Amid Fierce Opposition, Obama and Big Biz Still Resolute in Pushing TPP
Published on
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
by
Common Dreams
Amid Fierce Opposition, Obama and Big Biz Still Resolute in Pushing TPP
Populist momentum behind the anti-TPP movement has forced many politicians
to back away from the deal
by
Lauren McCauley, staff writer
Despite widespread opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership, on Tuesday
U.S. President Barack Obama declared: "Right now I'm president and I'm for
it." (Photo: Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
While critics have begun to sound the death knell for the contentious Trans
Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S. President Barack Obama doubled down his
support for the corporate-backed trade agreement.
During a Tuesday press conference after meeting with the Prime Minister of
Singapore-one of the 12 nations involved in the pact-Obama said that he is
"reaffirming" his commitment to the TPP, declaring himself a "strong
supporter" of the deal.
Eschewing criticisms that it would "leave many people behind," Obama said
the TPP provides an "opportunity to grow our economies and write the rules
for trade in the 21st century in a way that is equitable. It gives us a
chance to advance American leadership, reduce economic inequality, and
support good paying jobs, all while strengthening critical strategic
relationships in a vital region."
International and national labor, public health, environmental, consumer
advocacy, and rights groups have all issued warnings over the contents of
the 5,000-page agreement, which was largely negotiated behind closed doors
with representatives from multinational companies.
When asked by a reporter how, given both Hillary Clinton's and Donald
Trump's stated opposition to the deal, he expects to get Congress to pass
the TPP during the lame duck session, Obama responded: "Right now I'm
president and I'm for it. And I think I've got the better argument."
He also said that he's hopeful that when the election is over the trade
agreement won't be such a "political football," according to Bloomberg,
alluding to the pressure from the Bernie Sanders campaign and a growing
populist movement that has forced politicians, like Clinton, to distance
themselves from the deal.
(However, the Democratic presidential nominee's anti-TPP stance was thrown
into question after the Democratic establishment refused to oppose the deal
in its platform and with new International Business Times reporting
revealing that Clinton's State Department was "deeply involved" in its
crafting.)
Obama's latest push comes as business groups launched what Politico
journalist Megan Cassella described as "a well-funded, national effort to
lobby their way to TPP approval."
Cassella reported on Monday:
Caterpillar Inc. hosted lawmakers like Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of
Maryland and Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota at its factories to
meet face-to-face with the workers it says will gain from the Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
Trade Benefits America, a leading business coalition, is coordinating a
grassroots advertising campaign that's currently sending members of Congress
between 60 and 70 pro-TPP letters every day.
And the Association of Equipment Manufacturers is driving around the Midwest
in a truck outfitted with interactive displays on trade, part of a
six-figure effort it's orchestrating to highlight the tangible benefits of
the sweeping 12-nation agreement.
The group is also running mostly digital ads in key Senate races to
highlight candidates' trade positions.
Writing at Salon on Tuesday, economic reporter David Dayen argues that such
a display of "astroturf" campaigning on the part of Big Business shows that
the TPP, and so-called "free trade" in general, has run into a formidable
wall of opposition.
"If TPP were on track for passage, you would never hear about this kind of
lobbying effort," Dayen writes. "Business groups would contact the lawmakers
needed for majority support privately, and set up the mechanics for lame
duck passage. The public display is being done not to rescue TPP, but to
rescue trade, the entire idea of it."
He continues:
Trade has become a stand-in for the fight for the ideological soul of the
Democratic Party, and among Republicans Donald Trump won the nomination
based on defying his party's position on trade. Passing TPP in this
environment, even under cover of the lame duck session, would produce an
unparalleled backlash, and these business groups know it. That's why they're
trying to reverse the shattered image of trade, to make it safe to vote for
something this toxic in the future.
That's not a short-term fight, certainly not one that will be completed by
November. The Trade Benefits America campaign serves almost as a signal of
defeat on TPP today, in favor of trying again in the next presidency or
beyond.
Indeed, opposition to the deal has remained fierce as it has become
increasingly apparent that Obama will do everything in his power to make
this deal a reality before leaving office.
Anti-TPP artists have been touring U.S. cities this summer with the Rock
Against the TPP roadshow, holding a series of large-scale concerts,
protests, and teach-in events.
On Tuesday, activists with the Fight for the Future campaign flew a 25-foot
blimp outside the San Diego office of Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) to
pressure him to drop his support for the deal. Peters, who voted last year
to Fast Track the TPP, faces a tough reelection bid and protesters
threatened to "get him evicted" if he continues to side with corporations
over the will of the people.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License
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Amid Fierce Opposition, Obama and Big Biz Still Resolute in Pushing TPP
Published on
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
by
Common Dreams
Amid Fierce Opposition, Obama and Big Biz Still Resolute in Pushing TPP
Populist momentum behind the anti-TPP movement has forced many politicians
to back away from the deal
by
Lauren McCauley, staff writer
. 8 Comments
.
. Despite widespread opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership, on
Tuesday U.S. President Barack Obama declared: "Right now I'm president and
I'm for it." (Photo: Robert Galbraith/Reuters)
. While critics have begun to sound the death knell for the
contentious Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S. President Barack Obama
doubled down his support for the corporate-backed trade agreement.
. During a Tuesday press conference after meeting with the Prime
Minister of Singapore-one of the 12 nations involved in the pact-Obama said
that he is "reaffirming" his commitment to the TPP, declaring himself a
"strong supporter" of the deal.
. Eschewing criticisms that it would "leave many people behind," Obama
said the TPP provides an "opportunity to grow our economies and write the
rules for trade in the 21st century in a way that is equitable. It gives us
a chance to advance American leadership, reduce economic inequality, and
support good paying jobs, all while strengthening critical strategic
relationships in a vital region."
. International and national labor, public health, environmental,
consumer advocacy, and rights groups have all issued warnings over the
contents of the 5,000-page agreement, which was largely negotiated behind
closed doors with representatives from multinational companies.
When asked by a reporter how, given both Hillary Clinton's and Donald
Trump's stated opposition to the deal, he expects to get Congress to pass
the TPP during the lame duck session, Obama responded: "Right now I'm
president and I'm for it. And I think I've got the better argument."
He also said that he's hopeful that when the election is over the trade
agreement won't be such a "political football," according to Bloomberg,
alluding to the pressure from the Bernie Sanders campaign and a growing
populist movement that has forced politicians, like Clinton, to distance
themselves from the deal.
(However, the Democratic presidential nominee's anti-TPP stance was thrown
into question after the Democratic establishment refused to oppose the deal
in its platform and with new International Business Times reporting
revealing that Clinton's State Department was "deeply involved" in its
crafting.)
Obama's latest push comes as business groups launched what Politico
journalist Megan Cassella described as "a well-funded, national effort to
lobby their way to TPP approval."
Cassella reported on Monday:
Caterpillar Inc. hosted lawmakers like Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of
Maryland and Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota at its factories to
meet face-to-face with the workers it says will gain from the Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
Trade Benefits America, a leading business coalition, is coordinating a
grassroots advertising campaign that's currently sending members of Congress
between 60 and 70 pro-TPP letters every day.
And the Association of Equipment Manufacturers is driving around the Midwest
in a truck outfitted with interactive displays on trade, part of a
six-figure effort it's orchestrating to highlight the tangible benefits of
the sweeping 12-nation agreement.
The group is also running mostly digital ads in key Senate races to
highlight candidates' trade positions.
Writing at Salon on Tuesday, economic reporter David Dayen argues that such
a display of "astroturf" campaigning on the part of Big Business shows that
the TPP, and so-called "free trade" in general, has run into a formidable
wall of opposition.
"If TPP were on track for passage, you would never hear about this kind of
lobbying effort," Dayen writes. "Business groups would contact the lawmakers
needed for majority support privately, and set up the mechanics for lame
duck passage. The public display is being done not to rescue TPP, but to
rescue trade, the entire idea of it."
He continues:
Trade has become a stand-in for the fight for the ideological soul of the
Democratic Party, and among Republicans Donald Trump won the nomination
based on defying his party's position on trade. Passing TPP in this
environment, even under cover of the lame duck session, would produce an
unparalleled backlash, and these business groups know it. That's why they're
trying to reverse the shattered image of trade, to make it safe to vote for
something this toxic in the future.
That's not a short-term fight, certainly not one that will be completed by
November. The Trade Benefits America campaign serves almost as a signal of
defeat on TPP today, in favor of trying again in the next presidency or
beyond.
Indeed, opposition to the deal has remained fierce as it has become
increasingly apparent that Obama will do everything in his power to make
this deal a reality before leaving office.
Anti-TPP artists have been touring U.S. cities this summer with the Rock
Against the TPP roadshow, holding a series of large-scale concerts,
protests, and teach-in events.
On Tuesday, activists with the Fight for the Future campaign flew a 25-foot
blimp outside the San Diego office of Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) to
pressure him to drop his support for the deal. Peters, who voted last year
to Fast Track the TPP, faces a tough reelection bid and protesters Error!
Hyperlink reference not valid. to "get him evicted" if he continues to side
with corporations over the will of the people.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License
