NAFTA

Statement of Lena Pons, Policy Analyst, Public Citizen

In announcing that it would extend its cross-border trucking pilot project for two more years, the Bush administration continues to flout Congress at the expense of highway safety. This is the latest of many moves by the administration to give Mexico-domiciled carriers operating authority in the United States beyond a limited border zone despite lawmakers’ clear instructions to the contrary.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- In Youngstown, Ohio today, John McCain, "standing before a nearly shuttered factory pocked with broken windows," tried to sell his failed Bush economic ideas but failed miserably, showing just how out of touch he is with the issues facing America's families. McCain, the ninth richest member of Congress, even went as far as comparing his presidential primary campaign to the struggles of workers hit hardest by the Bush economy in Rust Belt cities such as Youngstown where jobs have left and people are struggling to find work. [McClatchy, 4/22/08; Roll Call, 9/10/07]

John McCain speaks at CMU: Photo by Patrick Gage (CC)    » read more »

April 21, 2008 -- New Orleans, Louisiana -- PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, thank you very much. We've had a very long and very good discussion on a variety of issues. U.S. and Mexican relations are very important. And sometimes we in America take those relations for granted, but we share a large border, we share the same values, we've got people on both sides of the border, we've got friends and family members. And it is fitting that you and I have this kind of conversation.

George W. Bush and Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon: White House photo by Chris Greenberg    » read more »

Hoffa Disagrees with Bush Statement on Benefits

April 14, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) –Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on Monday said President George Bush is out of touch with American workers when he says a trade deal with Colombia would be good for them.

The Teamsters strongly oppose the agreement.

James Hoffa, Jr at Teamsters Dinner: Photo by Rob Jacob (CC)

"George Bush is dead wrong when he says a trade deal with Colombia would be good for American workers," Hoffa said. "That's the same lie that was told about NAFTA, CAFTA and PNTR. American workers know these trade deals are a disaster."    » read more »

April 12, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Hari Sevugan, spokesman for Obama for America, released the following statement in response to remarks delivered by Senator Clinton this morning in Indianapolis:

"We won't be lectured on being out of touch by Senator Clinton, who believes lobbyists represent real people and is awash in their money and who can't tell a straight story about her lengthy record of supporting trade deals like NAFTA and China that have devastated communities in Pennsylvania and Indiana. She won't change the broken Washington system that all too often leaves American workers behind, but Barack Obama will."

Source: Barack Obama campaign

Prepared remarks provided below

April 02, 2008 -- Philadelphia, PA - Senator Barack Obama addressed the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO this morning in Philadelphia, emphasizing his commitment to fighting the corporate special interests and delivering an agenda that makes sense for working Americans. As President, Obama will renegotiate NAFTA - which Senator Clinton supported as First Lady - invest in a green economy to help keep good jobs here in America, and make sure that every American has quality health care.

Senator Barack Obama at AFL-CIO Convention in Philadelphia, PA, April 2, 2008: Photo by Barack Obama campaign    » read more »

3/12/2008 -- "We don’t need lectures on trade from a President who has turned back the clock on worker and environmental protections, allowed our trade deficit to skyrocket and stood idly by while countries like China unfairly manipulate their currency and dump products like steel on the U.S. market.

In fact, the reason we so desperately need to take a timeout from new trade agreements is to put a stop to the Bush Administration’s reckless and destructive trade policies, and to chart a new course on trade policy for the 21st Century that is genuinely pro-worker and pro-American.    » read more »