Democratic Trade War: Obama Says Warren 'Wrong' on TPP as Reid Says 'Hell No' to Fast Track

[KoKo]

Split among Democratic lawmakers front and center as push for corporate-friendly trade pact heads for key votes in Congress

President Obama on Tuesday evening said that progressives like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) who have called out the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement for being a corporate-power grab and have vowed to defeat legislation designed to ram it through Congress are simply "wrong" when it comes to the pending deal between the U.S. and 11 Asian and Pacific nations.

Specifically singling out Sen. Warren for her steadfast opposition, Obama defended the TPP in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews that aired Tuesday evening.

"I love Elizabeth. We're allies on a whole host of issues, but she's wrong on this," Obama said about the deal.

In op-ed earlier this year, Warren condemned the TPP for its inclusion of a provision known as Investor-State Dispute Settlement, or ISDS, which would allow private corporations to sue governments if they believe laws or regulations are impeding their ability to make profits or adequately compete in a market. "The name may sound mild, but don't be fooled," argued Warren. "Agreeing to ISDS in this enormous new treaty would tilt the playing field in the United States further in favor of big multinational corporations. Worse, it would undermine U.S. sovereignty."

And last week, Warren spoke at an anti-TPP rally sponsored by the AFL-CIO where she told the crowd:"Are you ready to fight any more deals that say 'we're going to help the rich get richer and leave everybody else behind'? Workers have to fight back. I’m proud to be with you and I’m going to be with you all the way."

On Tuesday, Senator Harry Reid, the top-ranking Democrat in the Senate, voiced his strongest opposition yet to pending bills in Congress that would grant the Obama administration what is known as Trade Promotion Authority, or Fast Track, which would give the White House power to finalize the terms of the deal without oversight or input from lawmakers. If Fast Track is approved, the trade deal would receive only an up-or-down vote in Congress without the ability to make changes.

"You couldn’t find a person to ask this question who feels more negatively about it than I do," Reid told reporters after being asked whether he supports Fast Track for the TPP. "So the answer is not only no, but hell no."

Watch:
Elizabeth Warren - No Fast Track Rally! April 15, 2015

AFL-CIO

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http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/22/democratic-trade-war-obama-says-warren-wrong-tpp-reid-says-hell-no-fast-track

[Bugenhagen]

1. How is she wrong? Details would be nice.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Brainstorm: Democratic Party leaders convince the fine senator to run for higher office.

This whole mess is like a trainwreck happening in slow motion.

We're all shouting "No No No" and the people we elected to keep us safe are speeding up.

In the meantime, the media is conspiring with their overlords to make sure that we don't have any progressive choices and that, no matter which party wins, we all lose.

Dump Clinton, Draft Warren.

Easy Peasy.

[reddread]

3. Well Warren wont have the advantages of those who would overlook a MONSTER merger

the last goliath, or its two want to be halves will be much kinder to their donation receiving partners than their opposition.
As if any or all issues like this matter to those with a mission.

[KoKo]

4. ...1

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I think Reid doesn't give a shit what people think of him

and is just being the most honest we will see of him

[TheKentuckian]

6. If he won't fillabuster fast track then it is smoke and mirrors, they have the votes

he can even make a fiery speech and vote a big fat NAY and know the whole time that it is money in the bag.

Same goes for anybody that claims to have our back including Sanders, Warren, and Brown. If they don't fillabuster then it is all a show pretty much for dead certain.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. yeah its just theater

I think DC is a farce now and our efforts must be done on the local level.

good shit like higher wages, pot and gay rights didn't get done from these dick heads in dc.

people need to start working on energy co ops ......... that is gonna be the next local revolution