The Executive Branch - both Bush and Clinton - have used successful strategies of buying off mini-sectors to get just enough votes to pass a free trade agreement.  Socks, for example.  Sock production is a subset of textiles.  

In 2005, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) was persuaded to vote for CAFTA in return for protections for his sock makers.  He got promises from the Bushies.  And boatloads of pressure from wacko free traders.  CAFTA passed.  But the promises were largely unfulfilled.

This mini-sector buy-off strategy sacrifices the whole economy by giving a few exemptions, and then not following through.  Bush has imposed 6 months of tariffs on Honduran socks, now that they are working for Colombia FTA passage.

Jim Schollaert, executive director of Made In USA Strategies, which represents many domestic manufacturers, called the administration's action a "pitiful remedy. . . . It's just hard to understand why they would think this was going to do anything."

And Aderholt?

In a statement, Aderholt said that he was "deeply disappointed and very frustrated" by the tariff's size and short duration. "I will continue to be a thorn in the side of the administration when it comes to fighting to protect our sock industry and all manufacturing jobs, and I will work hard for more fairness in our trade policy," he said.

Rep. Aderholt should simply pledge to oppose the Colombia FTA.  His in-district sock producers are holding him accountable this election year. 

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