Change to Win Leaders Stand With Senator Obama

Denounce Latest Tactics to Smear His Trade Positions

March 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Following is a statement from Change to Win leadership denouncing the latest smear tactics on Sen. Barack Obama’s trade positions.

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"Our unions decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama because of his strong stand on the issue of fair trade. In all of our discussions with him, it became clear that Senator Obama is the strongest candidate to protect America’s workers and the environment through a new trade policy. We firmly believe that Senator Obama is the strongest candidate to stand up for American jobs in future trade agreements. On NAFTA, we believe him when he says he will “use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to ensure that we actually get labor and environmental standards that are enforced.

"We are disappointed that the Clinton campaign has decided to peddle a memo from a low level bureaucrat of an anti-worker Canadian administration that is in complete contradiction to the actual positions of Senator Obama. Our members should remember that it was the Clinton Administration that was the driving force behind the passage of NAFTA in 1993 and its aggressive campaign for NAFTA is a big reason the Democrats lost the House in 1994.

"We support Senator Obama and stand with him in his commitment to a trade policy that benefits American workers.”

Anna Burger, Chair
Edgar Romney, Secretary-Treasurer
Joe Hansen, President, UFCW
James P. Hoffa, President, Teamsters Union
Bruce Raynor, President, UNITE-HERE
Andy Stern, President, SEIU

Source: Change to Win