Three cheers for President Obama's decision, announced quietly on Monday, to repudiate a campaign promise and not press for new labor and environmental regulations in the North American Free Trade Agreement. The last thing the Western Hemisphere needs are more trade barriers that would snarl supply chains and damage commerce.
Perhaps we should call this Austan Goolsbee's revenge. Recall that last year the Obama economic adviser had told a Canadian diplomat to ignore Mr. Obama's Nafta campaign rhetoric; the candidate was merely pandering to Big Labor. When that disclosure became news, Mr. Goolsbee was banished to the campaign's isolation ward for imperfect spinners. Now we know Mr. Goolsbee -- not the candidate -- was the one telling the truth.
Look, I am a free trade guy. So Four more years of Bush on NAFTA is a good thing for the country. But what I don't get is why Big Labor, continues their loyal support of candidates and parties who consistently sell them out on this issue.
They sure as hell won't sell out the NEA on school choice or NOW on abortion rights or the Environazis' on off shore drilling, so why this one?
1 comment:
'Cause it pays the bills.
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