Last Chance For Clinton On Fast Track

[NorthCarolina]

The "fast track" trade promotion authority vote in the House of Representatives could come this Thursday. If it passes, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is pretty much a done deal, even though it is still secret from the public.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has so far chosen to remain silent on fast track, refusing to take a position. This is her last chance.

Clinton Silent On Fast Track

Clinton's campaign has said the candidate is on a "listening tour" and will outline her positions and proposals in due time. Her campaign website so far does not even have an issues page.

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A Political Calculation?

Why is Clinton silent on this most-important vote? It is probably because the Clinton people are making a political calculation, balancing the base against the donor/elite/corporate class. They don't want to split from Obama during the primaries. Mostly, they believe voters have short memories and they expect the temperature on this to go down and her silence to be forgotten and forgiven as Republicans escalate their ridiculous attacks and smears against her. Are they right? Maybe.

Link: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Last-Chance-For-Clinton-On-by-Dave-Johnson-Corporations_Fast-Track_Hillary-Clinton_Inequality-150610-399.html

I have to admit, I am already spoiled by the open and honest style of campaign being waged by Bernie. Forget political "calculations" and just speak to the people open and honestly about your positions.

[Gloria]

1. Yes, but we hsve along road ahead..

Bernie has a Senate vote Clinton had no say, so it might be better to temper her comments now...it will be over and let's see how it develops during the Dem primaries as an issue in abroader contsxt and then how the debate with Republicans go...

[frylock]

12. Clinton has no vote on reproductive rights either.

[Gloria]

14. Stick to the issue

...and wreknow her position on repro

[Sheepshank]

17. Which has been on her radar for decades as has health care etc

Your comparison of Bernie who HAS to vote and HIllary who CAN'T vote is ridiculous. Of course he has to be open on this. Geeeeez. The reach on this line of thinking is completely dumb

[tularetom]

2. This is a preview of what you can expect from a Clinton administration

Finger in the wind, focus group tested, mealy mouthed positions that have been carefully crafted to sound meaningful and to offend as few people as possible while containing very little if any actual content.

I have to laugh at those who support her because they believe she is a "fighter". She's nothing more than a go-along-to-get-along politician with strong connections to the Pentagon and Wall Street. She isn't about to "fight" anybody who pays her six figures for a frickin speech.

There will be a lot of disappointed voters if Clinton actually gets elected.

[MissDeeds]

4. Spot on n/t

[DURHAM D]

3. Why does everyone want Hillary to fight their proxy war against Obama?

She doesn't have a vote. She is not in office. All of this wailing about her not taking a position is really just frustration and anger at Obama.

[tularetom]

5. She wants to work for us, we need to know what she'd do in certain situations

This is a test and so far, she's not performing very well.

Most of us would not vote for a candidate who came out in favor of these crappy trade agreements. So we need to know whether or not she'd propose more of them.

It has nothing to do with Obama, he's yesterday's news. We want to know what Clinton thinks.

[DURHAM D]

6. 90% of the country doesn't know what TPP is.

It is about Obama but many are duped into thinking it isn't. Enjoy your e-ticket ride with the Kochs.

[NorthCarolina]

9. Where does that 90% statistic come from?

Source? Or you just "thunk" it?

[NorthCarolina]

7. She's running for President so she SHOULD voice her opinion. I agree with Sanders

when he stated

her refusal to take a position on the controversial Pacific trade agreement being deliberated in Congress is bewildering. Most progressives are imploring Congress to block the deal the Obama administration is negotiating.

“I don’t understand how on an issue of such huge consequence you don’t have an opinion,” Sanders said.

Here's the only substantive mention of TPP by Hillary that I could locate on the web:

“we need to keep upping our game both bilaterally and with partners across the region through agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. ... This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment.”

[DURHAM D]

8. Guess Bernie's gambit isn't working. nt

[frylock]

11. How so?

[davidpdx]

13. She sure could not only put some distance between herself and President Obama on the issue

by speaking out against the TPP, I also think if she did she may be able to persuade members of Congress who support her to vote against it. Is that really a bad thing? No. She'll be helping to kill a trade deal that is a give away to big corporations. The bad thing is she'll have to defend that stance in the campaign, but I'm confident she can do that. Are you?

So no she doesn't have a vote, but she has a great deal of influence.

[MADem]

15. Because they don't have the energy or organization to do it themselves.

Might as well shake their fists at clouds for all the effect they're having.

Waah, waah, waah Clinton TPP waaah is not an effective argument. This place is like space...no one can hear them scream. It makes them feel better, though, without actually doing anything.

[Reter]

18. I would love Clinton and Obama to publicly go on a tirade against each other

She should say he's flat-out wrong on this. She goes out of her way to kiss his ass. I want the 2008 Clinton back.

[Indepatriot]

10. I wouldn't hold my breath...

Her silence on this crucial issue is DEAFENING.

[hughee99]

16. I'd prefer a candidate that has an idea of what

They'd like to do BEFORE they decide to run for president.

To be honest, though, the TPP isn't a new issue. Clinton already knows what she WANTS to do, the fact that she won't say so should give people cause for concern.

[Nevada Blue]

19. ^^ this n/t