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David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • September 27, 2007 5:27 PM

    Dem Lawmaker Faces Hometown Outrage Over New NAFTAs

    Here's the Portland Mercury on the pressure Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR) is facing over his support for the new package of NAFTAs that George W. Bush is attempting to ram through Congress:

    After months of trying to change Blumenauer's mind, the activists demanded that he give them an explanation. None came, and staffers informed the protestors that the congressman wouldn't be making a comment.

    A day later, his office sent an email that was quasi-supportive of the Peru trade deal, saying that Democrats had successfully worked to include two major provisions in the deal that would keep it from ending up like other free trade deals with our neighbors in the Southern Hemisphere. The agreement forces Peru to abide by international labor standards and environmental protections. But those standards aren't enough for the fair trade crowd, who pointed out that only the presidents of the countries could file claims if labor standards are violated.

    "I'm not entirely comfortable leaving it up to George W. Bush to file a labor claim in Peru," Daniel Denvir, a member of PCASC, told reporters at the event.

    Even though the trade deal is the product of the Bush administration, the protestors picked their target—Blumenauer—in part because his yes vote seems so uncharacteristic.

    "Why would a liberal Democrat from one of the most liberal districts in the country support a deal that's bad for workers?" asked Chris Ferlazzo, an organizer with Jobs with Justice, between protest chants.

    The protestors are right on message, and weren't fooled by Blumenauer's spin. Any trade deal that lets any president, Republican or Democrat, have the sole power to enforce - or more likely not enforce - labor and environmental provisions is a trade deal designed to sell out American workers and the environment.

    Posted by David Sirota
    Permalink | Comments (5) | del.icio.us | digg
    Tags: free trade

Discussion

  • GrantBurkeVT [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I saw Earl Blumenauer's voting record on

    http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Earl_Blumenauer.htm

    He does have a socially liberal background and I love his pro-HEMP voting record along with his pro-environment and pro-reform voting record. I even loved his vote against the Iraq war resolution back in 2002. However, it's too bad he RUINED himself by voting yes to all these "free" trade deals except for CAFTA. I'd love to replace this guy with an Independent but first we need to reframe the debate on trade and then pushing the idea and framing against these trade scams to both parties in Washington in order to get real fair trade deals.

    Posted on September 27, 2007 5:57 PM
  • Dan Denvir [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    Also, check out this short documentary on why Peruvian cempesino organizations and unions are opposing the US-Peru "free" trade agreement.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=BX8ucJfL9cg

    Posted on September 27, 2007 6:12 PM
  • waltc [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    The protestors are not on message - they ought to be threatening a primary and funding swiftboat style attack against him.

    Basically politically whack the fucker in the nuts with a baseball bat.

    Thats about the only thing these crook respect.

    Posted on September 27, 2007 9:36 PM
  • butte [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I notice that there is very little commentary about "free" trade.
    An issue that has so much control over jobs, wages, and the stream of economic refugees coming into this country needs to be brought out and discussed.
    An aggressive offensive is definitely needed, though I wouldn't call is a "swift boat" campaign. Swift Boat was lies blatantly plastered all over the press and the internet.
    In this case the truth is our best weapon.

    Posted on September 28, 2007 7:58 AM
  • waltc [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    "free" trade is only part of the issue here, the other aspect are Democratic crooks like Blumenauer and Pelosi who support it.

    As for "free" trade, there is nothing that can be done until Reid, Hoyer, Rangel and Pelosi are removed from positions of power. These people are traitors in the pay of K Street and need to go ASAP.

    In regards to swiftboating(which I use as a metaphor for playing hardball) the big picture and that is Democrat activist timidity and general gutlessness in facing sell-outs. The folks protesting Blumenauer and others like him need to play very nasty in order to pressure crooks like him to change their vote. Or better yet kick them out of office.

    And you don't get by writing sternly worded letters or emails to the crook. You whack him upside the head with attack ads and flooding his phonebanks for weeks on end with irate callers.

    Until Democrats learn that, they will never have any real influence over major foreign and domestic legislation. Mean puts the hook in them.

    They also need to stop emulating sheep, deadbeats and slugs and start comporting themselves as citizens for once in their lives. Otherwise they'll end up as spectators watching our country descend into one-man rule.

    Posted on September 30, 2007 10:58 PM

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