Delegates Are Using the Convention to Make the TPP Politically Unacceptable

[newthinking]

 A clear line has been drawn at the corporate-friendly trade deal during this year's convention.
By John Nichols
The Nation Magazine


 Delegates hold anti–Trans-Pacific Partnership signs during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 27, 2016. (Reuters / Scott Audette)

Philadelphia—When President Obama looked out across a packed hall at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, he could not have missed the large square signs opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They could be seen throughout the sprawling arena. In the Texas delegation and the Oregon delegation, in the Washington delegation and the Wisconsin delegation, delegates waved signs showing the letters “TPP” circled and with a red line slashed through them.

Mid-way through the president’s well-received address to the convention, delegates in a stand directly opposite the stage unfurled a sign that read: “TPP Kills Democracy.” And right up front, wearing his “Stop TPP” T-shirt, stickers and pins, was retired lawyer Stephen Spitz from Falls Church, Virginia.

“I wanted to make sure that he saw that Democrats do not want him to submit the TPP in the lame-duck session of Congress after the election,” said Spitz, the “End Corporate Rule” coordinator for the group Progressive Democrats of America.

Many of the people holding up the anti-TPP signs cheered when the president spoke of addressing inequality and injustice. Some attached their various anti-TPP signs—many of them produced by the National Nurses United union—to blue-and-white signs that read “Obama,” which were distributed by party officials and filled the hall for the president’s address.

The TPP is where the line has been drawn at this convention.

Even before delegates gathered in Philadelphia, platform drafters wrangled over the issue—finally settling on a strongly worded statement declaring that trade agreements “must not undermine democratic decision making through special privileges and private courts for corporations, and trade negotiations must be transparent and inclusive. Democrats’ priority is to significantly strengthen enforcement of existing trade rules and strengthen the tools we have, including by holding countries accountable on currency manipulation and significantly expanding enforcement resources.” Outlining labor, environment and currency-manipulation standards, and calling for “streamlined and effective enforcement mechanisms” that “protect workers and the environment,” the amendment insisted that “These are standards all Democrats believe should be applied to all trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

Full story: https://www.thenation.com/article/delegates-are-using-the-convention-to-make-tpp-politically-unacceptable/

[stonecutter357]

1. lul.

[highprincipleswork]

2. This is where a line should be drawn.

[tonyt53]

3. Single issue voters make decisions that aren't always in their best interest.

They also evidently don't read the clear platform statement.

[newthinking]

5. No reason to jump to a conclusion about how they plan on voting

Being strongly against TPP and expressing it strongly does not mean they won't vote for Clinton. Though certainly it can be a barrier and it would be best to listen.

[Jackilope]

4. Passage of TPP will fracture and kill Democratic Party

Messing with Social Security will bury it.

[Loki Liesmith]

6. It's making me want it to pass

If so many shit-for-brain-ers are opposed to it, there is at least a decent probability it must be a good idea.

[newthinking]

7. well

It will be good if leadership does not think like you.

You should recognize that blowing them off completely or acting out of spite. Because you just evidenced the EXACT phenomenon.

Republicans have always been tone deaf this way. Democrats are usually more in tune with "action/reaction".

[yallerdawg]

8. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren...

have been at war with Obama over TPP. Before it was even finalized!

A handful of placards is not going to stop Obama from doing what he feels is right for the future of our country!

He even mentioned taking stands that would cost him elections - doing what is right was more important!

I will never understand why so many won't even listen to what this good and trusted Democratic president who has worked on TPP for 7 1/2 years has to say about this.

[merrily]

9. Ellison was talking about this yesterday or today. Override of state law is his issue.

That is a no brainer as far as I am concerned. I don't want to help elect a legislature that has been over 90% Democratic for years, only to find myself governed by ALEC.

[stuffmatters]

10. Yep, TPP: The penultimate Bill from ALEC's Mill. Majority Dem opposition has been ignored,suppressed

Along with many millions of the majority of Dems who oppose TPP, I signed petitions, wrote letters beseeching my Dem Congressman, Dem Senators and Dem President. We were ignored and Fast Track enabling the TPP (and subsequent anti democracy T treaties in the pipeline) sleezed through. The President of the US Chamber of Commerce has admitted that "the plan" is to push through the TPP
in lame duck Congress.

Why shouldn't people not able to bring their unheard voices, draw attention to the TPP and it's imminent passage, here at the floor of
The Democratic Convention? Isn't this our Party's largest and most televised forum to show all voters what we stand for?

If not here and now, where and when?

[freebrew]

11. Good!...nt

[think]

12. K&R.