President Barack Obama said Tuesday that Elizabeth Warren is “wrong” in her criticisms of the Asia-Pacific trade agreement he’s trying to reach — an unusually direct criticism of the senator whose support he has courted on other issues that are increasingly shaping his party’s economic agenda.
“I love Elizabeth. We’re allies on a whole host of issues. But she’s wrong on this,” Obama said in an interview with Chris Matthews to air Tuesday night on “Hardball.”
Obama bristled at the suggestion that his trade agenda would hurt the middle class, a criticism he has faced from key union allies as well as Warren.
“Think about it. I’ve spent the last six and half years yanking this economy out of the worst recession since the great depression. Every single thing I’ve done from the Affordable Care Act to pushing to raise the minimum wage to making sure that young people are able to go to college and get good job training to what we’re pushing now in terms of sick pay leave,” Obama said. “Everything I do has been focused on how do we make sure the middle class is getting a fair deal.”
“Now I would not be doing this trade deal if I did not think it was good for the middle class. And when you hear folks make a lot of suggestions about how bad this trade deal is, when you dig into the facts they are wrong,” Obama said.
Here is video of the President's Hardball appearance yesterday:
Now I have a confession folks, your Uncle Gryphen is by no means an expert on trade deals, so I feel this whole thing is above my pay grade.
Not only that but we don't have enough information to even assess if this is a good deal or not. Which of course seems to be Warren's major concern. (Though it appears that she herself HAS seen the deal.)
And since I have nothing but respect for both President Obama and Senator Warren, I am quite torn over all of this.
Yes it is inconceivable to me that Obama would do anything to hurt the middle class. However it is equally inconceivable that Warren would have her facts wrong.
To be honest I kind of feel like a little kid who just wants his parents to stop fighting.
I think President Obama should simply invite Warren to the White House for a beer and pick her brain. After all if you want a good deal it can't hurt to have a former Harvard law professor take a look at it and give her recommendations, now can it?
Team Elizabeth Warren. I'll never be able to forget that President Obama was in favor of the chained CPI, which would have reduced Social Security COLA's to the people who needed them most, during his first term and into his second. He is NO progressive.
ReplyDeleteQuite correct.
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteSign Elizabeth Warren's petition to show the American people what's in the TPP:
Deletehttps://donate.elizabethwarren.com/page/signup/tpp?source=blog#.VTh9hiFViko
Oh no! Whatever will the righties do? Will they take Warren's side or Obama's? And then what will they do when their choice is used against them in future elections?
ReplyDeleteRepublicans are already in favor of the TPP. That should tell you something, no?
DeleteYou got it 12:13pm. This is another example of Obama's right of center stance on world trade.
DeleteThis is a foreign policy issue more than anything, vis a vis China. Obama's been focused like a laser on this most crucial aspect all along. Think “Pacific Pivot." Google “Fiery Cross," or “Mischief Reef." On this one, Senator Warren is wrong. It does grieve me to say it, but then I am a Theodore Roosevelt revering Blue Dog. Like the president is. So shoot me. Just don't say I'm not a Progressive.
DeleteHow is Warren wrong?
DeleteI so respect BOTH President Obama and Elizabeth Warren and am terribly torn. But, think I'll go with President Obama because he has been doing such a damn good job since having been elected for his first term! Plus, he's gotten better and better as he's gone along.
ReplyDeleteI'll wager he goes down in history as one of our best POTUS.
Elizabeth Warren has a good career ahead of her and I look forward to watching her in action in the U.S. Congress. Still think she'd be great on Hillary Clinton's ticket though! They'd be elected for sure!!!
Funny how Obama has been hiding the TPP from you for so many years, isn't it?
DeleteWhy do you suppose that is?
The use of the word "torn" is exactly how I feel, also, but I have to say I'm leaning towards Liz. If Obama wanted to quiet those on the left who are bucking him so strenuously he should let them into the tent to see what is going on. The fact that he hasn't, makes me suspect of what is there. If he is expecting a result from his chess mastery in situations like this, will we really get to see the results he expects. Long range could be tough. Once the dye is cast, that may be all she wrote.
DeleteTough being helpless, isn't it!!
I, too, respect both the President and Sen. Warren. But, I'll go with Warren on this one. The fact that the President is not willing and has not revealed the entire language of the TPP for the public to make our own judgments, speaks volumes to me. A good deal? Why not reveal?
DeleteI don't think President Obama has been hiding from anything. I think ( gasp) two people on the same side of the aisle can disagree on some things ( we don't all think alike).
DeleteI also think people voted for a very moderate democrat( Pres. Obama) and then are shocked that he isn't a progressive.
Personally, President Obama's admin. has shocked me in being more progressive than I ever thought he would be, but I never expected him to be Paul Wellstone either.
I think this speaks to "not all democrats are clones of each other" than anything else.
It also leads me to believe the one " pro-Warren" ommentor is not a democrat at all. Sorry poster, no matter what you write about Pres Obama or Hillary will never leave me voting for Cruz or Bush.
I am pro-Warren -- I posted at 12;08, 12;13, 12:58, and 3:48, just so you know. There is more than one pro-Warren poster here. For you to accuse ANY of us of not being a Democrat (notice how I capitalized the "D" -- which you didn't) simply because we support Warren and disagree with Obama on this is vile. No, I certainly didn't expect Obama to be Paul Wellstone, especially after the Catfood Commission got rolling, and thanks to Bill Clinton, I'm perfectly aware that Democratic presidents are every bit as capable of screwing over the middle class as Republican presidents are. Obviously I am not the only one who is aware of that. I have been voting for Democratic candidates for president since McGovern in 1972, and most of those candidates have not especially thrilled me, but I voted for them because they were better than the alternative. That's essentially why I voted twice for Obama. My votes for him sure as hell don't mean I'm not going to criticize him, especially when I would be livid if a Republican did the exact same thing -- and Republicans support the TPP. If you think I'm going to side with Republicans on this simply because Obama does, YOU might as well be a Republican.
DeleteBernie Sanders has been vocally against it.
ReplyDeleteI know - I'm just eager to see the content once the trade agreements have been publically disclosed by President Obama and his administration.
Delete12:41, don't you think it would be better if we could see exactly what is in it BEFORE it is a done deal so we could voice our opinion about it?
DeleteThe fact that it's being done in secret should ring alarms.
12:41pm
DeleteThey agreements will never be made public.
Not in your wildest dreams will it be publicly disclosed. The TPP negotiations have been going on for years, in the strictest secrecy. We have Wikileaks to thank for what little we know.
DeleteTPP is the nil in the coffin for the middle class that was started with NAFTA under Clinton and other free trade agreements since then. These trade agreements have cost America hundreds of thousands if not millions of jobs wich is part of the reason we have been stuck in this recession. It's also another reason why our national debt is going out of sight. People who aren't working are not paying taxes.
ReplyDeleteAll these trade agreements have one thing in common, lowering labor costs by getting around laws mean to protect American workers. Can't hire illegal aliens? Can't get around minimum wages? Can't get around labor agreements? Then let's send all these jobs overseas where people will work for peanuts.
Short term gain for big business at the cost of bankrupting our country. Companies can't sell their products here if people don't have jobs and money to spend.
Elizabeth Warren is right in this case and President Obama is dead wrong.
You are correct. The old middle class is gone. They became investors and have made a ton of money on both individual market investments, real estate and retirement funds. Those who did not invest are now the middle class, as the old middle has moved on to upper by riding this wave of economic growth. Those who still work jobs that only provide them with "hand to mouth living paycheck to paycheck" results are those who will suffer. Obama is leaving these people in the dust as he knows that most middle class has progressed beyond due to his financially masterful improvements in our economy.
DeleteIt's not too late to invest in oil futures and some start ups and not be left behind.
12:23 PM You seem to forget that the American corporations are the ones that hire the illegal immigrants (aliens?) due to getting them cheaper than American workers. Plus, how the hell do you know what is in the trade agreements that our POTUS is currently working?
ReplyDeleteWe don't know if President Obama is 'dead' wrong at this point and I trust that he isn't!
It's very simple. If Republicans support it -- and they do -- I DON'T.
DeleteHahaha
ReplyDeleteA secret trade dill. What could go wrong?
Obots man your battle stations.
Why would you assume that anyone who reads or posts here is an "obot"? At least a few of us are green party or libertarian voters that didn't vote for Obama. I am one of those people, but damn, I have to admit that I'm pretty pleased at how he's run the Country, especially improving the financial situation. My IRA's and 401k's have earned over $240,000 this last 8 years, adding a nice chunk to my already substantial investment earnings. Didn't vote for him and won't vote for Hills but I do so love what Dems do for the economy as a whole.
DeleteSo then 1.22 PM. You will vote against your own interests? Jeez...we should stop picking on the poor and stupid that vote R.
DeleteSomewhat offtopic:
ReplyDeleteGryphen, as you know, former HP CEO Carly "I Got This" Farina is about to announce her candidacy for the GOP presidential nom. I didn't want you to hear it through the grapevine that I am endorsing her bid and hope to be her point man in the North Southwestern Central Texas/East Upper Valley High Desert Idaho Campaign operation.
I know my decision will be considered controversial by some, but hear me out.
Ms Fiorina has a proven record of institutional disruption at H-P which will be very helpful in destroying the American government from within. I dont have the exact figures, but she was successful in reducing H-P stock value by a dramatic percentage and I'm certain that had she not been fired for poor judgment and awful results, she could have successfully brought H-P to bankruptcy within 5 years or less.
So, I hope I can count on you and your libtard blog buddies who still visit this defunct blog that nobody reads to join me in working to ensure that the next president of the United States of America will be a WOMAN!!!!
(A woman, yes. But, of course, it won't be Carly Farina.
Because... she's Carly Farina.)
Bruce Jenner??
DeleteI made a little money off HP early on but divested my stock once Carly took over. HP was one of those companies that has never kept up with the "tech curve" and got left in the dust pretty early.
DeleteA.k.a. "Stepford Barbie".
Deletehttp://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/WestCorrespondent/Miscellaneous/Carly%20Fiorina%20Nov%202010%20Apr%202015.jpg
"Asked by an audience member what sets her apart from her GOP rivals, Fiorina cited “executive decision making,” which she described as “making tough calls in tough times, with high stakes for which you’re prepared to be held accountable,” and her track record as CEO of a $90 billion business.
“And I look a little different, too,” she joked.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/11/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-trans-pacific-partnership/
ReplyDeleteIt's not a good thing. For any of you that like shrimp, for example, if you haven't noticed the quality requirements have gone down for places like Thailand that farm shrimp. They are full of antibiotics due to their overcrowded farm environments and they taste terrible. This is just America trying to put pressure on China and it isn't working as so many of the other Asian countries products are substandard and not worth buying.
I support Warren and NOT Obama on this measure. Just the mere fact that we, the electorate, are kept in the dark should be a red flag for anyone concerned about his agreement. This is just President Obama enjoying his lame duck status and enacting things that he wants but aren't good for America. Kudos to Warren for calling him out.
The TPP will enable US drug manufacturers to destroy Australia's subsidised medicine scheme. They've been trying for generations to make it hard for Australians to get medicine; this time they will probably succeed.
ReplyDeleteThe TPP will enable US companies to sue Australia over any Australian law that restrains foreign trade in any way, because Australia will have no right to protect itself.
These are wonderful things for the US, Obama is correct.
He can go to hell.
Hopefully you have good lawmakers that can do a "run around" against this abhorrent abuse of power from America. If it doesn't work out for you this time rest assured, with the dumbing down of America and the increasing ignorance of our populace, we won't be dictating anything regarding OTHER countries for very long. This little experiment called "America" will be a third world nation soon if we keep up this path that we are on.
DeleteConversely, other countries and corporations can sue the US if they pass any laws that interfere with trade. This is an absolutely horrid agreement. We are giving up sovereignty.
DeleteYes... may they have a beer, a glass of wine, a joint or whatever encourages/floats the boats of honest discussions about the subjects at large. We all depend upon it!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Warren may not have been shown anything. Wikileaks has published details on it.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.
I'm not discounting the US Presidency's (not just Obama) indebtedness to global conglomerates. They'll let him have his pet causes, yet he needs to pay up to their demands. It sounds outrageous, but is it really inconceivable? I think not.
As much as I respect President Obama, gotta side with Liz on this one. She is the expert on Economics.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Obama twice, and I think he's done a pretty good job overall.
ReplyDeleteBut I believe Elizabeth Warren on this.
I for one believe that President Obama is totally wrong on this. I am glad that Senator Bernie Sanders is on the same page as most Americans as well as Senator Warren.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reason, it seems to me that both POTUS as well as FLOTUS are in the pocket of Monsanto, Syngenta and Bayer. I hope, they come to their senses.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/239688-sanders-tries-to-block-trade-bill
Our President is great, but Warren is right on this issue.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, President Obama, I love ya but this is Nafta II.
ReplyDeleteI, too, love them both and find it hard to know whom to believe, also knowing nothing about trade deals. I do know this--President Obama mentioned selling more beef to Japan--pushing our agricultural industry (and this, translated, means he is being, or has been, bankrolled by the cattle and dairy industries and is selling out, not only the poor suffering animals, but our environment. ) As the Cowspiracy documentary brilliantly explains, animal agriculture is the NUMBER ONE cause of drought, deforestation and methane emissions leading to climate change--as pointed out in WHO reports. Obama is not right on this based on this very very underhand and bought-by-Big-Meat-and-Big Milk.. I'm very disappointed. As much as I love Obama, he's never done one kind thing for animals, not a one. And that is very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteFrom a health perspective AND from an environmental perspective the LAST thing we want to be doing is pushing our meat-at-every-meal Western diet on the East, and considering that 2/3 of all Asians are lactose-inolerant, the LAST thing we want to do is be encouraging them to eat more dairy. It's wrong and it's unethical and he has sold out to these industries. :(