What do we know about Ron Kirk (trade representative)?

[rockymountaindem]

Ron Kirk, the former Mayor of Dallas, has now been tapped to be our new trade representative. I can't seem to find much information about him. The only article I read said that the Chamber of Commerce is happy with him and that he has "an appropriate appreciation of trade" in the context of our broader economy. This sounds like a step backward from Becerra. Has anybody else been able to find anything about this pick?

[billyoc]

1. BIG NAFTA guy. PNTR China fan, too.

Basically the worst scum on earth. Sigh.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Do you have any links about him?

Why would Obama go from Becerra to someone like this? Becerra was one of the things I was clinging to as a means of maintaining my excitement about the upcoming administration. Now it looks like that's gone too.

[rockymountaindem]

3. His wikipedia page says he's a big corporate lobbyist

I thought they weren't allowed in this administration...

[billyoc]

4. From the Dallas Morning News:

WASHINGTON – The choice of Ron Kirk as the nation's top trade negotiator disappointed Barack Obama's union supporters and left trade experts wondering Thursday how hard the president-elect will push against business interests in future deals.

Mr. Kirk, the former Dallas mayor and 2002 Senate nominee, is a pro-business Democrat who has been an outspoken booster of NAFTA and the benefits of free trade. But little is known about his views on forcing trading partners to abide by tougher labor and environmental standards, as Mr. Obama promised voters in Ohio and other Rust Belt states.

And it's unclear if putting a free-trade advocate in the Cabinet as U.S. trade representative – the announcement of Mr. Kirk's appointment is set for today in Chicago – means Mr. Obama is backing away from that vow. NAFTA has largely been beneficial for Texas, as trade with Mexico has fueled job growth.

"Not our first choice," Thea Lee, policy director at the AFL-CIO, said of Mr. Kirk, noting that he has also dismayed unions by calling for normalized trade relations with China. "We have some concerns."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/121908dnnatkirktrade.3d94014.html

[rockymountaindem]

5. Great

More "hope" slipping away.

Edit: I still don't get how he would pick someone who is the exact opposite of the first person he picked. What the hell is up with that?

[ThomCat]

6. Fuck! So not only is Obama giving podiums to bigots

he's giving our top trade job to a free trade plunderer too.

So that's civil rights and the economy out the window.

How much fucking worse can it get? x(

[rockymountaindem]

7. Kick