Obama campaign mum on NAFTA contact with Canada

[jackson_dem]

-snip-

Despite repeated requests, Barack Obama's campaign is still neither verifying nor denying a CTV report that a senior member of the team made contact with the Canadian government -- via the Chicago consulate general -- regarding comments Obama made about NAFTA.

The Obama campaign told CTV late Thursday night that no message was passed to the Canadian government that suggests that Obama does not mean what he says about opting out of NAFTA if it is not renegotiated.

However, the Obama camp did not respond to repeated questions from CTV on reports that a conversation on this matter was held between Obama's senior economic adviser -- Austan Goolsbee -- and the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago.

Earlier Thursday, the Obama campaign insisted that no conversations have taken place with any of its senior ranks and representatives of the Canadian government on the NAFTA issue. On Thursday night, CTV spoke with Goolsbee, but he refused to say whether he had such a conversation with the Canadian government office in Chicago. He also said he has been told to direct any questions to the campaign headquarters.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080228/turkey_Gates_080228/20080229?hub=TopStories

[Warren Stupidity]

1. mum's the word. nt.

[Arkana]

2. As well he should.

The more time he allots to beating this dead horse the less time he has to talk to voters.

[jackson_dem]

3. Or maybe he has something to hide...

[Arkana]

20. Or maybe it's just a tired non-story

that has actually been denied by the fucking Canadian government

[jackson_dem]

32. You trust the Harper neocon right-wing government?

:scared:

[Arkana]

42. I really don't think that they have any reason to lie

about the AMERICAN presidential election.

But you can go get fitted for your tinfoil hat if you want.

[rodeodance]

57. well, the Ohio Unions have quesions. He has used poor judgement is not replaying to them.

[zabet]

4. Have you noticed?

When Obama stays mum, his
supporters say, 'smart move'.
When Hillary did the same, there
were constant slams against her
for neither verifying nor denying.
Can you say 'hypocrites'?

[rodeodance]

10. bingo

[Lucinda]

5. He needs to deal with this.

[geiger]

43. I dont think so. To me it just looks like an obvious attempt to move Obama off point

perhaps unsteady his campaign. He's made no mistakes, so it would be a reasonable assumption that the opposing side would be creating and looking for opportunities to bring him down. They certainly have tried to create enough straw man arguments.

[rodeodance]

55. if he would clear things up with the OHIO unions--it would benefit all

[AtomicKitten]

6. TPM: Canadian Embassy: Report on Obama and NAFTA is false.

Canadian Embassy: Report On Obama And NAFTA Is False
By Greg Sargent
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/canadian_embassy_report_on_oba.php

Roy Norton, the minister of public affairs for the Canadian embassy, is flatly denying that any Obama campaign official spoke to the Canadian ambassador in recent days or told him that Obama's anti-NAFTA stump speech is merely "campaign rhetoric."

"No, none," Norton told me when I asked him if Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., had spoken to any Obama advisers recently. He added: "Neither before the Ohio debate nor since has any presidential campaign called Ambassador Wilson about NAFTA."

Norton did allow, however, that the embassy on the staff level had discussed multiple issues, including NAFTA, with the Obama and Hillary campaigns at various times, and had urged them to look at NAFTA in a positive light.

"We've impressed upon them the fact that NAFTA has been good for all three countries," Norton said. "They have made it clear that NAFTA is an issue of contention in the , and that inevitably there would be discussion and debate surrounding NAFTA."

"They've heard us out on the issue of NAFTA and expressed understanding for our position. But the candidates and their campaigns have been very careful to refrain from making specific commitments," Norton continued, reiterating that no such conversation like the one described in the Canadian TV report ever happened.

[jackson_dem]

12. A more reliable source than the right-wing Harper government would be great

[AtomicKitten]

15. FACT CHECK: Obama Denies Canada/NAFTA rumor.

Fact Check: Obama Denies Report on Trade
AP
http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/fact-check-obama-denies-report-on-trade/n20080228153109990013

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Canadian embassy and Barack Obama's campaign are denying a report that the presidential candidate's criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement is just campaign rhetoric that he doesn't really believe.

THE SPIN:

Canadian television network CTV cited anonymous sources who said a senior Obama adviser called Canadian ambassador Michael Wilson within the last month to warn him that Obama would criticize the agreement, but it was just the typical words uttered on the campaign trail.

THE FACTS:

Canada supports NAFTA, a trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico that is the largest trading partnership in the world. But it's widely opposed in Ohio, where jobs have been lost since the deal was implemented and where Obama and rival Hillary Rodham Clinton are trying to win a primary Tuesday.

Roy Norton, a minister at the Canadian embassy, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Wilson and other embassy officials have expressed their support for NAFTA and their positions on other issues to officials from the three leading presidential campaigns - Obama, Clinton and likely Republican nominee John McCain.

But he said at no time has anyone from the Obama campaign told anyone at the embassy that his position on NAFTA is just for show. "It didn't happen," Horton said.

In a statement, the Canadian Embassy disputed the television story.

"The Canadian Embassy confirms that at no time has any member of a presidential campaign called the Canadian Ambassador or any official at the Embassy to discuss NAFTA. Last night, the Canadian television network CTV falsely reported that such calls had been made. That story is untrue. Neither before nor since the Ohio debate has any presidential campaign called Ambassador Wilson or the embassy to raise NAFTA."

On his campaign plane, Obama said: "It wasn't true."

His campaign also denied the CTV report.

"When Senator Obama says that he will forcefully act to make NAFTA a better deal for American workers, he means it," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. "Both Canada and Mexico should know that, as president, Barack Obama will do what it takes to create and protect American jobs and strengthen the American economy - that includes amending NAFTA to include labor and environmental standards."

Asked about the report Thursday, McCain said although he thinks NAFTA has been good for the United States and disagrees with "the forces of protectionism that want to scrap it," he didn't have any knowledge of the conversation involving Obama's advisers.

[mythyc]

17. I bet the Hillbot still doesn't take back her claim that Obama's mum...

of course not. the smear's "out there" and we're all so affected.

well Jackson-Dem --- here's proof that you're full of it: his campaign has denied your limpid accusation. want to take back your whine?

[jefferson_dem]

31. But has he denied it again in the past six hours?

Otherwise, he surely must have something to hide.


:eyes:

[Hepburn]

38. Nice of you to point out FACTS and REALITY ....

...to one of the Hillbots...but don't expect anything other than rumor and innuendo to be adopted by them.

JMHO

[sueragingroz]

7. the legs are getting longer and longer....

[aasleka]

8. So they are not specifically going to say he didn't talk to

someone but they are going on record as saying noone in the Obama campaign told Canada that Obama didn't mean what he said.

So what's the deal, they are saying it is not true, what else do you want?

[jackson_dem]

14. What do you think the chat was about? How the maple leafs are doing?

[sueragingroz]

18. Nah... it was about the Sens

The Leafs suck...

(hee hee)..

Here's some more links on the topic in the Canadian Press:

Tempest over trade remarks By BETH GORHAM, CP
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2008/03/01/4886222-sun.html

Ohio voters blame NAFTA for job loss but skeptical of campaign rhetoric, CP

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iGJz7xbqGnoVT2DYShIp1dim-WZg

Tories anti-Obama? Accused of leaking pro-NAFTA chat with Barack, By BETH GORHAM, CP
http://torontosun.com/News/World/2008/03/01/4886110-sun.html

(Beth seems to have been assigned to this story by the Canadian Press)

Candidates' empty pandering on trade
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=483db13e-28cc-4216-9560-53485ee990d3

It's getting a lot of play in Canada because the FTA (yes - it was around a lot longer than NAFTA) is critical to Canadians and it evokes lots of emotions. I remember when Mulroney/Turner duked it out over it back in the '80s....

[aasleka]

19. Who knows but I can bet you it wasn't about soothing Canada's tender feelings

Are you for real? Do you really think someone would take it upon themselves to be a trade diplomat with Canada to soothe their feelings because of a political debate? Canada is a big boy now they don't need a hug because someone said trade must be fair.

[sueragingroz]

21. that post shows a clear lack of understanding of the delicate diplomacy

between two countries that share the longest undefended border in the world.

[aasleka]

28. lol, you're kidding right? This is a primary debate subject not diplomacy

Why the HELL would Canada feel threatened by the statement that NAFTA needs to be updated to require that the trade is fair to the environment and worker? Do you think there are giant sweatshops north of our border? Do you think they could care less about environmental aspects of manufacturing? Is that why they ratified Kyoto?

Hello, they would appreciate that statement not be offended.

[jackson_dem]

24. Of course not. It is about soothing the Canadian business community

[aasleka]

29. See above post, the bussiness community didn't hear anything but

opportunity to get more bussiness. See above reply to other post.

[indimuse]

9. there is def something there ..there.

...

[jody]

11. Political chameleons need to see what the threat is before they change. n/t

[rodeodance]

13. thanks jd

[mythyc]

16. three smears a day...

use that last divisive smear thread wisely j_d.... errr judiciously,,, errrr cleverly. hmmm tautly :eyes:

[JimGinPA]

22. MO OF Many Hillary "Supporters" Here - We Lie, You Deny

[Garbo 2004]

23. NY Observer: Goolsbee Denies Canadian NAFTA Story

I just spoke very briefly to Austan Goolsbee, the Obama campaign economic advisor who CTV has identified as the aide who purportedly suggested to the Canadian government officials that Obama’s harsh rhetoric against NAFTA was less than heartfelt. I asked Goolsbee if any such meeting or call had taken place.

“It is a totally inaccurate story,” he said. “I did not call these people and I direct you to the press office.”

http://www.observer.com/2008/goolsbee-denies-canadian-nafta-story

[sueragingroz]

25. which people didn't he call?

[intaglio]

26. The Canadian Embassy responded

In a statement, the Canadian Embassy disputed the television story.

"The Canadian Embassy confirms that at no time has any member of a presidential campaign called the Canadian Ambassador or any official at the Embassy to discuss NAFTA. Last night, the Canadian television network CTV falsely reported that such calls had been made. That story is untrue. Neither before nor since the Ohio debate has any presidential campaign called Ambassador Wilson or the embassy to raise NAFTA.


Are Canadian diplomats "cultists" too?

Please respond at your leisure as neither gerrilea nor Tellurian have bothered to correct their posts.

[sueragingroz]

27. The calls were with the Canadian Consulate in Chicago... not the embassy

It's easy to provide a diplomatic denial when you can play with words.

This is classic diplomacy.

This is how the story went:

The calls happened in Chicago with the consulate there... the story got back to the ambassador who told Harper. Harper's chief of staff leaked it to the media.. a bit of "telephone" happened along the way - ie the message got garbled/morphed into something that technically wasn't true... but the bottom line is that the calls/assurances were made and the Canadian government is freaking out now because they are being seen as meddling in US politics.

You have to understand the agendas behind the denials.

This happened. CTV doesn't fabricate stories out of thin air. Obama is going to have some explaining to do.

(edited: I'm doing lots of typos today)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. Obama has some splain'in to do!

[rodeodance]

47. Ohio Labor Leaders Call on Obama to Come Clean on NAFTA

http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=2&subcatid=30&threadid=439442


3/1/2008
Ohio Labor Leaders Call on Senator Obama to Come Clean on NAFTA


COLUMBUS, OH - Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer for the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, and Barry Picket, Business Representative, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 24, issued the following letter to Senator Obama, asking him to come clean on press reports that his campaign offered private assurances to Canadian officials downplaying his anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

The letter is as follows:


March 1, 2008

Dear Senator Obama:

We were surprised and disappointed to learn that your top economic adviser reportedly had a secret meeting with a representative of the Canadian government where he dismissed your anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

According to Canadian news outlets, your adviser, Austan Goolsbee, told the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux that your criticism of NAFTA is "just politics" and should not be taken seriously.

After a series of misdirections and half-truths, it’s time for you to come clean about your campaign’s communications with the Canadian government about NAFTA. Enough with the non-denial denials and the Washington double-speak.

Many Ohioans are concerned about the issue of trade and we want answers to some simple questions:

1) Did you direct your top economic adviser - Austan Goolsbee - to tell the Canadian government that your speeches railing against NAFTA are just political rhetoric? If so, why?

2) Are you aware that Mr. Goolsbee held a secret meeting with the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux? Have you spoken with Mr. Goolsbee about that meeting and will you repudiate his comments?

3) Why has Mr. Goolsbee been unwilling to deny that he discussed your positions on NAFTA with Mr. Rioux? Why won't your campaign disclose the full details about that meeting?

4) Given these reports, why should Ohioans believe that you will act on the campaign promises you have made about NAFTA?

5) Sen. Clinton has issued a comprehensive plan to fix NAFTA. Why haven't you done so as well?

The people of Ohio are eager to hear from you - there’s too much at stake.

Sincerely,

Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council
Barry Pickett, Business Representative, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 24

[jackson_dem]

34. Stephen Harper's government wouldn't lie

The neocon right-wingers there are as honest and upstanding as the ones here. :sarcasm:

[intaglio]

35. and do you know the difference between a Consulate

and an Embassy?

Consulate - The officiate residence of a government appointed consul in a foreign country. One of the consul's responsibilities is to assist his or her country's citizens should the need arise.

Embassy - Official offices of an ambassador and his/her diplomatic corps in a foreign country.

Consuls can be anybody, they are just appointees, some are diplomats. They are subject to the oversight of the Ambassador. So if the Ambassador says the contact didn't happen - it didn't.

Oh bother! I forgot! he will have drunk the Coolade as well

[sueragingroz]

37. untrue. This is all word play my friend.

[intaglio]

41. No, Diplomacy,

I am serious, if you do not know the difference between a Consul and an Ambassador you should look them up. The lowest levels of diplomatic contact are Consuls.

[jackson_dem]

33. Of course the neocon right-wingers would defend Obama on this

What motive would they have to damage Obama's chances of winning?

[Iceburg]

45. CTV still sticks by their report. Who has trouble with the truth? Not CTV.

[Iceburg]

36. Canada plays the oil card in response to Obama's remarks

Globe and Mail, Canada

[DemGa]

39. CTV News: sources at "highest level of Canadian Gov re-confirm call was made"

At 2:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMpbpov-HcA

[aasleka]

40. Just confirmed! the unnamed source at the highest level in Canada is

Screwball and he has Iraq's WMD'S!!!

[Vinca]

44. I've heard several versions of this, including one that both campaigns

called Canada to reassure them. Neither candidate is threatening to end NAFTA entirely, just renegotiate the terms so American workers aren't getting quite so screwed. What they really need to do is look at trade with China. That's where most of our jobs are going. Something has to be done, so don't crap on efforts of either candidate. Old Man McCain loves free trade. He can't ship our jobs overseas fast enough.

[rodeodance]

46. 3/1/2008, Ohio Labor Leaders Call on Senator Obama to Come Clean on NAFTA

http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=2&subcatid=30&threadid=439442


3/1/2008
Ohio Labor Leaders Call on Senator Obama to Come Clean on NAFTA


COLUMBUS, OH - Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer for the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, and Barry Picket, Business Representative, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 24, issued the following letter to Senator Obama, asking him to come clean on press reports that his campaign offered private assurances to Canadian officials downplaying his anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

The letter is as follows:


March 1, 2008

Dear Senator Obama:

We were surprised and disappointed to learn that your top economic adviser reportedly had a secret meeting with a representative of the Canadian government where he dismissed your anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

According to Canadian news outlets, your adviser, Austan Goolsbee, told the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux that your criticism of NAFTA is "just politics" and should not be taken seriously.

After a series of misdirections and half-truths, it’s time for you to come clean about your campaign’s communications with the Canadian government about NAFTA. Enough with the non-denial denials and the Washington double-speak.

Many Ohioans are concerned about the issue of trade and we want answers to some simple questions:

1) Did you direct your top economic adviser - Austan Goolsbee - to tell the Canadian government that your speeches railing against NAFTA are just political rhetoric? If so, why?

2) Are you aware that Mr. Goolsbee held a secret meeting with the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux? Have you spoken with Mr. Goolsbee about that meeting and will you repudiate his comments?

3) Why has Mr. Goolsbee been unwilling to deny that he discussed your positions on NAFTA with Mr. Rioux? Why won't your campaign disclose the full details about that meeting?

4) Given these reports, why should Ohioans believe that you will act on the campaign promises you have made about NAFTA?

5) Sen. Clinton has issued a comprehensive plan to fix NAFTA. Why haven't you done so as well?

The people of Ohio are eager to hear from you - there’s too much at stake.

Sincerely,

Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council
Barry Pickett, Business Representative, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 24

[Spazito]

48. It seems the "source" for CTV was none other than...

Ian Brodie, chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This "source" is simply a smear agent for our own little emperor wanna be.

Here is an interesting article about this attempted smear:

A "source close to the Prime Minister's Office" has told ABC News who leaked some misinformation to CTV News this week about conversations between the Canadian government and Barack Obama's campaign. The alleged leaker? None other than Ian Brodie, chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Now, Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae sees this as pretty serious. He believes that the Harperites are actually trying to sink Obama's campaign.

"This is Republican International in action. The Harper government is so ideological and so tied to the Republicans that they will use any opportunity to throw a wrench into the Obama campaign," Rae says in an email sent out this afternoon. (Read the full email at the end of this blog post)

snip

Watching and reading the news over the last two nights, it is fascinating to watch Republican International at work. The Harper farm team is doing their loyal best to bring down Obama. Tom Clark at CTV is fed a story, apparently from "senior sources" that a "senior official" from Senator Obama's campaign let them know that any talk about NAFTA was just for show. He duly reports the story on the news. The story naturally causes a flurry in Ohio, where the primary is close, and where Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are into an intense battle for Democratic voters. Some Canadians might remember that changing the labour and environmental clauses in NAFTA was a big issue for us as well.

more

http://thestar.blogs.com/politics/2008/02/sourcing-a-cros.html

The Conservative government in Canada has been working hand in glove with the repubs in the US on many fronts so this attempted smear job doesn't surprise me at all. I can't wait till we can turf their sorry asses out of power!

[rodeodance]

49. that was posted 2/29--See Union Letter from 3/1:

http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=2&subcatid=30&threadid=439442


3/1/2008
Ohio Labor Leaders Call on Senator Obama to Come Clean on NAFTA


COLUMBUS, OH - Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer for the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, and Barry Picket, Business Representative, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 24, issued the following letter to Senator Obama, asking him to come clean on press reports that his campaign offered private assurances to Canadian officials downplaying his anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

The letter is as follows:


March 1, 2008

Dear Senator Obama:

We were surprised and disappointed to learn that your top economic adviser reportedly had a secret meeting with a representative of the Canadian government where he dismissed your anti-NAFTA rhetoric.

According to Canadian news outlets, your adviser, Austan Goolsbee, told the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux that your criticism of NAFTA is "just politics" and should not be taken seriously.

After a series of misdirections and half-truths, it’s time for you to come clean about your campaign’s communications with the Canadian government about NAFTA. Enough with the non-denial denials and the Washington double-speak.

Many Ohioans are concerned about the issue of trade and we want answers to some simple questions:

1) Did you direct your top economic adviser - Austan Goolsbee - to tell the Canadian government that your speeches railing against NAFTA are just political rhetoric? If so, why?

2) Are you aware that Mr. Goolsbee held a secret meeting with the Canadian Counsel General Georges Rioux? Have you spoken with Mr. Goolsbee about that meeting and will you repudiate his comments?

3) Why has Mr. Goolsbee been unwilling to deny that he discussed your positions on NAFTA with Mr. Rioux? Why won't your campaign disclose the full details about that meeting?

4) Given these reports, why should Ohioans believe that you will act on the campaign promises you have made about NAFTA?

5) Sen. Clinton has issued a comprehensive plan to fix NAFTA. Why haven't you done so as well?

The people of Ohio are eager to hear from you - there’s too much at stake.

Sincerely,

Gary Dwyer, Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council
Barry Pickett, Business Represe

[Spazito]

50. The Union letter does not seem to have the facts...

and is merely acting upon a "reported" meeting which the article I posted clearly points out was misinformation provided by a key conservative government politico who fed the CTV wrong information deliberately.

It is unfortunate the Union did not have the accurate facts surrounding this but, hopefully, they will soon have them in hand.

[rodeodance]

51. Take you complains up with the UNIONS in OHIO

[Spazito]

52. Gosh, I didn't think providing the actual facts behind the incident

would cause this re-action. Interesting.

[rodeodance]

53. I did not say anything about the content of your post--just to say take it up

with the union--they have questions

[aasleka]

54. Well since you posted the Union thing why not have them contact Obama

they have questions, he has answers. Meanwhile it has been explained to you now that it was not true.

[rodeodance]

56. well now---did i saw I excepted your version?--no I did not.