I’ve Read Obama’s Secret Trade Deal. Elizabeth Warren Is Right to Be Concerned.
by Michael Wessel
5/19/2015
You need to tell me what’s wrong with this trade agreement, not one that was passed 25 years ago,” a frustrated President Barack Obama recently complained about criticisms of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). He’s right. The public criticisms of the TPP have been vague. That’s by design—anyone who has read the text of the agreement could be jailed for disclosing its contents. I’ve actually read the TPP text provided to the government’s own advisors, and I’ve given the president an earful about how this trade deal will damage this nation. But I can’t share my criticisms with you.
I can tell you that Elizabeth Warren is right about her criticism of the trade deal. We should be very concerned about what's hidden in this trade deal—and particularly how the Obama administration is keeping information secret even from those of us who are supposed to provide advice.
So-called “cleared advisors” like me are prohibited from sharing publicly the criticisms we’ve lodged about specific proposals and approaches. The government has created a perfect Catch 22: The law prohibits us from talking about the specifics of what we’ve seen, allowing the president to criticize us for not being specific. Instead of simply admitting that he disagrees with me—and with many other cleared advisors—about the merits of the TPP, the president instead pretends that our specific, pointed criticisms don’t exist.
What I can tell you is that the administration is being unfair to those who are raising proper questions about the harms the TPP would do. To the administration, everyone who questions their approach is branded as a protectionist—or worse—dishonest. They broadly criticize organized labor, despite the fact that unions have been the primary force in America pushing for strong rules to promote opportunity and jobs. And they dismiss individuals like me who believe that, first and foremost, a trade agreement should promote the interests of domestic producers and their employees.
....Snip....
...On this count, the current TPP doesn’t measure up. And nothing being considered by Congress right now would ensure that the TPP meets the goal of promoting domestic production and job creation.
Please read entire article(!)~
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/tpp-elizabeth-warren-labor-118068.html
*Michael Wessel has been involved in trade policy for almost 40 years. He served as trade policy adviser to the Kerry-Edwards campaign & Obama's 2008 campaign.
= new reply since forum marked as read
you must support Fiorina...who supports the TPP.
In the immortal words of Dean Wormer, "....stupid is no way to go through life, son."
Every president has a legacy just by virtue of being elected President The money they know they will make out of office is the real legacy.
I got to say your post nailed it. 
I'm so tired of the Obama apologists; my favorite progressive radio hosts are ignoring the topic of TPP. He could have rejected Keystone XL years ago but he's let it go on. We were snookered! At least we have Senator Bernie Sanders, who is TRULY the REAL thing! WE need to vote out the neo liberal dems! 
Oh gee. 
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/tpp-elizabeth-warren-labor-118068.html#ixzz3aaBMXZlS
My heart is breaking.
jumped through all the hoops and has read it.
do stop making stuff up, uc. Everyone sees throughyour disingenuous bull.
And if you are going to make stuff up, do try and be a bit cleverer at it.
At this point, you're just making folks:
No, it's not just an NDA.
Releasing classified information, anonymously or not, is a federal crime. There are holes in the statute he could theoretically exploit that might keep him out of prison this time, but it also means he can never be involved in any other government business.
Your plan is to get the people who care to stop these abuses to remove themselves from government jobs, leaving only the "yes men".
eom
and international trade co-chair for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign, as well as an advisor the the 2008 Obama campaign.
". . . How can we properly advise, without knowing the details? . . . Questions pervade virtually every chapter of the proposed agreement, including labor and the environment, investor-state, intellectual property and others. The answers to these questions affect the sourcing and investment decisions of our companies and resulting jobs for our people. Our elected representatives would be abdicating their Constitutional duty if they failed to raise questions.
Senator Warren should be commended for her courage in standing up to the President, and Secretary Clinton for raising a note of caution, and I encourage all elected officials to raise these important questions. Working Americans can’t afford more failed trade agreements and trade policies.
Congress should refuse to pass fast track trade negotiating authority until the partnership between the branches, and the trust of the American people is restored. That will require a lot of fence mending and disclosure of exactly what the TPP will do. That begins by sharing the final text of the TPP with those of us who won’t simply rubber-stamp it."
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/tpp-elizabeth-warren-labor-118068.html
Of course!
"What I can tell you is that the administration is being unfair to those who are raising proper questions about the harms the TPP would do. To the administration, everyone who questions their approach is branded as a protectionist—or worse—dishonest. They broadly criticize organized labor, despite the fact that unions have been the primary force in America pushing for strong rules to promote opportunity and jobs. And they dismiss individuals like me who believe that, first and foremost, a trade agreement should promote the interests of domestic producers and their employees."
This last sentence wraps up the sentiment of everyone on fairness and disclosure-----we have a right to know-------end of story----------and we are being denied this right
This is the first treaty that this country signed:
1776 – Model Treaty passed by the Continental Congress becomes the template for its future international treaties
I, you and everyone, do have a right, we have the right know under the Pre-amble of the Constitution to know what our treaties and or laws are going to do to us as a society and to civilization as a whole.
This treaty or "trade deal" and all trade deals are like this analogy:
What came first the chicken or the egg?
there's going to be a mad scramble to dig through it, because there MUST be a pony in there somewhere!
Right? Right?
No, not a pony, but trust me. You're gonna love it! I wanted it to be a surprise... 
This is no way for a so-called "democracy" to behave.
Why are you so willing to sell America down the river?
This deal is locked away behind armed guards, can't be copied, can't
even take any notes (unless you want them confiscated at the door
when you leave), AND you can't TALK ABOUT IT after you've seen
it or you'll go to jail.
What kind of way is this to pass laws in a so-called "democracy"?????
sigh 
I'm relying on the opinions of people who know more than me. I'd say Mr. Wessel knows more than me.
