CQ Politics | David Corn - Why Does McCain Want NAFTA as a Running-mate?

Why Does McCain Want NAFTA as a Running-mate?

By David Corn | June 20, 2008 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

What's John McCain thinking?

On Friday, he published an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press that hailed NAFTA and slammed Barack Obama for raising questions about the free trade pact. And on the same day, he was scheduled to speak at the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa, where he would deliver the same message.

From the op-ed:

The North American Free Trade Agreement has provided our economy with a framework in which we can become more competitive....What is needed is the cooperative work of partners to reduce the burden of complying with NAFTA's rules of origin and to reduce border delays so they do not become impediments to trade or the equivalent of a tariff. Perhaps most of all, those who would lead our countries must work to ensure that the benefits of NAFTA are understood throughout our countries, and not jeopardized through "cowboy diplomacy."

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama does not understand this. He has called NAFTA "devastating" and "a big mistake," characterizations that are out of touch with the reality of NAFTA in Michigan. What truly would be devastating is to jeopardize the trade expansion of NAFTA through a misguided, isolationist impulse that would inevitably and understandably alienate a key partner like Canada.

McCain seems to want to create a black-and-white debate: NAFTA-is-good/criticism-of-NAFTA-is-bad. From that simplistic perspective, Obama's call for revisiting and revising NAFTA has to be bad.

But the Obama camp must be thinking, "thank you, John McCain." NAFTA is not a political winner. Not if polls are any indication. Last December, a Pew poll showed that among Democratic primary voters, 45 percent said free trade agreements are a "bad thing." Only 36 percent said such agreements are a "good thing."

Sure, you say, that's just those protectionist, hide-their-heads-in-the-sand, turn-back-the-clock, enslaved-to-Big-Labor, anti-globalization naysayers of the Democratic Party. But look at how Republican voters broke on this issue: 45 to 39, "bad thing" versus "good thing." That is, GOPers had the same view of free trade agreements as Democrats: most don't like 'em. This marked a downward shift for NAFTA. A 2005 poll found that 44 percent of the public considered NAFTA a "good thing," while 34 percent did not. More recently, an April Pew poll found dislike of NAFTA among all registered votes, with 48 percent calling the agreement a "bad thing," and only 35 percent describing it as a "good thing."

It sure makes sense that as the economy droops, there will be more popular skepticism regarding NAFTA and other free trade agreements. (In that April poll, 61 percent said that free trade agreements lead to job losses; only 9 percent said these pacts create jobs.) Why, then, is McCain beating the NAFTA drum? Maybe this is an act of theological loyalty to the Church of Free Trade. But that April poll also asked registered voters who would be more likely to make wise decisions about trade. In that category, McCain had a 48-to-38 percent edge over Obama. Is he now trying exploit that gap? Perhaps. But as he celebrates NAFTA, McCain may actually help Obama close that divide. NAFTA is just slightly more popular than George W. Bush. If McCain wants to run with it, the Obama camp won't be unhappy.

Comments

Publishing a pro-NAFTA op-ed in the Freep?

Who's McCain's campaign manager? This surely isn't a good way to win voters in Detroit...

Posted by: Don | June 20, 2008 1:03 PM

It is like they don't want to win. Seems very odd to me.

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 1:21 PM

McCain meets with Hispanic leaders

[...]

"He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," complained Rosanna Pulido, a Hispanic and conservative Republican who attended the meeting.

Pulido, who heads the Illinois Minuteman Project, which advocates for restrictive immigration laws, said she thought McCain was "pandering to the crowd" by emphasizing immigration reform in his 15-minute speech.

"He's having his private meetings to rally Hispanics and to tell them what they want to hear," she said. "I'm outraged that he would reach out to me as a Hispanic but not as a conservative."

After the event, McCain met privately with Martin Sandoval, an Illinois state senator and Democratic convention delegate for former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sandoval said he left open the possibility of backing McCain, citing his immigration stance and pledge to keep business taxes low.

http://tinyurl.com/3rnh24

*****

I don't see how McCain is going to keep the rank and file xenophobes in line by reaching out to Hispanics and basically engaging the same policy as Barack?

It is like he doesn't think he needs the GOP base? Again I don't see the strategy.

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 1:42 PM

The ever-changing John McCain

My friends, what is up with John McCain?

Almost every day he reverses a long-held, if no longer deeply-held, position on a major issue facing voters this November.

Most recently (not counting the last few minutes), he decided he wants to permit oil and gas drilling in federal waters off our coastlines.

California's Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, immediately doused the idea with cold water -- Californians love their coasts far more than party politics.

McCain's about-face left Florida, a must state for him, reeling. Although its governor, Charlie Crist, on McCain's list of potential running mates, quickly lined up behind him, as did President Bush, most Floridians do not want their gorgeous coasts exposed to potential environmental catastrophes.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/8879

*****

Seriously, what is going on with McCain? It seems curiouser and curiouser.

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 2:13 PM

Helping McCain: He Needs an Intervention

I spoke yesterday before the Washington Post editorial board on some of the work I do outside my day job.

A major theme is that John McCain has a lot to offer, but over the last year, we've heard nothing from him; instead, we hear from the predatory lobbyists putting words in his mouth. That's why he seems to have flip flopped so much recently; the best example, by undermining the troops by attacking the new GI Bill, while misrepresenting it.

I suggest that the people who admire him (including me) find a way to stage an intervention to free him.

http://tinyurl.com/66mgce

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 2:22 PM

Barack’s Bounce

The latest NEWSWEEK Poll shows the Democrat with a 15-point lead over McCain.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465?from=rss

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 5:07 PM

NAFTA has been a very bad deal for Americans and especially Mexicans.

Its a treaty. We can leave it if enough people let there congresscritters know.

Posted by: David B. Benson | June 20, 2008 8:39 PM

Democrats Question Ambassador's Role in Organizing McCain Speech in Canada

A Canadian newspaper reported Thursday that Friday's scheduled $100-a-plate luncheon speech by Sen. John McCain in Ottowa was organized in part by U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, a former South Carolina lawmaker whom President Bush appointed in 2005.

Democrats pointed out the article late Thursday night, and alleged that Wilkins's actions could be construed as a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits many kinds of political activities by government employees.

http://tinyurl.com/5apc8g

*****

A clear violation of the Hatch act. Why does McCain insist on breaking the law?

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 9:17 PM

DB,

It does depend a bit on who your congresscritter is.

In my case Heather Wilson (R-Bushbot) has been my rep. she would never do anything against Bush no matter how many people contacted her.

Thank goodness she stepped down to make a failed run for Domenici's Senate seat.

We have a strong candidate to replace Heather, Martin Heinrich - things will get better and we will have a good rep soon . . .

Posted by: capt | June 20, 2008 9:20 PM

Makes you wonder which is the REAL big business candidate.....

Posted by: Patsi | June 21, 2008 10:08 AM