Hillary Clinton Skirts Trade Issue in Acceptance Speech
Donald Trump mentioned “trade” upwards of twelve times during his nomination acceptance speech, while Hillary Clinton only made a single reference to nameless “unfair” trade deals. For rust-belt workers feeling disgruntled by the loss in traditional manufacturing jobs, Clinton very well may have come up short as compared to the trade-bashing, immigrant-demonizing Trump.
Not to mention the fact that Bernie supporters, many of which Clinton may need to continue to appease for victory, feel dissatisfied with Clinton’s half-hearted rejection of the massive TPP, a secretive trade deal between the US and pacific nations which will encompass 40% of the global economy.
As an extremely important issue in terms of the US voting population and the global economy, Clinton has demonstrated a tepid (at best) denunciation of the plan, something which will not only fail to go over well with voters, but will continue to offer ammunition to the Trump campaign.
Clinton running mate Tim Kaine spoke highly of the TPP as recently as last Thursday, wrongfully suggesting: “I think it's an upgrade of labor standards, I think it's an upgrade of environmental standards. I think it's an upgrade of intellectual property protections."
Furthermore, he voted to give President Obama a fast-track vote on the deal, denying Congress the right to debate the deal before approving or denying it. But once on the Clinton ticket, Kaine came out in opposition to the deal to further align himself with his running mate.
In similar fashion, Clinton called the deal the “gold standard” in 2012, then later dubbed the deal “concerning”. Close Clinton friend Terry McAuliffe made statements to Politico (which were later walked back by a McAuliffe spokesman) expressing his belief that she will flip on the issue once elected. As expected, Trump used this news to claim Hillary will “betray you on the TPP”.
To skeptical progressives (Clinton’s worst demographic), these political gymnastics are anything but reassuring.
Clinton has yet to make a point as to what she finds “concerning” about the deal in the first place, or what how real “gold standard” trade deal would open trade barriers and make capital more fluid while simultaneously protecting blue-collar American workers.
Donald Trump mentioned “trade” upwards of twelve times during his nomination acceptance speech, while Hillary Clinton only made a single reference to nameless “unfair” trade deals. For rust-belt workers feeling disgruntled by the loss in traditional manufacturing jobs, Clinton very well may have come up short as compared to the trade-bashing, immigrant-demonizing Trump.
Not to mention the fact that Bernie supporters, many of which Clinton may need to continue to appease for victory, feel dissatisfied with Clinton’s half-hearted rejection of the massive TPP, a secretive trade deal between the US and pacific nations which will encompass 40% of the global economy.
As an extremely important issue in terms of the US voting population and the global economy, Clinton has demonstrated a tepid (at best) denunciation of the plan, something which will not only fail to go over well with voters, but will continue to offer ammunition to the Trump campaign.
Clinton running mate Tim Kaine spoke highly of the TPP as recently as last Thursday, wrongfully suggesting: “I think it's an upgrade of labor standards, I think it's an upgrade of environmental standards. I think it's an upgrade of intellectual property protections."
Furthermore, he voted to give President Obama a fast-track vote on the deal, denying Congress the right to debate the deal before approving or denying it. But once on the Clinton ticket, Kaine came out in opposition to the deal to further align himself with his running mate.
In similar fashion, Clinton called the deal the “gold standard” in 2012, then later dubbed the deal “concerning”. Close Clinton friend Terry McAuliffe made statements to Politico (which were later walked back by a McAuliffe spokesman) expressing his belief that she will flip on the issue once elected. As expected, Trump used this news to claim Hillary will “betray you on the TPP”.
To skeptical progressives (Clinton’s worst demographic), these political gymnastics are anything but reassuring.
Clinton has yet to make a point as to what she finds “concerning” about the deal in the first place, or what how real “gold standard” trade deal would open trade barriers and make capital more fluid while simultaneously protecting blue-collar American workers.
