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Don’t be fooled by Toomey’s flip-flop; John Fetterman (JF); Beaver County Times; September 9, 2016.
According to the BCT, “John Fetterman ran for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the May primary and was defeated by Katie McGinty.”
Below is a critique of this column.
“Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said in an op-ed that he suddenly ‘cannot support’ the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the latest, greatest ‘free trade’ deal under consideration in Congress.”
[RWC] “Earlier this month” is last month just over three weeks ago on August 17, 2016.
“Considering Sen. Toomey has been perhaps the Senate’s loudest cheerleader for ‘free trade’ deals, and has spent not only years, but decades pushing ‘free trade’ policies, consider me skeptical of this election-year flip-flop.”
[RWC] I’m sure it was an unintentional oversight that JF didn’t mention Hillary Clinton’s (HRC) “election-year flip-flop” on TPP. HRC said in 2012, “This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.” HRC now opposes the TPP.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I strongly oppose the TPP because the reality is that trade deals like it have hurt Pennsylvania communities across the commonwealth. But Pennsylvania workers deserve better than politically motivated flip-flops from a senator who has voted against their interests for his entire career. They deserve a senator who’s [sic] opposition to the TPP is consistent and more than election-year play for votes.”
[RWC] JF certainly agrees what “Pennsylvania workers deserve” from a senator also applies to a president. If so, JF will vote for a candidate other than Hillary Clinton (HRC). Otherwise, JF will be just another political hypocrite.
“As mayor of Braddock, I see every day the devastating impact of bad deals like the TPP. Pennsylvania, and the Mon Valley used to lead the world in manufacturing. Now the Edgar Thomson steel mill across from my house is the last in the valley. Towns like Braddock were once thriving centers of opportunity for working families breaking into the middle class. Today, the people of Braddock are struggling to get by and finding, more and more, that the deck is stacked against them.”
[RWC] If JF thinks “bad [trade] deals” are why our local economy is what it is, he’s part of the problem, not the solution.
“While we should be addressing this unsustainable status quo by investing in workers and rebuilding our middle class, politicians like Toomey have been knocking rungs off the ladder of opportunity by pushing for bad deals like the TPP, that allow big businesses to profit by shipping jobs overseas instead of putting people to work right here in our communities.”
[RWC] JF knows as Braddock mayor he himself is a “politician,” doesn’t he?
We don’t need trade deals for “businesses to profit by shipping jobs overseas.”
As for “allow,” the feds have no constitutional authority to stop a business
“Now, if there is one thing we’ve learned this election season, it’s that Pennsylvanians are tired of policies that benefit those at the top at the expense of the rest of us. So it’s no surprise that Pat Toomey, finding himself down in the polls, has attempted a change of course in hopes that we’ve forgotten his years of support for exactly these sorts of deals -- and for the TPP itself.”
[RWC] JF wrote, “Pennsylvanians are tired of policies that benefit those at the top at the expense of the rest of us.” Did JF forget who’s been president for the last eight years, who had complete control of Congress for two years, and who controlled the Senate for another four years (total of six)?
“Just over a year ago, Toomey went on the record praising TPP and urging the Senate to pass a bill widely recognized as a test vote for the agreement itself. Toomey has advocated for trade deals as president of the big-business Club for Growth, has been described as ‘one of the most pro-trade lawmakers in the Senate,’ and literally wrote a book on why we need more of these bad deals.”
[RWC] As a reminder, HRC said in 2012, “This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.” HRC now opposes the TPP.
“If you think Sen. Toomey’s record on trade is a disservice to his constituents, or find his flip-flops disrespectful, you’re not alone. This is just one of the many reasons I’m proud to stand with Katie McGinty in this race. Since day one, she has seen the TPP for what it is – a win for big business and a bad deal for Pennsylvania workers. She has taken her call to level the playing field for workers and working families to every corner of our commonwealth, holding Toomey accountable for his terrible record on this most fundamental of issues.”
[RWC] I’m sure JF intended to mention he also finds HRC’s “flip-flops disrespectful.”
Serving as an advisor to then-VP – and current environment fraud - Al Gore is more than enough reason to disqualify Katie McGinty (KM).
To JF, the only important “one of the many reasons [JF’s] proud to stand with Katie McGinty in this race” is the “D” after her name.
“And as our senator, we can count on McGinty to stand up to deals like this one, because she gets that these sorts of policies have helped create the widest gap between rich and poor our nation has seen in decades.”
[RWC] Again, did JF forget who’s been president for the last eight years, who had complete control of Congress for two years, and who controlled the Senate for another four years?
“For too long, Pat Toomey has served big business interests from his seat in Washington, while letting the needs of his own constituents fall by the wayside. In McGinty, working people -- not corporations, not China, but the people here at home -- will have an advocate and a leader who will take our fight to the Senate floor, and a champion who will do all she can to rebuild a strong economy that works for every Pennsylvanian.”
[RWC] What’s wrong with Red China? Isn’t Red China one of JF’s fellow travelers?
“In McGinty, working people -- not corporations?” Is JF not familiar with Miss McGinty’s employment history? Maybe it’s like “one-percenters.” As a reminder, “one-percenter” really means “non-lefty one-percenter.” That’s why we never hear leftists complain in public about lefty one-percenters like the Clintons, the Obamas, George Soros (Wall Street hedge-fund manager), Tom Steyer (Wall Street hedge-fund manager), and the Manns/Warrens. Yes, yes, I know; the Clintons and Obamas aren’t lefties. <g>
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