MyDD :: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric

Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric

by seattlegonz, Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 02:23:55 AM EST

Today, on the campaign trail Obama was repeating Clinton's position on NAFTA regarding ending it unless certain aspects were fixed. That he's using her exact language doesn't bother me, but apparently someone from his campaign called a Canadian Minister to tell him that Obama would be talking against NAFTA but this is just campaign rhetoric and should not be taken seriously. Seriously.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/st ory/CTVNews/20080227/dems_nafta_080227/2 0080227?hub=CTVNewsAt11

Words can be powerful and they can be empty. That's the problem with Obama we're not sure whether there is any substance to his words. I completely reject the notion that BO is a JFK or MLK, because when those men spoke I knew exactly what they were saying.

When Barack Obama speaks I feeling like I'm getting a whole lot of airy campaign rhetoric.

Hillary Clinton inspires me and assures me that she knows of what she speaks, she understands the political, social and economical impact of the words she says. In these dire times we need her leadership to command our military, get us out of Iraq while keeping us safe, and helping us to rebuild our lives after the melee of the Bush presidency.

Tags: Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton, NAFTA, Canada (all tags)

Permalink :: 17 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (2.00 / 1)

Thanks for posting this CTV article. I just emailed it to the Clinton team in Ohio, they can spread the word!

by 07rescue on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 02:56:08 AM EST

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (none / 0)

The asymmetry of the US-Canada relationship is evident in the comments on that article. The commenters are writing knowledgeably about various aspects of US-Canadian trade, including softwood lumber and oil. I'd bet virtually all Americans, including even those who are generally well-informed, have no clue what trade issues there are between Canada and the US.

I'm not sure what this means, but it's interesting.

by OrangeFur on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 03:24:32 AM EST

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (2.00 / 2)

Here's a video of the report on CTV.

You know, Canadian coverage of our election is clearer and better than our own coverage.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/obama- staffer-gave-warning-of-nafta-rhetoric/2 913981055

by OrangeFur on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 03:35:49 AM EST

Re: Implausible (none / 0)

And you all are going to accept at face value a story from a single media outlet, with no named source, saying that an unnamed Obama representative, made contact with the Canadian Ambassador, who is appointed by the Bush supporting conservative government of Canada.

It does sound implausible. But I'm sure that won't slow you down.

by upper left on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 04:04:58 AM EST

Re: Implausible (2.00 / 2)

Just like you lapped up the drudge thing about the picture ,

It hurts when the shoe is on the other foot right.

However this time it happens to come from the Canadian Government lol

If they didn't do it they should deny it .

I would really enjoy this if it blows up.

Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.

by lori on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 04:08:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Implausible (none / 0)

Actually I did not. I posted one snarky comment, and then quickly realized that there was no proof and so I shut-up and waited to find out what would unfold.

Now that the Ambassador has denied the validity of the story would you care to retract your comment?

by upper left on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 02:55:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Implausible (none / 0)

Not the ambassador, and the spokesperson didn't deny contact from bo campaign, just denied the specific discussion of NAFTA. (maybe they talked trade, or maybe they just talked about the nature of campaign rhetoric and none of it should be believed.) CTV stands by there story...

by seattlegonz on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 05:10:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Implausible (2.00 / 2)

I notice the Obama campaign hasn't specifically denied it. Under the rules we've established for the past week, this means they did it, right?

I don't know what to make of this, honestly.

I guess I think Obama, and perhaps Clinton, are both pandering on this issue. So I guess I always thought he was promising something he didn't intend to do.

So if this is true, it reveals that he was at least responsible enough to let the Canadian government know he didn't mean it.

by OrangeFur on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 04:36:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Implausible (none / 0)

Did I miss something? I thought Obama accepted Team Hillary's denial once it was given. Yes, the shoe is on the other foot and you should try acting with a little more restraint until there is more information. Otherwise you are as much of a hypocrite as you claim we are.

Specifically, I made one snarky comment on the "photo" deal and when it became clear that there was no there, there, I shut my mouth.

by upper left on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 10:47:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Easily deniable (none / 0)

by bigdcdem on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 04:33:10 AM EST

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (2.00 / 1)

I should also mention I understand CTV to have a good reputation. They may have gotten bad information, but they themselves are supposed to be honest.

by OrangeFur on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 04:37:13 AM EST

Just words (none / 0)

The plot thickens.

by diplomatic on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 08:33:02 AM EST

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (2.00 / 1)

I just read this. Amazing. Un frickin Believable

by Fleaflicker on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 09:36:17 AM EST

BTW (2.00 / 1)

This needs to go to the top of the recommended List. Extremely Important.

by Fleaflicker on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 09:37:11 AM EST

Re: Obama on NAFTA, just campaign rhetoric (2.00 / 2)

Do empty words equal lies?

Do words that not reflect the truth still equal lies?

Or we have a new standard that I somehow missed the memo.

by JoeySky18 on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 10:03:50 AM EST

Debunked (none / 0)

This scandal has been debunked. The Canadian embassy denies having had ANY conversations with Obama about Nafta.

See this diary: http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/28/1224 57/359

by DreamsOfABlueNation on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 01:26:23 PM EST

Re: Debunked (none / 0)

Not quite debunked...this is the way deceit is perpetuated. The denial says BO didn't talk about Nafta...first of all it wasn't bo that called it was someone in the campaign, and the denial could be about the use of the acronym NAFTA and not the substance of the conversation...meaning, a spokesperson for bo could just have been saying don't worry about the things bo says on the campaign trail because, you know, those are just words.

And CTV stands by their story. They'll probably report more on it this evening. Stay tuned.

by seattlegonz on Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 05:14:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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