 #17

Are you putting words in someone's mouth? mmonk Jan 2015 #20

The OP did that regarding Obama. treestar Jan 2015 #21

I would agree he is worried. mmonk Jan 2015 #30

I see him as believing the American economy is just about the 1%, Wall Street, Dow Jones, djean111 Jan 2015 #25

I respectfully disagree treestar Jan 2015 #115

With Obama aspirant Jan 2015 #117

Here's what he's doing. He's calling those who oppose it 'ignorant'. Here's how he can sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #27

I thought aspirant Jan 2015 #118

If it's so great, he could release the proposed agreement for all to see. progressoid Jan 2015 #32

It is not just suspicion. Secrecy is inherently undemocratic. salib Jan 2015 #64

You are right, though it can't be secret in the end treestar Jan 2015 #116

Insulting AND condescending. A twofer. SammyWinstonJack Jan 2015 #23

Ignorant of the benefits? How about ignorant of the specifics! hughee99 Jan 2015 #24

Sorry, no can do. You see, we're ignorant and wouldn't understand Buns_of_Fire Jan 2015 #41

Exactly. Teach us ignorant peons just how beneficial this agreement will be. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #62

Please explain to me again. ... 99Forever Jan 2015 #29

Why does it have to be in secret? Lifelong Protester Jan 2015 #31

Probably for the same reason the climate agreement with China, the diplomatic agreement with Cuba, pampango Jan 2015 #46

"Submitted for ratification" aspirant Jan 2015 #122

People who have seen their jobs moved to China are not ignorant of anything. Vinca Jan 2015 #34

what jobs moved to china in the past 8-10 years? Sunlei Jan 2015 #43

If they said India, would it have made any difference to you? n/t hughee99 Jan 2015 #55

IT management jobs you mean or businesses that offer customer service(by phone)? Sunlei Jan 2015 #66

The post you replied to (not mine) mentioned jobs offshored to China, hughee99 Jan 2015 #72

No, I agree with what President O said about 'offshoring' in that article. Sunlei Jan 2015 #83

Yes, and while the president is right that "that horse is out of the barn" on low wage labor, hughee99 Jan 2015 #102

Is that Aerows Jan 2015 #82

discussion. I read the article and noted Pres. Os audience for the 'meeting'. Sunlei Jan 2015 #87

He's going to need folks Aerows Jan 2015 #91

It still may suck as the Corps have owned the USA forever & plenty of Politicians lie to Pres. O. Sunlei Jan 2015 #95

Either President Obama is the most brilliant Aerows Jan 2015 #99

The correct question is . . . what jobs haven't? Vinca Jan 2015 #119

The "All or Nothing" people *are* ignorant of the benefits of trade. But it does make good anti-O Sunlei Jan 2015 #37

Weren't you one of the Aerows Jan 2015 #85

sorry, I don't understand what you meant Sunlei Jan 2015 #88

Yes, I get that. Aerows Jan 2015 #93

You're to kind, :P Sunlei Jan 2015 #96

Horseshit. Odin2005 Jan 2015 #143

Please proceed Mister president bahrbearian Jan 2015 #42

to long to answer, with a line or two "benefits of global trade" Sunlei Jan 2015 #50

My husband's grandfather had a cattle business that was destroyed by NAFTA. liberal_at_heart Jan 2015 #136

Um, I'll trust the AFL-CIO before him on trade policy. closeupready Jan 2015 #44

AFL CIO are not against this new trade agreement, they're working with the group. Heres a link Sunlei Jan 2015 #90

On the TPP: "the publicly available information is concerning for workers" PoliticAverse Jan 2015 #120

yes, it is "concerning for workers" that's why I think its a good thing both Unions are active stake Sunlei Jan 2015 #133

Okay. Fine then release the document so all of us can read it. And IF there are any benefits for jwirr Jan 2015 #47

To make it even more special he said it while sitting next to Jim McNerney pa28 Jan 2015 #48

I think by the last war he means NAFTA. former9thward Jan 2015 #51

Anything can be stopped Demeter Jan 2015 #97

Move on from the last war aspirant Jan 2015 #123

Sorry Mr. President, you are tragically wrong about TPP. Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #52

Yes he is and it's a damn shame. AtomicKitten Jan 2015 #57

the blue dogs are leaving big red turds behind... TPP is the biggest fuck you to workers whereisjustice Jan 2015 #53

Return to tariffs? Trillo Jan 2015 #58

Mr. President, we're not stupid. We ARE aware of the benefits of the TPP. Maedhros Jan 2015 #59

Absolutely. This monstronsity of corporate welfare is not about trade, & will not benefit Americans, Faryn Balyncd Jan 2015 #103

"Globalization won't be a bloodless process" and the corporations will need more of your's now TheKentuckian Jan 2015 #60

This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Jan 2015 #61

Would like to see Obama actually address Sen. Sanders 10 points against the TPP! EndElectoral Jan 2015 #67

The whole thing is secret, so if it is so beneficial why not explain that by showing the deal? Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #69

And pensions were stolen as companies were bought, gutted out and e-mailed to China JDPriestly Jan 2015 #70

He did not call 'you' ignorant Sunlei Jan 2015 #77

If you think that calling anyone with Aerows Jan 2015 #89

It doesn't matter if Obama said that or not Jack Rabbit Jan 2015 #84

Sorry, Mr. President, but no sale. Brigid Jan 2015 #92

I defended Bill Clinton to the bitter end on NATA because I KNEW a democrat would defend us Autumn Jan 2015 #101

Me too, Autumn. To my everlasting shame, me too. hedda_foil Jan 2015 #138

That was pretty much the end Puglover Jan 2015 #144

Goldman Sachs' pet president gregcrawford Jan 2015 #94

Obama is just plain WRONG about America's readiness to enter into these trade agreements. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #98

You said Munificence Jan 2015 #139

So, Mr. President, we would be far sadoldgirl Jan 2015 #100

Well he's gone FULL 1%ER!!! DeSwiss Jan 2015 #104

They ALWAYS play the false choice game.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #106

Let's remember, he's politically free now. Broward Jan 2015 #109

Don't think of it as "free to screw over the people who got him his current job" but rather hughee99 Jan 2015 #110

Well, the Democrats, when they come up one short for SomethingFishy Jan 2015 #125

For starters, what IS the exact quote? That would help. Hekate Jan 2015 #137

We gambled on him d_b Jan 2015 #141

Fuck you, too, Mr. President. Odin2005 Jan 2015 #142