Obama 'Gets It' on Trade

posted by John Nichols on 04/14/2008 @ 12:10pm

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Maybe being accused of being an "elitist" is a good thing.

After taking hits from Democratic primary foe Hillary Clinton and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain for suggesting, somewhat clumsily, that Americans who are suffering economically may turn "bitter," Barack Obama has come back with a speech that goes to the heart of the current crisis.

Speaking on trade policy to the Alliance for American Manufacturing today in Pittsburgh this morning, the Illinois senator said what he has been needing to say for more than a month: He understands that America needs a new approach to trade -- an approach that breaks with those of the Bush and Clinton administrations -- if this country is going to begin to address its many economic challenges.

And he did it in the context of the current debate about elitism.

"Senator Clinton and Senator McCain are singing from the same hymn book, saying that I'm 'out of touch' – an 'elitist' – because I said a lot of folks are bitter about their economic circumstances," Obama explained. "Now it may be that I chose my words badly. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. But when I hear my opponents, both of whom have spent decades in Washington, saying I'm out of touch, it's time to cut through their rhetoric and look at the reality."

The rhetoric -- especially Clinton's remake of herself as a populist champion of fair-trade responses that she opposed as the first lady, a senate candidate and a senator -- is designed to suggest that Obama is not in tune with workers who have seen their jobs, their industries and their communities devastated by trade policies that favored Wall Street over Main Street.

But Obama is not willing to accept the characterization. And he has challenged it with a speech that -- while it certainly will not get parallel coverage -- is important as his recent addresses of racial division and foreign policy.

"Senator Clinton and Senator McCain question my respect for the workers of Pennsylvania. Well, let me tell you how I believe you demonstrate your respect. You do it by telling the truth and keeping your word, so folks can know that where you stand today is where you'll stand tomorrow," said Obama. "The truth is, trade is here to stay. We live in a global economy. For America's future to be as bright as our past, we have to compete. We have to win."

Then Obama did something that rarely happens in the trade debate.

He spoke to worried American employers and workers as adults.

He treated their concerns seriously.

He said:

Not every job that has left is coming back. And not every job lost is due to trade –automation has made plants more efficient so they can make the same amount of steel with few workers. These are the realities.

I also don't oppose all trade deals. I voted for two of them because they have the worker and environmental agreements I believe in. Some of you disagreed with me on this but I did what I thought was right.

That's the truth. But let me tell you what else I believe in:

For America to win, American workers have to win, too. If CEO pay keeps rising, while the standard of living for their workers continues to decline, that's not a win for America.

That's why I opposed NAFTA, it's why I opposed CAFTA, and it's why I said any trade agreement I would support had to contain real, enforceable standards for workers.

That's why I believe the Permanent Normalized Trade agreement with China didn't do enough to ensure fairness and compliance.

Now, you can have a debate about whether my position is right or wrong. But here's what you can't do. You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA and PNTR for China, and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along. You can't say you are opposed to the Columbia Trade deal, while your key strategist is working for the Columbian government to get the deal passed.

That's not respect. That's just more of the same old Washington politics. And we can't afford more of the same.

We need real change, and that's what I'm offering. I'm offering a new, more transparent and more inclusive path on trade so we can help promote an integrated global economy where the costs and benefits are distributed more equitably. And it starts with a principle I've always believed in – that trade should work for all Americans.

That's why we need to finally confront the issue of trade with China. As I've said before, America and the world can benefit from trade with China. But trade with China will only be good for you if China itself plays by the rules and acts as a positive force for balanced world growth.

Seeing the living standards of the Chinese people improve is a good thing – good because we want a stable China, and good because China can be a powerful market for American exports. But too often, China has been competing in ways that are tilting the playing field.

It's not just that China is following the path taken by so many other countries before it, and dumping goods into our market while not opening their own markets, something I've spoken out against. It's not just that they're violating intellectual property rights. They're also grossly undervaluing their currency, and giving their goods yet another unfair advantage. Each year they've had the chance, the Bush administration has failed to do anything about this. That's unacceptable. That's why I co-sponsored the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act. And that's why as President, I'll use all the diplomatic avenues open to me to insist that China stop manipulating its currency.

We also have to make sure that whatever goods we're importing are safe for our families. We all saw the harm that was caused by lead toys from China that were reaching our store shelves. A few months ago, when I called for a ban on any toys that have more than a trace amount of lead, an official at China's foreign ministry said I was being "unobjective, unreasonable, and unfair." But I don't think protecting our children is "unreasonable" – I think it's our obligation as parents and as Americans.

When it comes to trade, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. If countries are committed to reciprocity, if they are abiding by basic rules of the road, then we should welcome trade. Many poor countries need access to our markets and pose no threat to our workers.

But what all trade agreements I negotiate as President will have in common is that they'll all put American workers first. We won't ignore violence against union organizers in Columbia, or the non-tariff barriers that keep U.S. cars out of South Korea.

And we won't just negotiate fair trade agreements, we'll make sure they're being fully enforced. George Bush has been far too slow to press American rights. That's an outrage. When our trading partners sign an agreement with the Obama administration, you can trust that we'll hold them to it.

Comments (64)

Hillary always in a bind about things like NAFTA.

90% of her campaign was based on "I'll bring back the (Bill) Clinton years".

Yet NAFTA was firmly in the "Clinton years" and she needs to sound like she "opposed it all the time and still do" to win primary voters. An obvious lie, but not as bad as some she's told.

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 12:17pm
Let's hear it for good Ol protectionism!

Posted by abell12ct at 04/14/2008 @ 12:20pm
Posted by ABELL12CT 04/14/2008 @ 12:20pm

what are you talking about?

obama?

hahahahaha

Posted by frosty zoom at 04/14/2008 @ 12:28pm
Posted by ABELL12CT 04/14/2008 @ 12:20pm

Hey, ABELL, question...

Which President...arranged for voluntary restraint agreements to limit imports of automobiles and steel....

provided temporary import relief for Harley-Davidson....

limited imports of sugar and textiles....

and whose administration pushed for the "Plaza accord" of 1985, an agreement that made Japanese imports more expensive by raising the value of the yen?

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 12:50pm
Ladies and Gentlemen, let's hope that the corporate sycophants won't be as easily able to destroy and distort this man as they were Mr. and Mrs Edwards. Given the choice between a; pathological liar, a dithering old man and an extremely intelligent black man I'm going with intelligent. We've tried pathological liar and good ol boy dynasties for sixteen years I think we should try something new. what the hell, the kids seem to trust this guy, Obama. Today Mr. McCain referenced Alixes De Tocqueville as the final authority on American Democracy. I'm French and I read De Tocquville in the original. Doesn't he realize that it was a political fairy tale. I lived through the tale end of the depression and that was more, STEINBECKS, "GRAPES OF WRATH", like, "once I built a railroad, made it run on time. once I built a railroad, now it's done. buddy can you spare a dime? I hope people see that politicians and the corporate greedy have traded the countries sweat equity to Asia and Europe for cheep labor. The wto nafta and cafta are extremely flawed and corrupt. "Bitter" is the nicest word that senator Obama could have used and yes I pray, there are no atheist in a fox hole, but may I remind you what my church did to Senator Kerry. one of our heroic bishops threatened not to give Mr. Kerry communion, because he was pro choice

Posted by julien38 at 04/14/2008 @ 1:17pm
Posted by JULIEN38 04/14/2008 @ 1:17pm

Nice post...

Posted by leftofcenter at 04/14/2008 @ 1:51pm
International trade is not a new invention. It has been around since the beginning of recorded time. As a nation, America has always been involved in international trade. As our industrial base grew, we became involved in World Affairs. We were the arsenal of democracy through two World Wars and a Cold War. This industrial base was and is, in part, essential for national defense and supported a large military establishment that defeated Germany twice and Japan once. It also produced jobs and goods for ordinary people that made America the envy of the world. Free Trade and "competition" had nothing to do with our success. What made us a success was an independent protected market, that was created behind tariffs, so that industries and jobs supported by American farmers could develop in this country. We did trade internationally, but we didn't need trade to survive as a nation. The American worker built America, but he or she never competed with cheap labor overseas. When business interests talk about competition they mean doing the same job for less money. It has nothing to do with the quality of the work. Americans have the brains and ability to do anything! We have done it throughout our history. Boeing has outsourced parts for it's new dream liner oversea, but they can't get the thing in production or off the ground because they are not getting the parts they outsourced. If it had been fully produced in the U.S., they would be flying now! "Free Trade"?

Posted by P. J. Casey at 04/14/2008 @ 2:30pm
Obama – Black is Wright

Obama attracts thugs and bullies to his campaign and personal life and is able to do so with impunity. If Obama where Caucasian, he would have been bulldozed by the media long ago.

Look at Obama's affiliations:

- Senator Meeks who openly hates whites and gays and is listed prominently on Obama's campaign website as a major Obama supporter and backer and is one of Obama;s super-delegate. Mr. Meeks has been integral in Obama success in politics.

- Mr. Ayers of the Weather Underground, a group that killed police and tried to bomb the US Capitol, served with Obama on the board of the leftist foundation called the Woods Fund.

- Robert Malley a close senior adviser to Obama who advocates negotiations with Hamas and providing international assistance to the terrorist group.

- Larry Sinclair alleges in 1999 Senator Obama's arranged to meet him in a limousine, sold Senator Obama cocaine and then gave Senator Obama oral sex. Larry then claims that he and Obama went to a hotel and preformed oral sex again. Mr. Sinclair is testifying in court under oath that these allegations are true.

- Mr. Auchi is an Iraqi billionaire and major financial sponsor and closely connected to Obama's rise to power. While working with Saddam Hussein, Auchi made his fortune through the selling of arms in Iraq and the funneling off of money from the Oil for Food program.

- Mr. Rezko an Iraqi citizen and Obama's and Auchi's long time friend of 17 years and a major mob figure. Rezko is NOT known for his civic sense of duty and does not do favors without asking something in return. Coincidently the Chicago Times reported yesterday that Rezko was negotiating to purchase rehab buildings in Obama's district.

- Mr. Wright a racist who hates America and whites (and Italians?). Mr. Wright has been Mr. Obama's spiritual mentor for over 20 years. Before the media exposed Mr. Wright, he was Obama's chief religious advisor on Obama's campaign staff. Mr. Wright and Mr. Meeks are ideologically closer to Karl Marx and Black Nationalism, than to Christianity.

- Rashid Khalidi a fundraiser for Obama and is one of Obama's close friends. Khalidis claim Israel as a "catastrophe", and supports Palestinian terrorist groups.

- Mr. McPeaks is Obama's military adviser and national campaign co-chairman who publicly states that American Jews are the "problem." and "Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq to benefit Israel."

- Michelle Obama trumpets Obama as "the second coming of the messiah," and also states that she "has NEVER been proud to be an American in her adult life".

The list goes on…

How can Obama's bad judgment to choose to affiliate with criminals and fanatics be justified?

Hey everybody - am I missing something here?

Are we so in love with the color black that we forget to see the man?

Posted by olandug at 04/14/2008 @ 2:39pm
Posted by OLADUNG 04/14/2008 @ 2:39pm

"Mr. Sinclair's story has already earned him $10,000. That money is being paid to him by Dan Parisi, an internet entrepreneur who, according to press accounts, built his fortune in the online pornography industry."

http://www.larrysinclair.com/

Posted by frosty zoom at 04/14/2008 @ 3:06pm
Clinton's remake of herself as a populist champion of fair-trade responses that she opposed as the first lady, a senate candidate and a senator

This phoniness on the part of Clinton is deeply troubling. She has never been a fair trader until she decided she wanted to run for president.

Why can't most voters understand this?

Posted by Metteyya at 04/14/2008 @ 3:20pm
He gets it? What does he plan to do after we tire of his complaints about previous administrations? More empty rhetoric.

He says "Many poor countries need access to our markets and pose no threat to our workers." So he's for exporting goods and services. Hoorah! And who is opposed to increasing the export of US goods?

Posted by truecon at 04/14/2008 @ 3:27pm
"Olandug" has all the fresh outrage of a person who has just poked his head out the window for the very first time.

It would no doubt give him a heart attack to discover that every politician is associated with unsavory scoundrels. There are, after all, only two parties in our country to choose from, and our scoundrels, just like the rest of us, must choose one or the other.

It requires no great intelligence to deduce that "Olandug" is white and has absolutely no idea what racism is. Presumably, he (I'm taking a wild guess that he's male, too) believes that racism consists purely of insensitive remarks. Of economic segregation, racial profiling, and what happens to black applicants when they are rejected by white people who "don't feel comfortable" around them, he has no awareness.

And "Olandug" should know that nobody associated with the "Oil for Food" program has profited nearly as handsomely as Halliburton, Blackwater, and other firms who have taken over since Saddam was deposed.

(I'll provide documentation for this last claim as soon as "Olandug" shows me when and where Michelle Obama actually called her husband the "second coming of the Messiah" and puts this alleged quotation in context. To my knowledge (and I AM a married man), NO wife who has been married for more than a few weeks has this high an opinion of her husband - if she ever did.)

Since the onset of my adult life coincided with the election of Ronald Reagan, I confess that I sympathize with Michelle Obama's claim that she hasn't felt proud to be an American in all of her adult life.

Last but not least, people who assume that Marxism and Christianity are antithetical have an adequate understanding of neither one nor the other.

Posted by JakobFabian at 04/14/2008 @ 3:38pm
In Colombia what is the rate of violence against union associated workers compared to normal population?

Posted by vincop2005 at 04/14/2008 @ 3:44pm
Posted by OLANDUG 04/14/2008 @ 2:39pm

4th time he's posted the same C&P....I'm betting we see it 4 more times.

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 3:54pm
Last but not least, people who assume that Marxism and Christianity are antithetical have an adequate understanding of neither one nor the other.----Posted by JAKOBFABIAN 04/14/2008 @ 3:38pm

JAKOB, being neither....I am one of those who assume that given--

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions."-----Karl Marx----Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right (1843)

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 3:56pm
Posted by JAKOBFABIAN 04/14/2008 @ 3:38pm

Good post.

Posted by k330k at 04/14/2008 @ 3:58pm
People like Olandug typically end up doing Obama a favor by writing posts full of inaccuracies, urban myths, outright lies and thinly-veiled (VERY thinly-veiled) racist rantings.

People who are on the fence about supporting Obama tend to be rather intelligent. To be "on the fence" in the first place indicates they've put some thought into making a decision and are looking at the candidates trying to find out their real views and decide who to support.

Very often what tips the scales for them - when all other things appear equal in their minds - is having sympathy for a candidate who faces outrages rants and attacks from idiots like Olandug person. They see the sickness that bubbles just below the surface in so many of our fellow citizens, and respond to it by throwing their support behind Obama and his campaign to restore some decency to our nation both at home and abroad.

So thanks Oladung. I'm an Obama supporter, and nonsense like your post is swelling the ranks of my fellow supporters every day. Oh, and by the way - I live in Chicago, and there is no such publication as the "Chicago Times." And Tony Rezko is not Iraqi - he's from Syria. Now I'm sure to you those (and every other "AYE-RABB" country are just one and the same) are a mystery because no doubt if you even made it to 4th grade geography, you probably failed it.

But take heed. The great thing about America is that everyone gets to benefit when times are good. So even though you're a sad, pathetic, racist (probably a man suffering from an inadequate physical endowment) little person who lives life in daily fear of everyone and everything, when Barack Obama is sworn in next January, even YOU are going to see your life get better.

God bless America, huh, Oladung? And God Bless Barack Obama!!!

Posted by jfhaley123 at 04/14/2008 @ 4:09pm
And Tony Rezko is not Iraqi - he's from Syria.----Posted by JFHALEY123 04/14/2008 @ 4:09pm

Wait a minute!

Are you saying somebody who supports Hillary Clinton.....would LIE?!?!??!?!?

Oh, you're in for it now, buddy. I got some Bosnian snipers that will fix you!

(heheh)

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 4:22pm
Barack is running against Hillary,Bill and John McCain plus the right wing noise machine and I think hes holding his own.

And they know it.

Posted by eniobob at 04/14/2008 @ 6:17pm
And I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,"

"I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that

(McCain's a) "distinguished man with a great history of service to our country,"

"Both of us will be on that stage having crossed that threshold.

When did she cross over? Why's she a cross dresser?

Posted by winyahn at 04/14/2008 @ 7:33pm
I must thank Olandug for reminding me again why I love Obama's advisors (he left out Powers who has a Pulitzer for dealing with genocide) and for proving once again that it's all about the Jews.

The fact that Obama is doing so well, in spite of the attempts by every right-wing Jewish organization in America to torpedo him, aided by their media, shows a very healthy change in our populace.

In other words, we aren't buying it any more, Olandug.

We will reach a point, hopefully soon, in this country where candidates do not have to fly off to Israel to be vetted by the Knesset or spend an inordinant amount of time kow towing to that magic 2% of our population that seem more interested in how a criminal regime across the world makes out than how we do here at home.

Posted by opeluboy at 04/14/2008 @ 7:34pm
MASK 04/14/2008 @ 3:56pm

You beat me to it, and better yet... you got it in one!

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 7:47pm
Posted by EULER 04/14/2008 @ 7:17pm

EULER, wasn't speaking to you....we all know you DON'T CARE if Hillary's a liar. You "just want an effective manager".

You made that quite clear weeks ago!

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 7:50pm
Posted by TTR 04/14/2008 @ 7:47pm

JAKOB 0 for 2 today, I'm afraid. "Christian Marxists"?!?!?!?? One guy or the other HAS to be rejected, on that oxymoron.

And he seemed to think the Internet was built like the TVA and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 7:52pm
Aw shucks, Mask... Ahm gonna be hearin' that 'hah lonesome hahmony' ever' time jakob posts... now that you've gone an posted anythin' Blue Ridge...;^)

Wow, marxixt Christians? Well, no... none of them been around here... uhmmm... forever. Maybe you'd fit right in down the hall at the weekly meeting of the neo-con pacifists association...

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 8:09pm
Posted by TTR 04/14/2008 @ 8:09pm

Ernest T., I want you to quit throwin' them rocks!

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 9:18pm
Alrighty Mask... wait right here, while I run on up to the woodshed and grab my ol' twelve guage packed to the gills with rocksalt... that I keep around for ok shuns like this...

You want bitter? I'll show you bitter...

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 9:58pm
Posted by TTR 04/14/2008 @ 9:58pm

Awww...don't be bitter...

Hows about a song? [youtube.com]

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 10:23pm
That made me uncomfortable, Mask...;^p

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 10:27pm
Abell - you'd be bitter too, if you didn't have a job, and lived in a place where there was no hope of getting one. American jobs should be protected.

Posted by susanb.red at 04/14/2008 @ 10:28pm
bitter get a bucket....

Posted by frosty zoom at 04/14/2008 @ 10:29pm
Posted by TTR 04/14/2008 @ 10:27pm

Oh, good.

heheh

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 10:33pm
Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 04/14/2008 @ 10:29pm |

"Nobody Does It Bitter" by Carly Simon!

Posted by Mask at 04/14/2008 @ 10:35pm
You win... and I wasn't even in the game!

Now... where ARE all those rocks I had...

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 10:41pm
Her boss told her to bucket up... so she bitter tongue.

Ka boom.

Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 10:46pm
ah, but they do do it bitterly.

Posted by frosty zoom at 04/14/2008 @ 11:13pm
~give a little bitter love tonight

Posted by winyahn at 04/14/2008 @ 11:54pm
Posted by JFHALEY123 04/14/2008 @ 4:09pm

God bless America, huh, Oladung?

Aren't you Obama supporters supposed to be singing 'God Damn America'? Just asking.

Posted by pontificus at 04/15/2008 @ 02:05am
Don't know where Mr. Nichols has been but Obama's speech could have been written by GW Bush or W Clinton. It is clear that Obama is much more than a closet believer in free markets.

As far as China's currency being undervalued, is he arguing for China to deregulate the Yuan and let the market set its value? That's exactly what Bush has been urging China to do throughout his presidency.

There is nothing substantially new from Obama, in Mr. Nichol's excerpt, that is different from W Clinton's or GW Bush's approach to free trade.

Posted by harvey 79 at 04/15/2008 @ 03:39am
Columbia is spelt wrong. It should be 'Colombia'.

Posted by nanaan at 04/15/2008 @ 07:39am
Hey, ABELL, question...

Which President...arranged for voluntary restraint agreements to limit imports of automobiles and steel....

provided temporary import relief for Harley-Davidson....

limited imports of sugar and textiles....

and whose administration pushed for the "Plaza accord" of 1985, an agreement that made Japanese imports more expensive by raising the value of the yen?

Posted by MASK

What has that got to do with anything. I'm against protectionism in any form.

Posted by abell12ct at 04/15/2008 @ 09:51am
"You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA and PNTR for China, and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along. You can't say you are opposed to the Columbia Trade deal, while your key strategist is working for the Columbian government to get the deal passed."

Oh yeah, the Big O laying the smack down . . .

Posted by Butler at 04/15/2008 @ 11:04am
Posted by PONTIFICUS 04/15/2008 @ 02:05am |

Standard Rush ambush... Do you believe the 'damn' comment referred to the Statue of Liberty or Grand Canyon?

Some Obama voters may hate American as in government, the current regime, just as folks like you who voted for Cheney-Bush hated the Clinton regime. Do you believe the 'damn' comment referred to the Statue of Liberty or Grand Canyon?

Obama's not racist or elitist. But you can hate and damn him anyway, that's your thing mannnn! Have at it!

Posted by winyahn at 04/15/2008 @ 11:06am
By the way, with regard to the Christianity/Communism comparison, it's clear that the Jesus and Karl Marx have very different philosophies - their split over materialism (and I don't simply mean the pursuit of stuff) probably makes the two incompatible. That said, some of Christ's ideas sound pretty red in that he advocates (Jewish) communities taking care of their impoverished members.

And I emphasize the fact that Jesus was specifically addressing middle eastern Jews of the ancient world because his commentary should be taken in context (as it addresses specific, contextual problems) and because he makes clear elsewhere that his message is intended for other Jews.

Posted by Butler at 04/15/2008 @ 11:20am
Oops: "the Jesus." No one . . . well, you know where I'm going.

Posted by Butler at 04/15/2008 @ 11:22am
Let "US" not forget NAFTA-Gate by none other than Obama (winking to the Canadians. My impressions on this speech are more empty words from the empty suit. Typical "Snob-ama", makes a "bitter" mistake and then blames someone else (Hillary and/or McCain). Then, even worse, goes on the attack of the other Democrat in the race for calling him on his own elitism. Let me see, it was just last night that he condemned Hillary for attacking him, wasn't it? What a two-faced hypocrite and used her words too, "shame on you". Also folks, let us not forget folks where Obama's money is coming from, in his battle for President. His money trail now reveals that he received nearly half of all the millions collected thus far, from big donors. That would be nearly $115,000,000.00 million dollars of the more than $230 million dollars thus far. Not to mention the fact that Obama reported that his money came from all small donor supporters. Instead, it seems, the money is funneling in from filthy rich big name/big money raisers and thousands of top dollar contributors at $2300.00 dollars each/maximum allowed by law, contributor. I knew he didn't have a larger, or even as large of a grassroots organization, as Hillary. His bid for the Whitehouse is being bought and paid for just like Bush by the elitist. I thought Obama was supposed to be different? Of course, there are also the fundraisers on the web that represent the far left, (Huffington Post, Move-On, etc.) who are also collecting for him from their membership (2 Million plus members) for Obama. I used to support Move-On on some of their causes until they endorsed Obama. I know they are raising money for him because they continue to send me e-mails for donations for Obama. Wake-up America, you are being hoodwinked and now being called names as he looks down his nose at "US", by this arrogant and elitist jerk trying to buy his way into the Whitehouse! It is not too late to stop him if the rest of "US" left to vote do so for Hillary. Hillary cares about "US and will restore our greatness at home and abroad. Go PA, bring her on to the rest of "US" by a landslide.

Posted by moblou at 04/15/2008 @ 1:48pm
JFHALEY & JACOFABIAN, are you ever right about OLANDUG's propaganda... and you, too, OPELUBOY! thanks for saying it better than i ever could have.

i think OLANDUG must work for fox or druggie limbaugh and spends their time infiltrating these posting sites 'cause he/she sure doesn't fit the profile of one who's reads "the nation". but there's always hope that they may see the light someday.

Posted by chrysanthe at 04/15/2008 @ 1:55pm
MOBLOU, are you sure you're not OLANDUG trying to look like another person posting? geez, you are so off the mark. go do some real research, will ya?

Posted by chrysanthe at 04/15/2008 @ 2:05pm
Oadlong If you wish to spew hate, Please make sure that you check your facts.

Thanks

Posted by cwatson1 at 04/15/2008 @ 2:06pm
Comments about Obama being a Marxist, Islamist, elitist are patently absurd. Why does politics have to be so damn dirty? I'm sick and tired of the racism, xenophobia, mud slinging, lying, alleging, and on and on. Each candidate has their flaws. To me this campaign comes down to, if you want the same old Washington smoke and mirrors, vote Hillary; if you want someone who is in the good old boy club and loves the military-industrial complex, vote McCain; if you want someone who is willing to seek change and will work on many levels to achieve that, vote Obama.

Posted by uknowit at 04/15/2008 @ 2:07pm
(Everyone's ganging up on Obama because he said people were bitter because of the bad economy and were turning to guns and God. Memo to Obama: you should have said people are bitter because the damn Democratic Party, just like the Republican Party, is a friend to the rich and hostile to the poor and middle class.)

Sure I'm bitter...bitter about Clinton's millions, McCain's beer heiress trophy wife, Obama's boyish good looks and gift of gab.

Then there's the bitterness I have about the billions CEO's have accumulated and spend on crazy luxuries life Lear jets, and 400 million dollar yachts, and Bush's insane war which will cost 3-5 trillion and, yes, I'm bitter because I can just about afford my cat food diet and now I worry that Purina might be bought out by some hedge fund. But, please,don't mourn for me, organize.

Heck, I'm bitterness incarnate. But, I decided to move on. I started a group supporting Obama for president. It's called "Bitter People for Obama." Bitter as I am, I think he would be the best president ever.

Posted by hkaplan at 04/15/2008 @ 2:11pm
Mr. Oladung: What you do not grasp, evidenced by your long list of persons you exclude, is that Mr. Obama's aim is inclusion. Some of those do not seem my cup of tea, but what we're witnessing in Congress, logjam and partisanship, is the inevitable consequence of this mutual exclusion mind-set so prevalent there and in your rhetoric. Perhaps you might contemplate that certain established politicians are not obliged to accept the support they can get. Oops, maybe I should add "some of the time". The problem upon which you awkwardly and indirectly comment has to do with the need for campaign funding reform, which I guess you oppose, but admit it is presumptive of me to reach that conclusion.

Posted by Bob Pomeroy at 04/15/2008 @ 2:24pm
The 3 best substantive speeches of this campaign have all been delivered by Obama. On race, the economy, and foreign affairs. He is clearly the most qualified of the 3 candidates to use the bully pulpit. This will take considerable getting used to by many, perhaps even the majority in the US, a black man as their talented leader. Some will never forgive him, some will never accept him, and some will do anything to stop him from succeeding ... and that, alas, now seems to include TheClintons.

Posted by sloper at 04/15/2008 @ 2:24pm
Colombia! Colombia! Colombia! COLUMBIA is where Obama went to school. COLOMBIA is the cocaine & cannabis producing nation that lines Bill Clinton and Mark Penn's pockets. COLOMBIA. If I had a nickel for every time a media outlet made this mistake... I could afford a nickel bag of the finest product of Colombia.

Posted by rriley at 04/15/2008 @ 2:27pm
I'm so sick of seeing ideas cast in mutually exclusive terms, using classical quotes yet. This "either or" mentality speaks of people who know it all, and here we are, even with the benefit of your contribution. There's a very good prune juice made in the Yuba City area which might be beneficial, depending on the dgeree of compaction. Better buy 2 large bottles. Maybe you'll become a little more open to possibilities and views other than your own. It works for me, so I can recommend it. Then maybe a quick trip to Bisbee would help.

Posted by Bob Pomeroy at 04/15/2008 @ 2:46pm
Sloper: Great comment. Beyond the substantive issues, I, a white male of independent Christian persuasion who was a plumber today and a carpenter yesterday but retired as a trial lawyer, support Obama because he at least talks about hope and is the apparent favorite of younger people who will bear most of the burden of whichever candidate's presidency. America is so totally demoralized (bitter?) by what government has been over the last 40 years or so, that hope is what we need most to rebuild. All the rest is promises, even that of an election in November.

Posted by Bob Pomeroy at 04/15/2008 @ 2:56pm
Hey John... great story but Colombia is spelled with an "O" not a "U"... I follow Colombia pretty closely and it is disappointing to see classic errors such as this from folk in the US who I believe know better. Columbia is a university in NYC... Colombia is a nation in South America struggling with a civil war, paramilitary violence against Afro-Colombians and Indigenous and which takes millions of dollars of our tax payer money in military aid. I trust you will make sure that others at The Nation will pay attention to the distinctions.

Posted by OskarP at 04/15/2008 @ 3:15pm
This is ignorant crap! Globalization equals "Free Trade" and the rush to poverty for every worker associated with it. A major element in self determination for any nation means controlling you own economy. What made us a great industrial nation was Tariffs that protected infant industries from being buried under a flood of cheap goods. With developing industries came jobs, and the means to become an major world power. We need tariffs first, and then regulation of business practices. You cannot regulate anything that occurs outside the country. Only a fool negotiates away the economic sovereignty of his country.

Posted by P. J. Casey at 04/15/2008 @ 3:21pm
to OLANDUG \ me thinks you have been drinking a bit to much bilge water from you swiftboat? What a bunch of neoklanner trash

Posted by fair hearing at 04/15/2008 @ 3:29pm
I think Obama has it right. I would have liked for him to articulate better what tools he would use i.e. tariffs or quotas, when certain industries and workers do need protection. Just as global economics are here to stay, it is also the case that our next President must do a better job protecting American jobs and developing industries.

On the other hand with the Clinton's NAFTA, abolition of Glass-Segal Act leading to sub-prime mortgage Bearn Stearns mess, and WalMart director -- I think working folks really know what to expect from them.

Posted by rico carlos at 04/15/2008 @ 4:27pm
Mr Casey: I agree with you in part. The other side of the coin is that increased trade historically seems to be a tide which raises all boats, and isolation from trade seems to have the contrary effect. It raises a dilemma which the blanket alphabet soup of trade treaties seems to ignore. The US has some burdens other nations do not, but there is no enforcement of treaty provisions which are supposed to balance things out a bit, like worker's rights to organize, environmental protectiong things, etc. A big one is health care costs, and "tending" to that with health insurance, typically a cost to the employer. Universal health care would shift that cost to taxpayers, but ...(see Sicko). I think what's ultimately going to happen is some sort of universal free trade agreement, but it's being bumbled with meat handedness and a shocking disregard for our workers, like extending tax benefits to induce foreign relocation so workers pay for having their jobs shipped out. Marx called it "the exportation of misery". It's also the result of capitalist use of the term "free trade", which being properly translated simply means that workers do not matter except as they serve manufacturers, and only for the term of their employment. The fact that they are biting the hand that feeds them doesn't really enter into their equations, ie, that workers are consumers. Their aspiration is to sell to millions of people who are not now consumers of their products, and they take existing consumers for granted. The bird in the bush means more to them. The answer, I don't know, but this process will collapse on them as well as us, if that's any consolation. To survive, workers and consumers have to stop buying into the patriotic sounding words and familiar reassuring phrases, and take collective action. Buying into Reagan's smiling face is what got us here, so stop it!

Posted by Bob Pomeroy at 04/15/2008 @ 5:42pm
Two comments: NAFTA is pretty irrellevant - Mexico is now losing work to China. The Nation like Air America - so long a staple for Democrats is alienating the Joe Six pack Dems by being so partisan in such a close race.

Posted by socalwilt at 04/15/2008 @ 6:46pm
Is that speech enough to show that Obama "gets it" on trade? Please. How is it that such lukewarm assurances are greeted by so much enthusiasm from Nichols? Obama clearly has no straight-forward commitment to protecting American workers from neo-liberal trade policy, and he reads straight from the Brzezinski script on China. To pretend that China--not Wall Street--is responsible for the de-industrialization of the US is pure deception. The earlier post by PJ Casey is the most truthful thing I've read in this thread. Wall Street media has made the protection of American workers a four letter word, even to "progressives." God help us.

Posted by Economic Lies at 04/16/2008 @ 4:42pm
As a Clinton turned Obama supporter, should I be worried about Olandug's comments? Has anyone done research into these affiliations?

Posted by dulcinea48 at 04/16/2008 @ 7:44pm