Friday, February 06, 2004
The fight is boosting the Democratic party's election chances
I've thought this for awhile, and this article merely confirms it. Of course, things didn't have to go that way. The negative attacks mostly went against Dean and Gephardt back when they were presumed to be the front runners. The attacks so hobbled both campaigns that none of the remaining candidates are doing it, leaving Kerry and Edward to fire mild attacks on each other while focusing most of their energies on Bush.
I do wish Kerry would be more consistently pro-trade in his statements, but then again, Clinton struck a populist tone during the fight against Bush Sr., and he turned out to be one of the most pro-trade presidents we've had in awhile. I guess I have to count on the fact that Kerry's voting record in the Senate points to someone who understands the importance of free trade. Yes, he has been muttering something about labor and environmental standards in trade agreements, but he ALSO notes in an explanation of the "protectionist" label applied to Howard Dean:
Yes, it is fair, because Gov. Dean has said very specifically that we should not trade with countries until they have labor and environment standards that are equal to the US. That means we would trade with no countries. It is a policy for shutting the door. It's either a policy for shutting the door, if you believe it, or it's a policy of just telling people what they want to hear.
That's very insightful, and points to someone who realizes that growth in developing nations is important in its own right (and good for America).
I've thought this for awhile, and this article merely confirms it. Of course, things didn't have to go that way. The negative attacks mostly went against Dean and Gephardt back when they were presumed to be the front runners. The attacks so hobbled both campaigns that none of the remaining candidates are doing it, leaving Kerry and Edward to fire mild attacks on each other while focusing most of their energies on Bush.
I do wish Kerry would be more consistently pro-trade in his statements, but then again, Clinton struck a populist tone during the fight against Bush Sr., and he turned out to be one of the most pro-trade presidents we've had in awhile. I guess I have to count on the fact that Kerry's voting record in the Senate points to someone who understands the importance of free trade. Yes, he has been muttering something about labor and environmental standards in trade agreements, but he ALSO notes in an explanation of the "protectionist" label applied to Howard Dean:
Yes, it is fair, because Gov. Dean has said very specifically that we should not trade with countries until they have labor and environment standards that are equal to the US. That means we would trade with no countries. It is a policy for shutting the door. It's either a policy for shutting the door, if you believe it, or it's a policy of just telling people what they want to hear.
That's very insightful, and points to someone who realizes that growth in developing nations is important in its own right (and good for America).
