Legal Commentary

The Truth On Free Trade

By Big Tent Democrat

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

I am an avowed supporter of free trade agreements like NAFTA. But I am not a rube. I realize that demagoguing against free trade is now standard issue Dem politics, but that does not mean it is right. Today The NYTimes explains why:

As Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton travel the Rust Belt, the Democratic candidates seem to be eschewing the advice of their economic advisers and turning to Karl Rove’s playbook. It was Mr. Rove who urged Dick Cheney in 2000 to forget the free trade spiel and promise voters in West Virginia that a Bush administration would protect American steel from cheap imports. “If our trading partners violate our trade laws, we will respond swiftly and firmly,” Mr. Cheney thundered.

Those words seem to echo in Mr. Obama’s attacks against “unfair” trade deals — including Nafta, Cafta and President Bill Clinton’s decision to establish regular trade relations with China. Mrs. Clinton seems to draw inspiration as well, railing to the Pennsylvania A.F.L.-C.I.O. against alleged dumping of Chinese steel: “When I’m President, China will be a trade partner not a trade master,” she said.

Such pandering may play on the stump, especially in Pennsylvania, where workers fear for their jobs as the country’s manufacturing base shrinks. Mr. Bush won West Virginia, only the fourth Republican to do so since 1932. Still, whoever wins in November would be foolish to choose protectionism.

Indeed. I hope and trust our candidates do not actually believe their own demagogy on trade.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 06, 2008 (boomark / email).