American voters need to understand that the whole NAFTA gate thing was a consolidated effort between Clinton, Republicans, and the Canadian Government to derail Barack Obamas Campaign. This kind of "All or Nothing" behavior from the Clintons is going to polarize and destroy the Democratic Party. These self-inflicting wounds by the Dems will make McCain the our next president.
It turns out not only did the canadian government misrepresent the obama campaign, it was the clinton campaign that reached out to the canadian government telling them that this was rhetoric. Ironic, since she immediately condemned him and took advantage of it for the ohio primary. i don't think this story is getting a lot of coverage. . . when i looked this morning, you had to search for it, and it's buried in the article. i personally think an article like this should be on the top 10 list, and I think we can probably get it there. . . if you think hillary's hypocrisy on this deserves more attention.
U.S. / POLITICS | March 7, 2008
Trade Pact Controversy in Democratic Race Reaches Into Canadian Parliament
By IAN AUSTEN
Did the Canadian government commit the ultimate sin of interfering in an election of a foreign ally? The political storm surrounding Nafta makes its way into Canada???s Parliament.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/us/politics/07nafta.html?ex=1205557200&en=e40a54dfee861690&ei=5070&emc=eta1
The Facts About Nafta-Gate
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WKYC Anchor: So, completely inaccurate, did not happen, end of discussion?
Obama: It did not happen.
Source: Interview with Barack Obama, WKYC, 29 Feb. 2008.
Friday, Feb. 29: CTV cites "reports" that a NAFTA discussion may have occurred in Chicago, not Washington. It also reports that it included Austan Goolsbee, an economics professor at the University of Chicago and the senior economic adviser to the Obama campaign.
CTV: [The] Obama camp did not respond to repeated questions from CTV on reports that a conversation on this matter was held between Obama's senior economic adviser -- Austan Goolsbee -- and the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago.
Earlier Thursday, the Obama campaign insisted that no conversations have taken place with any of its senior ranks and representatives of the Canadian government on the NAFTA issue. On Thursday night, CTV spoke with Goolsbee, but he refused to say whether he had such a conversation with the Canadian government office in Chicago. He also said he has been told to direct any questions to the campaign headquarters.
Source: "Obama campaign mum on NAFTA contact with Canada," 29 Feb. 2008.
Friday, Feb. 29: The Clinton campaign again denied the CTV report from "low-level sources" indicating that her representatives might have had similar contact with the Canadian government. Phil Singer, a campaign spokesperson, said the campaign was offering "blanket immunity" to Canadian officials who could provide names of any initiators or recipients of such contacts.
Gorham, Beth. "Liberals accuse Tories of undermining Obama with leak on NAFTA talks," The Canadian Press, 29 Feb. 2008.
Monday, March 3:The Associated Press reports that a Canadian government memo describes Goolsbee as telling officials of the consulate in Chicago on Feb. 8 that much of Obama's rhetoric on trade may seem protectionist but "is more reflective of political maneuvering than policy." The AP also quotes Goolsbee as saying the memo misquotes him: "I certainly did not use that phrase in any way."
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