CLINTON OPPOSES TPP, DISCORD WITH OBAMA
Hillary’s rival Sen. Bernie Sanders also vocally opposes the trade deal
Clinton’s disagreement with Obama comes as VP Joe Biden considers entering the race, and labor group have warned his support of the trade pact would hurt his standing with unions Candidates use policy plans to declare their priorities — worries over practical implementation come later
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa—Hillary Rodham Clinton declared her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade accord on Wednesday, her most significant break with President Barack Obama since launching her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions,” she said of the big trade deal in an interview with PBS’ “Newshour.” ‘’As of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it.”
Blow to President
Her push-back against the chief economic proposal of Obama’s second term is a blow to the President, undermining his arguments to Congress as the White House is in the final stretch of winning approval of a deal years in the making.
Clinton joins the rest of the Democratic field in challenging a trade pact that’s enraged the labor unions, environmentalists and other liberal constituencies whose support will be crucial to her electoral success.
With several months to go before the primary process starts, Clinton remains the front-runner for her party’s nomination.
Her position on the agreement also marks a striking reversal for the former secretary of state, who promoted the deal in dozens of appearances during Obama’s first term in office. During a 2012 trip to Australia, she called it the “gold standard in trade agreements.”
‘Doesn’t meet her standard’
Clinton said the agreement does not meet her standard for creating jobs, raising wages and protecting national security.
She raised specific concerns about a potential for currency manipulation by China and provisions that she said would benefit pharmaceutical companies at the expense of patients.
“I don’t believe it’s going to meet the high bar I have set,” she said.
The united opposition from the Democratic presidential field leaves Obama in the uncomfortable position of watching a Democratic debate next week in which none of the major candidates is willing to defend a deal that the White House sees as a key piece of his presidential legacy.
Clinton’s chief Democratic rival so far, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has vocally opposed the TPP.
‘Still undecided’
Her announcement comes as Vice President Joe Biden considers entering the race, and labor group have warned his support of the pact would hurt his standing with unions.
Obama and many Republican lawmakers favor the accord, saying it will greatly help the US economy by boosting exports of American products.
Clinton’s campaign and the Obama administration have always said the time would come when she would outline her own policies and deliver criticisms, implied and direct, of the president.
Last month, she came out against the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to the US Gulf Coast; the administration remains undecided.
In August, she said Obama’s decision to approve offshore drilling in the Arctic wasn’t “worth the risk” to the environment.
‘Hawkish stance’
She subtly resurrected her 2008 primary attack of Obama’s approach to world affairs, taking a more hawkish stance toward Russia, Syria and Iran.
On both immigration and gun control, she has also pledged to use executive power as President to do more than Obama.
On immigration, she cited Obama’s deportation policy this week and said, “I’m not going to be breaking up families. And I think that is one of the differences.”
Campaign veterans in the White House say the impact of Clinton’s departures from Obama policies are minor and they dismiss some of her proposals as routine campaign fodder.
Candidates use policy plans to declare their priorities. Worries over practical implementation come later. (AP)