John Nichols: Trade Fight: Edwards is Right, Obama's Wrong, Clinton's Useless

[marmar]

from The Nation:




TRADE FIGHT: EDWARDS IS RIGHT, OBAMA'S WRONG, CLINTON'S USELESS...The Peru Free Trade Agreement fight that is coming to a head in Congress pits George Bush and Nancy Pelosi against the workers of the United States and Peru.

As such, it is a test of whether Democrats are satisfied with Pelosi's compromises -- on the war, presidential accountability and domestic policies -- or prefer to oppose the least popular president since Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama is with Bush and Pelosi. He says he'll vote for the Peru FTA.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton is not sure where she stands. As the House prepares to vote, she could raise her voice to counter that of Pelosi. Instead, she says she's "undecided."

Fortunately, dozens of House Democrats -- including Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich -- know where they stand. They will break with Bush and Pelosi to oppose the trade deal. It won't be easy. Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer are whipping Democrats in the chamber to get on board with Bush's plan. And many are doing just that, claiming that the Peru FTA contains meaningful protections for the rights of workers.

The deal's backers are either confused or corrupted.

They are, as well, wrong.

As Illinois Congressman Phil Hare, a former textile union leader who has led the fight against the Bush-Pelosi line, notes: Peru is currently threatening striking miners with the loss of their jobs if they do not return to the mines. That's not protecting the rights of workers. Indeed, says Hare, "The striking miners were fighting for, among other things, an eight hour work day. In addition, we recently learned that there are 2 million children working in Peru, many in these very same mines." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=249824

[Blackhatjack]

1. An Issue that Defines the Top Three Dem Candidates --Edwards is right.

Sometimes there is no way to justify the actions taken by members of Congress without digging deep into matters that revolve around personal gain, personal promotion or a quid pro quo that has not yet become apparent.

For the life of me I cannot see how the Democrats do themselves any favors by approving this trade deal, when it obviously will impair rather than improve the lives of the people most directly affected by it.

[ladjf]

2. Edwards is right about a lot of things. I don't understand why

he continues to lag in the polls.