Obama: Elizabeth Warren is "dishonest"

[marym625]

298. In reply

We do know that corporations have access and we don't. 600 of them, including Halliburton

http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/06/29/insider-list
http://www.flushthetpp.org/tpp-corporate-insiders/

The second link refers to the first but it shows everything without having to download the list.  This is common knowledge and not disputed

National security that would be affected by the TPP should be an issue.  Which is exactly why we should know before it is agreed upon, not after.  If the agreement allows for greater intrusion into personal and protected rights of individuals, we have every right to know this. If the agreement allows for greater deregulation of banking rules, we have the right to know this.

Additionally, I would like to quote Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn. Well, more accurately, quote John Hudson quoting Casey:

Bob Casey (D-Penn.), who campaigned aggressively for Obama in 2008, also dismissed the national security argument in an interview with reporters. “Even if you could itemize a long list of benefits to TPP or any trade agreement, we can itemize a list of folks who don’t do so well,” he said. “This is a substantive debate about what happens to workers and wages.”

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/24/democrats-skeptical-of-kerrys-pitch-for-global-trade/

An aside, I really don't understand how people can just have blind faith in anyone the way some people are with President Obama on this.  This is something that Bush pushed for and most Republicans want.  That should send red flags up all over the place.  The Republicans that have sworn to block Obama on everything are good with this.  Think about that.

A great interview by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, quoting Rep Alan Grayson:

Now, I’m the first member of Congress to actually see any part of the TPP, even though 600 corporate lobbyists are, quote, "advisers" to the trade representative and they get to see everything. And I insisted they take that information to my office, and in return they told me I couldn’t take it with me, I couldn’t take it home, I couldn’t make notes on it, I couldn’t have my staff present. And here’s the kicker: They didn’t want me to discuss it with the media, the public or even other members of Congress. So it’s a farce. And it’s meant specifically to keep the information away from the American people, because if the American people knew what was going on, they’d recognize that it’s a punch to the face of the middle class in America.

http://m.democracynow.org/stories/15150

The above linked interview is worth the read/listen and links to many documents, interviews and blogs. One of the best is the Sierra Club expose on the Bilcon case.

Another good article, which focuses on an unprecedented meeting with Union leaders, community groups and Noble Laureate in economics, Joseph Stiglitz, states,

"One of the reasons you should know [the TPP] is important is that they’ve tried to get it passed without anyone knowing about it,” Stiglitz began. “And that should make you suspicious.” The bill’s backers “always say ... they’re going to create jobs. If that were really true, you’d expect the unions that represent the workers [affected by the bill] to be all in favor of it.”

Alluding to the 2008 financial crisis, he continued, “The people that are in favor [of TPP] are the people in Wall Street.”

Calling on community organizations and unions to ramp up the pressure, he explained that U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, an appointed government official responsible for negotiating the agreement, “comes from Citibank and does not represent workers or typical Americans—he represents a group of special interests. And that’s why the only way it is going to be defeated is if there is an outpouring of concern and … action.”

A fundamental component surrounding the TPP debate is the process by which the Obama administration is trying to have it approved called fast tracking, a procedure for Congressional approval of international trade treaties. Unlike the standard procedure to pass a bill, by which members of Congress debate and deliberate on specific provisions, fast tracking allows Congress to vote “up” or “down” on the trade agreement without making any amendments or opening any of the specific provisions.

You are correct that we do not know for sure who wrote the US proposed portions of the treaty.  That alone should set off warning bells.  But we do know that the corporations involved in the negotiations have input their objectives.  We do know that Citibank wrote part of the budget passed in 2014 that helped dismantle Dodd-Frank. Besides campaign finance, it has caused decrease in pensions:

It is worth examining how the process was rigged to push that budget deal through Congress over the weekend that contained Citibank-written derivative deregulation and all kinds of other goodies for the rich and powerful. That's because the "cromnibus" formula will be formalized in the next big deal, in a process called "fast track."

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6344790

Don't forget,  the fast track of the TPP not only does not allow for any modifications or filibuster, it still keeps provisions secret.  A 90 day allowance for an up or down vote without analysis.  We trusted Clinton, we, unbelievably, trusted Bush, and don't forget that it was Bush that got us involved in this treaty, and we have paid dearly for that.  No more trade agreements that hurt Americans while helping corporations.

This response is already too long. I will stop now.