Obama's Challenge, by Robert Kuttner: on Free Trade

Barack Obama: China trade deal does too little on fairness & compliance

That's why I believe the Permanent Normalized Trade agreement with China didn't do enough to ensure fairness and compliance.

Barack Obama: Trade is here to stay; we have to compete

"The truth is, trade is here to stay. We live in a global economy. For America's future to be as bright as our past, we have to compete. We have to win.

"Not every job that has left is coming back. And not every job lost is due to trade--automation has made plants more efficient so they can make the same amount of steel with few workers. These are the realities.

"I also don't oppose all trade deals. I voted for two of them because they have the worker and environmental agreements I believe in. Some of you disagreed with me on this but I did what I thought was right."

John Kerry: 2004: "Benedict Arnold CEOs" profit from outsourcing

John Kerry delivered a nice applause line when he spoke of "Benedict Arnold CEOs," but he did not have a coherent policy to match (and his fundraisers directed him to stop using the line, which offended his donors). Clinton largely carried out the business agenda of globalization, tempered by only the most modest gestures on labor standards. The nation's boardrooms can make huge profits wherever production is located, and have ceased identifying their own economic interests with those of the country.

John Kerry delivered a nice applause line when he spoke of "Benedict Arnold CEOs," but he did not have a coherent policy to match (and his fundraisers directed him to stop using the line, which offended his donors). Clinton largely carried out the business agenda of globalization, tempered by only the most modest gestures on labor standards.