During a September 15, 2008 interview Jorge Ramos for Univision, John McCain said:
“So, the point is, I’m for free trade and opening these markets, and improving the lives of the people of Mexico and our hemisphere, so they don’t have to come to the United States of America. Senator Obama wants to close those markets, he is against every, literally every free trade agreement.”
On June 26, 2006 Senator Obama voted for the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement.
On May 23, 2008 in Miami Obama said:
“Like Central America’s bishops, I opposed CAFTA [the Central American Free Trade Agreement] because the needs of workers were not adequately addressed. I supported the Peru Free Trade Agreement because there were binding labor and environmental provisions. That’s the kind of trade we need – trade that lifts up workers, not just a corporate bottom line.”
Tags: McCain
September 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Man, I need to stop using the word “literally”. Hopefully the American people will see past my choice of phrases so I can represent them in the White House.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
But couldn’t you say that binding Labor and Environmental provisions make it not Free trade. Shouldn’t ‘Free’ Trade be Free?
September 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hey Bob - the argument about free trade agreements being actual “free” trade is a good one, but doesn’t affect the particular untrue mccain statement: “he is against every, literally every free trade agreement”
September 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Free trade means free of restricting tariffs and sanctions. Nobody advocates for free trade as in free beer.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Eric that’s the point I’m trying to make. That by imposing “binding Labor and Enviromental provisions’ it’s no longer a free trade agreement because there are ‘binding’ provisions. I was never advocating free beer although it might be nice.
October 8th, 2010 at 9:46 am
And you covered that pretty well didn’t you?
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