Reason Writers Around Town: Shikha Dalmia on the Bipartisan Protectionism On Display this Election Season

The only way that the President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney could distinguish themselves in the last presidential debate was by their decibel level, notes Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia in her morning Washington Examiner column. On most foreign policy-related issues, especially trade, they spoke in perfect unison:

Both candidates agreed about the need for energy independence, fewer imports and—above all—more retaliation against Chinese currency manipulation.

They are both wrong. But Romney's shrillness on China is more troubling. Obama is only pandering to his party's base, but Romney seems at odds with his party's free-trade beliefs.

Romney, in fact, is the most protectionist GOP presidential candidate in living memory, she notes.

Go here for the whole thing.