McCain goes after Obama on NAFTA

Posted: Friday, June 20, 2008 2:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
Although he declined to answer questions on the subject while in Ottawa, McCain's campaign issued a statement under his name, hitting Obama on NAFTA:

"For months, Barack Obama said that he would 'make sure that we renegotiate' NAFTA, demanded unilateral changes and threatened to unilaterally withdraw if he did not get his way. Barack Obama knew better. America has not had a protectionist president since Herbert Hoover, but Barack Obama held his position anyway to further his cynical political purposes in the primary campaign. Now he claims: 'I'm not a big believer in doing things unilaterally.' Barack Obama should know words matter -- especially in a campaign based on rhetoric rather than a record of accomplishment. The American people and our allies deserve better than calculated efforts to re-invent positions to sound less irresponsible."

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Comments

Why did McFossil decline to answer in Ottawa? Wasn't Lieberman there to whisper the answer in his ear? I can't wait for the debates:
Senator McCain? Senator McCain? Yo, Senator!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:26 PM)

Yeah McCain you should know as well.. oh sorry your are the MASTER FLIP FLOPPER!!

Todd, NC (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:27 PM)

Lol, "words matter."

And this from a campaign that aired global warming prevention ads on the same day it was out with its shrill message to "drill, drill, drill."

McSybil is certainly earning his new nickname.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:28 PM)

Yea. We need to keep NAFTA!

Obama need to be careful dealing with NAFTA!!

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Obama For President!! (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:28 PM)

Reinvent positons? Really? The McCain Campaign said this? This from the guy who can't even remember what he read in his own speech? ("I never criticized the media - somebody just wrote that in my speech!" lol)

The McCain campaign, with a big assist from the media, is running one of the most dishonest and vaccuous campaigns in the history of American politics.

No more lies - not this time.

Obama/Biden '08/'12

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:32 PM)

I do not believe any words repeated by the McCain camp. None. McCain and his surrogates tell right lies and misstate what Senator Obama says. I have seen it.
I'm ready to vote, I'm 100% convinced that Senator Obama is the only honest, trustworthy and sane person to handle the job of President

Ready to vote (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:32 PM)

McBush went to Canada and now he doesn't know what he's talking aboot, eh?

Kate, Atlanta (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:32 PM)

mccant is an expert about repositioning himself.

thats a fact jack (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:34 PM)

One: Obama never threatened unilaterally withdraw from NAFTA. McConfused needs to get his facts straight.

Two: Is the McFlip-Flop campaign actually going to go down the road of accusing OTHER people of "re-invent positions to sound less irresponsible"? Hello pot, meet kettle.

Robert Hussien Harris, Buckeye, AZ (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:36 PM)

McCain might just as well give up explaining why Obama's protectionism is a bad deal for America. McCain has to use big words like 'protectionism' and 'unilaterial' and 'rhetoric'. Obama's supporters eyes gloss over when anyone does that, and they'll never understand any concept McCain is trying to explain. You need to keep it down to one syllable words for that bunch to have a chance on getting it.

Bloom County (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:40 PM)

Do words REALLY matter, Mr. John-I wasn't proud of my country until I was imprisoned in Vietnam-McCain

Ron, TX (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:41 PM)

Is he really calling Obama a flip-flopper? How does he get away with changing his policy stance depending on who he's talking to and then accusing someone else of doing it without being held accountable for his own actions and rhetoric? "He who casts the first stone...." I hope his glass house gets shattered soon. Obama consistently speaks about being open minded to all points of view about any given topic or subject. That promotes discussion and resolution. McCaine voted against tax cuts that he called "irresponsible in a time of war" and now he vows to make them permanent in order to get the people who supported Bush to vote for him. That's called lying.

Using My Brain, WA (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:44 PM)

Put a fork in McCain. He's done.

Chief P (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:45 PM)

McCain you are going to be the second president since Herbert Hoover to lead an economy that loses jobs. You are full of walking contradictions. Didn’t you say didn’t understand economics. How can you justify telling Canada our high unemployment rate.\

No 3.0Bush
Go Team Obama

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:47 PM)

I have an idea: why don't you calculate positions to sound less...RESPONSIBLE!

Like lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling!

Yeah... that's the ticket!

Midwest Mom, Illiana (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:47 PM)

Of course he did...Every time Obama suggests something or campaigns against something, McCain is behind hin yapping at his ankles like a mean old little dog.

Still not working McCain..still coming off as an angry old white man. HE needs a makeover..Not Michelle Obama..But you can't polish a turd now can you?

Or teach an old dog new tricks..>Zzzzzzing

Kim W Virginia Beach, VA (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:51 PM)

Hear, hear!

Joe (NJ) (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:51 PM)

what does mccant think about bush/cheney/rove outing a CIA agent?

thats a fact jack (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:52 PM)

McCain, by contrast, would sell out domestic economic interests in favor of his international fat cats who benefit equally on either side of the border – or benefit even more from US policy bias in favor of overseas "competition."

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 2:54 PM)

Another Obama flip flop!
shocking! ;>

But as Wright said - Obama is just another politician who will say and do whatever he has to do.
And all along - Obamabots thought he was different.
LOL

KidZ are so easy to dupe.

Obama/Wright08

Carla (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:00 PM)

Why won't McCain take questions? What is he trying to hide?

FL (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:02 PM)

Yes, words matter. Say them with me, Sunni....Shia.....Sunni.....Shia.... See? They do matter!

Jeremy KS (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:02 PM)

If putting Americans back to work, if bringing jobs back to states and cities suffering economic hardships makes Obama a "protectionist," then so be it. McCain is obviously so out of touch and senile to call putting Americans back to work protectionist - hell yes it's protectionist! These are JOBS we need to return and protect from going overseas for cheaper labor!

Obama 08!

Michael Chicago (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:04 PM)

Awesome!!! Senator McCain is kicking a** and taking names.

Vote for security.
Vote for fiscal restraint.
Vote for experience.
Vote for bipartisanship.
Vote for John McCain.

Hillary Democrats (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:06 PM)

Maybe John should take some questions instead of just smearing Obama.

TX voting for Obama (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:10 PM)

Mccain will have a hard time keeping track on all of Obamas flip flops and lies.

Nobama from MI (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:13 PM)

All negative all the time? Expected something different from McSybil - though as the nickname implies, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at any turn.
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA

Haven't been back here in a while, but is this the same Paul Miller that had throughtful, civil, and intelligent conversations months ago? Now it looks like you've been dumbed down to the Obamaites level of discussion. Pity, but I guess you needed to assimilate.

Bunker Hills (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:14 PM)

And what would you do Old Man?? Just keep letting all the jobs go overseas? Obama will take his time to ensure any decision will be the right one.

Obama supporter in Tennessee

Connie, Tennessee (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:21 PM)

Bunker - thanks for the compliment about my earlier posts. As for the later ones, what can I say? Not sure if its the Obamaites who have rubbed off on me, or McSybil and the schizophrenic express.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:24 PM)

Yep, Nobama from who cares, he'll have a hard time keeping track.............OF HIS OWN FLIP FLOPPEROONIES...........upset are ya? Geez, kinda like getting called a trollop or a c##t in public ain't it?

laughaday (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:26 PM)

Rookie mistake by a rookie candidate! obama is NOT ready to be POTUS.

Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:26 PM)

"He is still respected by Millions! The best president in the the 2000's.
Obama For President!! (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 11:55 AM)"

Uh, dude? I know that your posts are really just ads, but seriously...Clinton wasn't pres in the 2000's. Just 2000. Not plural.

C'mon (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:30 PM)

Obama never said he would unilateraly pull out of any trade deal. He stated he wanted to evaulate and renegotiated trade deals in order to make sure the Amercian worker is not being taken advantage of and that U.S. company's do not continue to move out of the country and overseas for cheap unprotected labor. He wanted to be sure that current trade deals including NAFTA that allow countries to pay very low wages, ignore the benefits and those safety and environmental requirements that U.S. company's offer or must abide by, are unfair to the U.S. worker and do need to be renegotiated as Obama has pointed out. As long as countries as Mexico can get by paying their workers low wages without benefits while ignoring the tough safety and environmental standards U.S. companys are made to follow, any trade deal that results in the loss of American jobs to these countries is unfar and need to be renegotiated.

What is McCain doing in Canada anyway? I suppose he knows he is behind in securing votes here in the U.S. so he thinks he can appeal to other countries. It does not work that way McCain. It is the Amercian voter who elects a President and you are, and will remain, behind our next President, Obama.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:31 PM)

Yeah! McFlipflopper has spoken!!!

Mark Webb (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:33 PM)

I'm sure when mcwar sang bomb bomb bomb iran those words mattered even more than some drivel out of barrys lips on a trade agreement...didn't mcshame screw up who we were fighting in the bush/mccain war too?

Rick, NC (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:37 PM)

Poor McCain. Is this the best that he can do?

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:38 PM)

NAFTA and the WTO have to be re-negotiated
Both were passed without any consumer, labor or environmental protections

It's not just Obama who wants to add these protections
Many Canadians want the same things

NAFTA has been the death knell of unions and manufacturing in America
It's probably had similar effects in Canada

NAFTA - Mend it or End it

Obama/Edwards '08
Why not the BEST ?

MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:41 PM)

Is McCain gonna be defending NAFTA nad 'free trade' (sic) in Ohio, Pennsylvaina and Michigan ?

I'd love to see him do it
That little corporate flunkie !!

John McCain, Endless War

John McCain: Bomb, bomb, bomb ... Bomb, Bomb Iran

MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:43 PM)

Hillary Democrats

If McCain wins there goes womans rights! Is it really worth that?? Think about it.

Think about it Hilary Democrats (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:47 PM)

I think Obama supporters should be upset with his flip flopping on NAFTA. They were certainly upset when they believed Clinton had flip flopped. Obama supported his change on NAFTA by saying all politicians do it. Well this includes the "old guard" in Washington, so therefore Obama just said he is just like all the other politicians, he'll say what you want to hear until he gets your vote (and money).

Kyle (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:50 PM)

John McCain in the National Spelling Bee...
Moderator: Mr. McCain, your word is "truth".
McCain: Say the word again, please.
Moderator: "Truth"
McCain: Please use the word in a sentence.
Moderator: My mother taught me to always tell the truth.
McCain: What is the country of origin?
Moderator: England
McCain: "T-A-R-U-I-T-H"
Moderator: I'm sorry, sir. That is incorrect.
McCain: I get another chance.
Moderator: Why should you get another chance, sir?
McCain: Because I wasn't the one who spelled it. My speechwriter did.

Cheryl Moyer, Blue Springs, Missouri (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:52 PM)

McCain won't take questions about NAFTA because its an even pricklier topic in Canada than it is in the US.

NAFTA renegotiation is the pandora's box of policy options, no one should want to open negotiations on it because of what might come out, although I guess you could argue that it couldn't get any worse!

Warren, Canada (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:54 PM)

You have to be patient with Obama. Since he doesn't have Senator Clinton in the campaign to get his ideas from, he is a little confused and lost!! I am sure his special interest backers will tell him how to govern if he should win in November.

CE (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:54 PM)

"The American people and our allies deserve better than calculated efforts to re-invent positions to sound less irresponsible."

This is hillarious, as it sounds more like a skewering of McCain '08 (vs. McCain '00) rather than Obama.

Obama 08/12

TFMC, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:55 PM)

To: Think about it Hilary Democrats

Yes, it is very much worth it. There are other important things in life than reproductive rights.

CE (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:57 PM)

Carla, I'd vote an Obama/Turd-on-a-Stick ticket before I'd vote for John Hundred-Years-War McBush.

Ellison, Tampa FL (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:57 PM)

McBush Lite is a big arse hypocrite! It boggles my mind how he comes on TV and say stuff I truly doubt he even understands, like he's just spouting off what is handed on to him by his cronies. People really need to be informed of his campaign's deceitful tactics, if they intend to vote for this man. Talk about a puppet ruler, because that's what he'll be.

JM, Tampa, FL (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 3:59 PM)

Truly embarrassing. The Republican party is (by choice) imploding. They have nothing to offer than negative comments. Fear tactics worked for them for Bush II, now they believe that fear tactics will work for Bush III. Appealing to those that still think that Bush II has done a good job as president. He did a horrible job and now they want to offer McCain (Bush III) as the best of the worst they could come up with. Honestly, what a lousy choice!

A.Brocco, Albuquerque,NM (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 4:03 PM)

You cannot believe a word out of McSame's mouth......He LIES and changes it daily...He wants debates but he is debating HIMSELF on a daily basis

tr (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 4:03 PM)

Look, NAFTA hasn't been all bad for the U.S. but it could be better for the American worker. It's easy to see that if we don't enforce an equal playing field in terms of pollution standards, workers wages, government subsidies (to name a few) then we will put the American worker at a disadvantage.

Sure, the corporations can outsource jobs or move their operations entirely overseas (to take advantage of the inequities) but the American worker has to deal with the unfair circumstances here in this country. Not all business deals are good for the U.S. worker. We can negotiate better trade deals that ensure protection for our people. That's what Obama's speaking about; he’s not about protectionism. He’s pragmatic and wants a trade deal that makes as much sense for the American worker as is does for the corporate structure (and of course solving the health care premium problem would go a long way to making our workers [and corporate structures] more competitive). We all are aware that we need international trade in order to remain competitive in the global economy but the key is to remain competitive, not to role over like a corpse.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 4:19 PM)

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