Author Topic: Rubio, Cruz, Kasich All Backed Obamatrade, Pretend They Didn’t at Miami Debate  (Read 997 times)

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Offline aligncare

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Rubio, Cruz, Kasich All Backed Obamatrade, Pretend They Didn’t at Miami Debate

MIAMI, Florida — At Thursday night’s Republican debate, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Kasich, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) all parroted talking points about trade that do not seem to match their prior legislative records and statements on the critical issue.

While Donald Trump has articulated his vociferous opposition to President Barack Obama’s trade agenda in practically every GOP debate, tonight marked the first debate in which all of the other candidates were asked about their previous support for trade globalism. Breitbart News reported extensively on debate moderators’ prior failure to cover the issue in previous debates.

According to Pew polling data, by a nearly five-to-one margin Republican voters believe these so-called free trade deals lower wages rather than raise them.

At tonight’s debate CNN Moderator Jake Tapper asked Rubio: “If elected, will you support free trade deals even if it means the inevitable loss of U.S. jobs?”

In response, Rubio said:

I support free trade deals that are good for America… The problem is we’re a low-tariff country. To import something into the United States is not very expensive, but many of these countries we can’t export to because their tariffs are too high. And so I am in favor of deals that allow us to bring down those tariffs so that America can sell things to all these people around the world.

However, Rubio endorsed President Obama’s trade agenda. Rubio cast the critical 60th and deciding vote for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to fast-track President Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement — a deal which Sen. Rubio said would be a “pillar” of his hoped-for presidency.

Jake Tapper then asked Cruz: “You were a supporter of the Pacific trade deal [TPP], but after taking some heat from conservatives, you changed your position. Why should these voters who don’t like these trade deals trust that you will fight for them all the time and not just in election years?”

In response, Cruz said:

Actually that’s incorrect. There are two different agreements. There’s TPA and TPP. I opposed TPP and have always opposed TPP, which is what you asked about. And when it comes to trade, look, free trade, when we open up foreign markets, helps Americans. But we’re getting killed in international trade right now. And we’re getting killed because we have an administration that’s doesn’t look out for American workers and jobs are going overseas. We’re driving jobs overseas.

However, Cruz voted to fast-track the TPP by voting for TPA on the first go-around. When TPA came up again in the Senate, Cruz changed his position to oppose it while under intense scrutiny from conservatives.

At the time, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)80%
—who has since endorsed Trump for president—implied that voting to give President Obama fast-track authority was essentially a proxy vote for TPP: “A vote for fast-track is a vote to authorize the President to ink the secret deal contained in these pages—to affix his name on the Union and to therefore enter the United States into it,” Sessions said.

Read more:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/10/rubio-cruz-kasich-all-backed-obamatrade-pretend-they-didnt-at-miami-debate/

Bill Cipher

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TPP will be a net plus for the U.S.  It ought to say something that Mexico has more trade agreements with other countries than the U.S. does.  And Rubio's comment does not gainsay his vote, if one takes the trouble to read what he said:
Quote
I support free trade deals that are good for America… The problem is we’re a low-tariff country. To import something into the United States is not very expensive, but many of these countries we can’t export to because their tariffs are too high. And so I am in favor of deals that allow us to bring down those tariffs so that America can sell things to all these people around the world.

Where in there did he disavow the TPP?  I don't see anything in there that does so.  For the most part it's simply boilerplate about what the U.S. does with every single trade agreement it negotiates.

Offline libertybele

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As Cruz has repeatedly stated there is a difference between TPP and TPA.  He does NOT support Obamatrade.
Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Bill Cipher

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Cruz missed the mark on why businesses are moving overseas.  U.S. tax and regulatory regimes are much more at fault for pushing U.S. businesses offshore, not free trade, or other countries taking some sort of advantage of the U.S. on trade.

Offline libertybele

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Cruz missed the mark on why businesses are moving overseas.  U.S. tax and regulatory regimes are much more at fault for pushing U.S. businesses offshore, not free trade, or other countries taking some sort of advantage of the U.S. on trade.

...hmm actually the NAFTA free trade agreement is grossly at fault for jobs moving over seas. There is a huge difference between free trade and fair trade. As Ron Paul pointed out and I agree with him, "True free trade does not require treaties or agreements between governments.  On the contrary, true free trade occurs in the absence of government intervention in the free flow of goods across borders. ...  NAFTA represents government-managed trade schemes, not free trade".  As a result of NAFTA, the cost of doing business in the U.S. (including taxes) has risen. 

Implement 'fair trade' and reduce taxes and you will see our economy boom. 
Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Offline Longiron

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Last night besides TRUMP you had 3 Parrots that want to builds a wall, Repeal & replace Obamacare, Stop immigration, defeat ISIS and all think are trade deals are BAD. Where did I here that before?? :silly:

Offline aligncare

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Last night besides TRUMP you had 3 Parrots that want to builds a wall, Repeal & replace Obamacare, Stop immigration, defeat ISIS and all think are trade deals are BAD. Where did I here that before?? :silly:

What I found especially amusing was the questions the moderators teed up. The questions gave the not-Trump candidates an opening to attack Trump on a particular issue, which candidates Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich dutifully took.

Then, after they were done savaging Trump, insinuating how awful Trump's positions were, they would keep talking and then finished by agreeing with Trump's position! After three or four questions like that it became comical.

Moderator: senator Rubio tell me why Trump is wrong about _____.

Rubio: Trump is a bad man! Blah blah blah, but he's right about blah blah blah.  :silly: they all ended up agreeing with Donald Trump.

HAPPY2BME

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Senator Jeff Sessions: Trump Presidency Would ‘Kill the Advancement’ of Obamatrade

29 Feb 2016

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) appeared on Breitbart News Daily with host Stephen K. Bannon on Monday to discuss his endorsement of Donald Trump for President, noting that “a Trump election would kill the advancement of that Obama-negotiated [Trans Pacific Partnership trade] agreement.”

Sessions said he was impressed with the size of the crowd for his endorsement, and its energy.  “That stadium was filled,” he said of his appearance with Trump at the Madison City Schools stadium on Sunday.  “There were people from all categories of life.  You know, you had your young people with tattoos and things, you had some of the best civic and business people in the community… it was really sort of an expression of national concern about the country, and they’re seeing in Donald Trump a force that they think could break through the logjams we’re in, and advance America in a good way.”

Sessions praised Trump for listening to American voters’ desire for a “lawful system of immigration” that “serves the national interest, and that is good for the people of America.” 

He also found voters to be “uneasy about these trade agreements that have not worked as promised, and they want us to slow down and protect American manufacturing and jobs.”

The Senator conceded that Trump is “not a perfect person,” and advised him to “clean up his speeches some, and be more focused” on these winning issues, but gave him credit for being a “smart and capable” leader who could bring new voters into the Republican Party.

Sessions was especially forceful in his criticism of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which he saw as a serious threat to American sovereignty, as well as a menace to the economic interests of working-class voters.

“I believe the advancement of the Trans-Pacific partnership, with this European-type commission – the Pacific commission that would be created here, where each of our Pacific partners in that trade agreement, if it were adopted, would get one vote, and they set rules, they can change the rules, without Congress, without the permission of the American people – I think that’s a huge mistake,” he said.  “It absolutely should not happen.”

Unfortunately, Sessions added, his friend Senator Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) “voted for it, and he says it’s one of the three pillars of his foreign policy.  That worries me.  Trump is clear, and I think a Trump election would kill the advancement of that Obama-negotiated agreement.”

He wanted a new deal, negotiated from a position of strength, with the understanding that America’s trade partners need us more than we need them… by a President who “understands that we’re not going to lose a single job as a result of an unfair trading agreement.”

Sessions saw the Gang of Eight immigration bill as another bad deal, made without due consideration for the needs of the American people, and criticized Rubio as the chief spokesman for that effort.

He recalled advising the Gang of Eight to have law enforcement in the room when they designed the bill, including representatives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who could have explained “the loopholes and the problems, and the frustrations they have with trying to enforce the law.”

But they didn’t want them,” Sessions noted ruefully.  “They had La Raza there, they had the Chamber of Commerce there… they had other special interest groups, the ACLU… the American people weren’t there, and law enforcement was not there.”

http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/02/29/sen-jeff-sessions-discusses-trump-endorsement-and-making-better-deals-for-america/

Offline Fishrrman

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Senator Sessions is a potential VP pick, but I think he could be better utilized in the coming Trump administration overseeing border control and immigration issues, at which he's been at the forefront ...

Offline jmyrlefuller

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The question is, where did Donald Trump stand?

The answer: We don't know, because he didn't actually have to vote on it.
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A-Lert

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The question is, where did Donald Trump stand?

The answer: We don't know, because he didn't actually have to vote on it.

How could he vote, he wasn't a member of the elephant/ass club.

HonestJohn

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I think the TPP is a great way to cage China and finally force them to play by our rules.  And once that happens, there will be less offshoring to China, as their competitive advantage shrinks.

Which would help bring jobs back home.

So it's a good thing in my book.