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JoeOtterbein

(7,698 posts)
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:15 PM May 2019

Democrats itching to take down Biden over free-trade past - Politico

(Disclosure: the Politico article is written by this DU poster's daughter)

The former VP's rivals home in on what they see as his Achilles' heel.

By HOLLY OTTERBEIN 05/02/2019 05:37 AM EDT

[link:https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/02/joe-biden-nafta-2020-1296786|

Joe Biden's campaign kickoff was designed to showcase his blue-collar appeal: A rally at a Teamsters hall in Pittsburgh where he railed against Wall Street and demanded that a local employer "stop the union-busting."

But one staple of Democratic stump speeches heard across the Rust Belt was missing: Middle-Class Joe, as he’s dubbed himself, didn't once mention trade.

There's probably a reason for that. In the Senate, Biden voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement and permanent normal trade relations with China. As then-President Barack Obama's No. 2, he supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership.


snip

More at link




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Democrats itching to take down Biden over free-trade past - Politico (Original Post) JoeOtterbein May 2019 OP
'Itching,' really? elleng May 2019 #1
He was VP but never supported the TPP. Sanders is seeming desperate. Demsrule86 May 2019 #4
Correct. As VP he couldn't vote for TPP even if it came up for a vote (it didn't).... George II May 2019 #18
Exactly. He can't go against the president. Demsrule86 May 2019 #26
He supported the TPP. Demit May 2019 #24
As a VP, But this shows Sanders desperation. Demsrule86 May 2019 #25
That as his job. Demsrule86 May 2019 #27
Just correcting your misstatement. Demit May 2019 #34
Sanders is very desperate. dubyadiprecession May 2019 #32
Disgusting DownriverDem May 2019 #19
There are many reasons for the job losses. guillaumeb May 2019 #2
You nailed it! And I think the trend will continue no matter what agreement is in place, that is, SWBTATTReg May 2019 #8
Exactly. guillaumeb May 2019 #9
Absolutely. And you used one of my favorite phrases, predatory capitalism, which is what this... SWBTATTReg May 2019 #10
He has an 85 % lifetime rating after stumbling with NAFTA . Demsrule86 May 2019 #3
Oppo crap crazytown May 2019 #5
+1000 Thekaspervote May 2019 #11
politico is trash EveHammond13 May 2019 #6
Politico? Iliyah May 2019 #7
Seems like only one candidate is going after only one other candidate. I can just see the sweat.... George II May 2019 #16
Stay "untuned" more to come. Best way to handle this is to ignore them Thekaspervote May 2019 #12
Its called vetting. At least that is what I keep hearing. vsrazdem May 2019 #13
Good. NAFTA didn't do the damage typically stated. Nuggets May 2019 #14
President Obama compared Warren's ISDS scare-mongering to Sarah Palin's death panels. riverine May 2019 #21
DemocratS (plural)?? Only ONE Democrat for now is mentioned directly and..... George II May 2019 #15
You beat me too it. Couldn't agree more. LakeArenal May 2019 #22
But it's the immigrants who are taking their jobs treestar May 2019 #17
'Cus - things are so much better now without the trade agreements.... asiliveandbreathe May 2019 #20
Trade agreements are a thing that happens in a global economy ismnotwasm May 2019 #23
What about the banking bill? Renew Deal May 2019 #28
Its way too early to start itching. nt yaesu May 2019 #29
Politico et al. will invent Dem intra-party strife if none exists. JaneQPublic May 2019 #30
They aren't inventing it Renew Deal May 2019 #31
And which Democrats are those? The so-called justice democrats who have quite a few who voted for still_one May 2019 #33
Politico and The Hill will publish anyone these days awesomerwb1 May 2019 #35
Joe, your daughter writes well. But this article's headline makes mountains out of molehills. highplainsdem May 2019 #36
 

elleng

(130,156 posts)
1. 'Itching,' really?
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:19 PM
May 2019

'Biden voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement and permanent normal trade relations with China. As then-President Barack Obama's No. 2, he supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

President Donald Trump’s team, rival Democratic campaigns and progressive activists believe that record is a major vulnerability — particularly with a protectionist in the White House — and they plan on making sure voters know about it.

“Biden’s advocacy for NAFTA and the TPP would suggest that the Washington-driven conventional wisdom that he has solid support among union households in the Midwest and elsewhere might be more complicated than the media is currently presenting," said Waleed Shahid, communications director for the left-wing Justice Democrats. "Biden hasn’t been held accountable for his policy record, and he’ll increasingly be exposed for not really being the populist hero he likes to present himself as.”' >>>

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
4. He was VP but never supported the TPP. Sanders is seeming desperate.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:22 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

George II

(67,782 posts)
18. Correct. As VP he couldn't vote for TPP even if it came up for a vote (it didn't)....
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:51 PM
May 2019

....but yet one candidate is going after his record (completely ignoring his own)

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
26. Exactly. He can't go against the president.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:01 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
24. He supported the TPP.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:59 PM
May 2019

In January 2016:

'Democratic critics of President Obama's trade agenda got a playful warning from Joe Biden on Thursday, when the vice president announced that he'll be the administration's leading pitchman for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“I know a lot of you don't like TPP, but you're going to have to see me,” Biden told scores of House Democrats gathered in Baltimore for their yearly retreat. “I apologize, because they think we get along with each other, so they're sending me.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/267420-biden-coaxes-dems-on-obama-trade-deal

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
25. As a VP, But this shows Sanders desperation.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:00 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
34. Just correcting your misstatement.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:23 PM
May 2019

I don't see why supporters of a candidate can't defend their candidate's positions without resorting to either a knee jerk denial that the candidate holds them, or a knee jerk maligning of people's motives for even bringing up the subject.

Joe Biden is campaigning hard on how he and President Obama were a team. If he departed from Obama's stance on some issues, that's fair enough, but he's going to have to say so. He won't be able to have it both ways.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

dubyadiprecession

(5,625 posts)
32. Sanders is very desperate.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:20 PM
May 2019

This could be his last rodeo! There are too many great candidates for BS to compete with.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DownriverDem

(6,207 posts)
19. Disgusting
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:52 PM
May 2019

How far are they going to do back?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
2. There are many reasons for the job losses.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:19 PM
May 2019

Trade agreements among them, but we must also recognize that all of these decisions to move jobs and shut down plants were generally made by American executives.

These were deliberate decisions to attack American workers so the 1% could get even richer.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
8. You nailed it! And I think the trend will continue no matter what agreement is in place, that is,
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:27 PM
May 2019

the tiny sliver of those at the top will cringe to pay any decent salaries so they'll find any way, any method to avoid paying any decent wages to workers, so they'll continue to build anywhere they can using cheap (exploited) labor, and ship to American markets.

We see it on a daily basis in this country when a company announces that they'll moving elsewhere in this country and everybody goes 'nuts' (all of the states / cities scrambling over each other in their eagerness to entice the company to move to their locality).

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
9. Exactly.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:29 PM
May 2019

This is predatory capitalism in action.

And only strong regulation can stop it.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
10. Absolutely. And you used one of my favorite phrases, predatory capitalism, which is what this...
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:32 PM
May 2019

economy is solely now (vast majority of it is). Take care.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
3. He has an 85 % lifetime rating after stumbling with NAFTA .
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:21 PM
May 2019

This is just another Sanders attack on Biden...won't work and shows desperation. And as usual right leaning Politico wants to help Trump and the Republicans.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
7. Politico?
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:27 PM
May 2019

Biden knew what would happen. The attacks won't stop. And the American people are fed up with this present government.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

George II

(67,782 posts)
16. Seems like only one candidate is going after only one other candidate. I can just see the sweat....
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:47 PM
May 2019

....pouring down one's face he's so nervous.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Thekaspervote

(32,606 posts)
12. Stay "untuned" more to come. Best way to handle this is to ignore them
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:39 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

vsrazdem

(2,176 posts)
13. Its called vetting. At least that is what I keep hearing.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:43 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Nuggets

(525 posts)
14. Good. NAFTA didn't do the damage typically stated.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:44 PM
May 2019

In fact it benefited the US by adding around 5 million jobs and waged went up due to tripling trade.

The TPP was also a good idea but now, since Rump made the decision to cut and run we are losing trade and jobs associated with it.

I never could understand why Warren picked out the ISDS to oppose it and didn’t seem to weigh the positives nor the fact that the ISDS has been used for decades with thousands of other treaties.

That lack good judgement is the reason I don’t support her candidacy and would rather she hold a powerful Senate committee position. I wish she was the Senate minority leader instead of Schumer.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

riverine

(516 posts)
21. President Obama compared Warren's ISDS scare-mongering to Sarah Palin's death panels.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:55 PM
May 2019

It was stupid and is one reason she is tied for last on my list of primary candidates.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

George II

(67,782 posts)
15. DemocratS (plural)?? Only ONE Democrat for now is mentioned directly and.....
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:46 PM
May 2019

....an organization that supports Elizabeth Warren is mentioned, too.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

LakeArenal

(28,729 posts)
22. You beat me too it. Couldn't agree more.
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:58 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

treestar

(82,383 posts)
17. But it's the immigrants who are taking their jobs
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:48 PM
May 2019

!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
20. 'Cus - things are so much better now without the trade agreements....
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:54 PM
May 2019

sarcasm thingy...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ismnotwasm

(41,921 posts)
23. Trade agreements are a thing that happens in a global economy
Thu May 2, 2019, 12:58 PM
May 2019

What, where and how are, of course open to debate. However, tossing out a decade of negotiations as what happened with the TPP, or making the admittedly flawed NAFTA a genetic bogeyman of trade is not helpful.

I don’t see Democrats “itching” to take down Biden over anything really.

All that being said, your daughter writes well, it’s a fairly typical Politico piece, as in it riles up emotionally while offering little real substance, but I look forward to reading her in the future

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Renew Deal

(81,803 posts)
28. What about the banking bill?
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:06 PM
May 2019

And did Obama turn out to be right about the TPP?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
29. Its way too early to start itching. nt
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:11 PM
May 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JaneQPublic

(7,113 posts)
30. Politico et al. will invent Dem intra-party strife if none exists.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:12 PM
May 2019

Without a tight horse race or name-calling or backstabbing or campaign dirty tricks, they have no clickbate to draw in readers/viewers and with then lose big bucks.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Renew Deal

(81,803 posts)
31. They aren't inventing it
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:16 PM
May 2019

It is being fed by the opposition. That opposition may or may not be Democrats.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

still_one

(91,968 posts)
33. And which Democrats are those? The so-called justice democrats who have quite a few who voted for
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:21 PM
May 2019

for Jill Stein. How about the camera sign that hired three people to high positions in their campaign who not only voted for Jill Stein but encouraged others to do like wise up to the day before the election

They bear part of responsibility for not only putting trump in the WH, but where we are to day

Any campaign who hires people who voted for Jill Stein and encouraged others to do so also is irresponsible and reckless,

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

awesomerwb1

(4,256 posts)
35. Politico and The Hill will publish anyone these days
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:24 PM
May 2019

because they love to try and create conflict because "conflict" generates clicks.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

highplainsdem

(48,732 posts)
36. Joe, your daughter writes well. But this article's headline makes mountains out of molehills.
Thu May 2, 2019, 01:25 PM
May 2019

And although I realize your daughter probably had little or no say in the headline, which so grossly oversimplifies and distorts what she's saying ("Democrats itching" hardly equates with her own description referring to "President Donald Trump’s team, rival Democratic campaigns and progressive activists" ), it would be nice if she could TRY to get the editors to use more accurate headlines.

Because right now that headline, which of course is clickbait, suggests that Democrats in general are out to take down Biden.

And of course he wouldn't be the front-runner if that were true.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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