President Obama doesn't have another election to win. Joaquin Castro does

[cali]

This article points out what many pro-tpp Dem House members face. It keeps getting pointed out here that the democratic electorate is more pro free trade than the repub electorate. That may be true, but the democratic base and activists in the party are decidedly anti-tpp.



As soon as Jim Hightower mentioned the Trans-Pacific Partnership, people started booing.

The folksy former Texas Agriculture Commissioner was speaking at a North East Bexar County Democrats dinner on May 7 when he started reciting a list of pressing issues facing the country.

<snip>

Castro is in a tough spot. He’s loyal to Obama, and has a twin brother — former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro — serving in the president’s cabinet as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development. But much of Castro’s base — organized labor, environmentalists and economic populists — regards TPP as a lousy deal designed to pave the road for big corporations to send American jobs overseas.

<snip>

As for TPP, Castro is working through the machinations of a characteristically nuanced internal debate. He worries about whether the deal will offer sufficient labor protections, but also worries that if it doesn’t pass, the U.S. will have no leverage over questionable labor policies in Vietnam and other Pacific Rim nations.

<snip>

http://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/gilbert_garcia/article/Labor-activists-let-Castro-know-they-re-not-6268224.php

[Autumn]

1. I like him but I would rather see the U.S. exert some leverage over questionable labor policies

right here in America. My 2 cents.

[libdem4life]

2. IOW, he's a Real Democrat. His background is from the Liberal Left...you know, for the people.

[cali]

3. yes, but political exigencies have put him in a tough spot

his brother is widely regarded as a top potential pick for vp for Clinton and he is a Cabinet Secretary in President Obama's administration.

[joshcryer]

4. I don't think it matters what positions Joaquin holds.

He's superseded Joaquin politically. This isn't a Jeb / George type of thing.

[libdem4life]

8. Did you mean Julian? Joaquin has to decide between serving his constituents or

because he has to get elected every 2 years, or becoming "political" and jumping into the murky waters of being a Party Guy. I would consider this the equivalent of the IWR for Hillary and Joaquin joining the league of supporting the financiers who likely have decimated those who are his constituents. Hillary voted for what her constituents wanted...people seem to have missed that. (disclaimer: I'm not a fan)

When you have to decide between your constituents and your party and in this case, those of your birth (Hispanic), no, it's not a brother thing. He'd be more likely to listen to his Mother, Rosie.

[libdem4life]

5. That is so true. Been a Castro x2 fan for a long time. This is a clear example of someone like

Bernie who has stayed clean by being real with people and consistent. Political exigencies is an interesting phrase. Who does he choose to represent, the Administration or his people who voted from him. That's how "politicians" start to join that "magical circle" that got Hillary Clinton in trouble...and many more.

Why do I bring up Hillary? I'm not a fan of hers and I have been totally anti-war since JFK, but the Iraq war vote was definitely what her constituents wanted from her. She's paid dearly for that on a 20/20 hindsight national basis. (Yes, I know, other things...like money to get elected.) TPP is not a favorite of A Lot of people...the equivalent of the IWR...selling us down the river.

You can only serve one master. Ultimately, Joaquin will have to make both of those decision...constituents or the Party...local/regional fundraising or the Billionaires. I wonder what Rosie (his Liberal Left Democratic Socialist mother from La Raza) would do.

[cali]

6. I question whether it's what her constituents wanted- but that's irrelevant

anyone who thinks that a Senator or Rep is sent to Congress just to vote for what the majority of their constituents want, is wrong. The IWR vote is about the strongest example of a vote that should have been made based on the facts, who was in the WH and the cost and ramifications, and not on what constituents wanted.

[libdem4life]

9. People were pretty clear. New Yorkers wanted to get those who slammed into the Towers.

I can't really politically grasp this concept, nor do I want to. Trust me to vote my conscience, not yours?? That's political suicide. Kind of like "Trust me this is a good trade deal"?

I mean, if Hillary champions the TPP, she'll be excoriated by the Left because of her "personal" interest, increasing her financial largesse and proof positive she's a Third Wayer, at best, and Republican Lite at worst. And we all here know that the TPP is selling out to "corporatists".

You must admit there is a bit of bipolar in the Democratic Party right now.

[Major Nikon]

7. Cuba has a one party system, so it's not as if that's going to be hard

[libdem4life]

10. The Castros are Tejanos...Rubio is the Cubano. Huge difference.

Tejanos are generally politically left.

Cubanos are usually politically right.

[MineralMan]

11. What does Cuba have to do with this?

Not everyone with that last name has Cuban ties, for pete's sake.

[libdem4life]

12. It's that last sentence/paragraph that wonders why we're being sold, excuse the pun,

on the wages in Vietnam. Imperial rule over the globe isn't enough, now we want Imperial Trade?

And let's recall who it was that decimated Viet Nam back in our murky past. If a Vietnamese family can just squeak by with two/three incomes, the numbers are relative. That's where most, getting fewer and fewer, of Americans fall.

Everywhere we meddle...and NAFTA is surely a major trade example...things do not get better, but we do gain more power (for the 1%)...coincidence?

There comes a time when we have to stop ruling and trading with The World on the backs of taxpayers, our young soldiers who often join to get a job, unions, laborers, manufacturing, and paltry minimum wage.

It's not my choice to read the TPP for myself. It's the people I trust...and that would be Sanders and Warren and I would expect Joaquin to join that group, as would his constituents, even if Julian becomes the VP candidate...which seems likely.