This Is What You Get When You Mess With U.S. Populism

Matt Welch | March 20, 2009

Just because it was totally predictable, doesn't make it any less outrageous: The man who campaigned daily against trade agreements and outsourcing has sparked an utterly pointless trade war with Mexico.

Comments

|3.20.09 @ 12:10PM|#

So I guess Goolsbee was lying when he told the Canadians that Obama's anti-free trade rhetoric was simply "political positioning"? Fuck.

Of course, Goolsbee later clarified (per the AP): "Obama is not a protectionist, but that the Illinois senator tries to strike a balance between the economic struggles of working Americans and recognizing that free trade is good for the economy."

Why can't people realize that doing what is good for the economy is the ONLY way to provide relief to working Americans, and that if any balancing is indeed going on, it's balancing what's best for the economy (and, by extension, working Americans) against what's best for Barack's political career?

|3.20.09 @ 12:11PM|#

doom
DoooM
DOOOOM

Cool Cal|3.20.09 @ 12:17PM|#

So Between this, the trade war between us and the Chinese because of carbon rationing, and whatever other blowback happens with any other non WTO countries from the whole "Buy American" provision in the Stimulus, which I believe is still in effect (I could be mistaken), it's pretty much de facto Smoot Hawley, round two. Fantastic.

JS|3.20.09 @ 12:18PM|#

For "economic struggles of working Americans," read, "greed of union thugs."

http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13331117

Orange Line Special|3.20.09 @ 12:25PM|#

This post is pretty funny.

Obama admitted being deceptive about NAFTA. He also "sent a message" that he supports Bush's secretive SPP.gov. And, he certainly seems to have confirmed the existence of a certain "highway" and also said that the CFR is just a "forum".

See also 1993's WHY THE PRO-NAFTA HYSTERIA?

|3.20.09 @ 12:29PM|#

Someone kick the end table, the broken record is skipping again.

|3.20.09 @ 12:32PM|#

Hope and change!

|3.20.09 @ 12:32PM|#

Shut the fuck up OLS.

EJM|3.20.09 @ 12:37PM|#

Don't forget the roles that Pelosi, DeFazio, and (especially) Dorgan have themselves played in all of this (more here, here, and [to a lesser extent] here).

Bumpers|3.20.09 @ 1:07PM|#

" it's pretty much de facto Smoot Hawley, round two. Fantastic."

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union slapped import fees on U.S. biodiesel Thursday, saying it had to protect European producers from unfair American subsidies and below-cost selling.

The EU fees will affect biodiesel sold by Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cargill Inc. and several others to Europe, the world's biggest user and producer of crop-based fuels.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gvd4T17WeuvcomzXpJ_EaMi7RaLwD96SI9780

|3.20.09 @ 1:25PM|#

Goolsbee, translated:

"Obama is not a balls to the wall protectionist who will enact broad tariffs and trade restrictions, but that the Illinois senator tries to strike a balance between the economic struggles of working Americans and recognizing that free trade is good for the economy enact restrictions that will benefit his political friends and supporters and advance his political career."

Color me unimpressed.

Al S.|3.20.09 @ 3:34PM|#

Why weren't Reason writers railing against the stupid cocksucker named Obama BEFORE the fucking election? The occasional rant against Obama during the campaign was always tempered with infantilizing We-hope-he'll-see-the-light-when-he-gets-in-office rhetoric.

jtuf|3.20.09 @ 6:35PM|#

Obama lost my admiration the day he went on that protectionist rant in Ohio. My internet access was a bit limited then. I backed Barr, but only mildly, because I wished Barr would support lifting immigration quotas.

jtuf|3.20.09 @ 6:41PM|#

First Obama upsets the UK. Now he's started a trade war with Mexico. For years, America has been the hub of a circle of allied countries. I hope our allies are ready to reach out directly to each other, because American leadership is declining.

Anonymous|3.20.09 @ 8:12PM|#

Calling Leftists protectionist? Isn't that racist?

EJM|3.20.09 @ 8:15PM|#

I backed Barr, but only mildly, because I wished Barr would support lifting immigration quotas.

I ended up not voting (for various reasons), but if I had pulled the metaphorical lever for McCain instead of for Barr, it would have been largely because of their stances on immigration; or, to put it another way, Daddy Yankee's endorsement did (indirectly) have an influence on me.

jtuf|3.21.09 @ 12:24PM|#

The Wall Street Journal wrote an recent update. The US is reconsidering the trucking ban, because Mexico's retaliatory tarrifs. I glad that it looks like we'll go back to free trade. I'm concerned at how the negotiations went. Instead of just respecting the general principle of free trade, Obama hurt ties with Mexico for political gain. Then he backed down once it looked like Mexico would put up a fight. If that is how Obama conducts foreign policy, what rational negotiator wouldn't play hardball with us? Sigh, I fear Obama's foreign policiy might amaze us by making Bush look diplomatic in comparison.

MORE ANONYMOUS THAN ANYONE|3.21.09 @ 1:38PM|#

Eat warm shit Lonewacko