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Backing free trade is presidential? |
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Written by Stumo
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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John McCain is pushing his free trade support more than any other presidential candidate in history... at the campaign stage.
No candidate in recent memory has made such broad support for free trade as central to his campaign as McCain. Those presidents who pushed for lowering the barriers to international commerce, Bill Clinton and both George Bushes, were far more ardent free traders once they reached office than they had presented themselves when seeking it.
That's been the worry. Candidates say nothing about trade, but then support these trade agreements later. But is it presidential to support them?
"In this environment, it has been a way to differentiate the
candidates," said Michael Veseth, professor of international political
economy at the University of Puget Sound. "Backing free trade is a
presidential thing to do."
Odd comment. McCain is at least clear. Obama is leaving his options open talking both sides of the debate ("can't cut off trade, but need different trade agreements). He opposes the Colombia FTA, but supported Peru. He supports the best Asian currency manipulation bill currently pending in the Senate. McCain has not signed on as a co-sponsor. Obama's most specific statements are that we need labor and environmental provisions in new trade agreements. Weak tea. But at least it is some tea.
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In the news
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March 2-4, The Coalition for a Prosperous America
Legislative Fly-In
CPA will hold its Second Annual Legislative Fly-In on
March 2-4, 2010. This is a powerful opportunity for us to work
together to advance trade reform in the halls of Congress. We need to
bring the concerns of the grass roots to our legislators.
This is efficient advocacy, well worth your time. We make all the
meeting arrangements with legislators or their staff, we put together
materials, we plan a message, and we pack meetings together in a
concentrated period of time. You make a bigger impact with your time
using only three of the 365 days in the year.
Click here to sign up for the CPA Fly In.
CPA has a special offer--limited time only: the first 50 registrants
get a free copy of Ian Fletcher's new book: Free Trade Doesn't Work.
This is a highly acclaimed book about trade policy and the needed
changes therein.
Agenda:
March 2, 2010: 2p to 6p - Group meeting for training, talking points and team assignments
March 3-4, 2010: Hill visits
Place: Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I ("Eye") Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Once you sign up with CPA, reserve your room at the Capitol Skyline
Hotel by calling 202.488.7500. You should book for the evenings of
March 2 and March 3.
If you have questions about the events, please call Sara Haimowitz,
Development Coordinator, at 413-203-1410 or email at
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