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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Monday, March 3: The Canadian embassy in Washington says it "deeply regrets" the affair, and that "there was no intention to convey, in any way" that Obama was being inconsistent about NAFTA:
Statement by the Canadian Embassy: The Canadian Embassy and our Consulates General regularly contact those involved in all of the Presidential campaigns and, periodically, report on these contacts to interested officials. In the recent report produced by the Consulate General in Chicago, there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA. We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect.
The people of the United States are in the process of choosing a new President and are fortunate to have strong and impressive candidates from both political parties. Canada will not interfere in this electoral process. We look forward, however, to working with the choice of the American people in further building an unparalleled relationship with a close friend and partner.
Source: Statement by the Canadian Embassy, 3 March 2008.
Monday, March 3 *The affair causes a row in the Canadian Parliament. Jack Layton, the head of Canada's New Democratic Party, accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party government of "interfering in the U.S. Democratic primaries with false accusations trying to silence Barack Obama who simply wants to amend the NAFTA." The Obama camp posts a video of the speech, originally broadcast by MSNBC, on its YouTube page.
Source: Obama'08 "The Canadian Parliament asks PM Stephen Harper Questions," YouTube video 3 March 2008.
-Republished with permission from factcheck.org.
Sources
Transcript, "The Democratic Debate in Cleveland" New York Times 26 Feb 2008.
"Obama staffer gave warning of NAFTA rhetoric," Canadian Television 29 Feb 2008.
Statement by the Canadian Embassy, 28 Feb 2008.
"Obama campaign mum on NAFTA contact with Canada" 29 Feb 2008.
Nedra Pickler, "Obama Adviser Denies Trade Remarks," The Associated Press 3 March 2008.
Source: Statement by the Canadian Embassy 3 March 2008.
"Tucker," MSNBC, 28 Feb. 2008.
Parker, Jennifer. "Clinton Campaign Demands Obama Answers on NAFTA," ABC News, 28 Feb. 2008.
Interview with Barack Obama, WKYC, 29 Feb. 2008.
Gorham, Beth. "Liberals accuse Tories of undermining Obama with leak on NAFTA talks," The Canadian Press, 29 Feb. 2008.
Sources: Clinton campaign conference call with reporters, 3 March 2008.
Hillary for President press release, "NAFTA-Gate: False Denials from the Obama Campaign," 3 March 2008.
© 2008
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