Hillary Calls 'Time Out'
Mrs. Clinton tries to have it both ways--no, make that all ways--on trade.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
Her fellow Democrats keep trying to pin Hillary Clinton down on the issues, but they seem only to be driving her to even greater feats of triangulation. Take the Senator's position on trade agreements, which she and her husband championed in the 1990s but which she has, well, you figure it out.
A week ago, the former first lady finally announced that she'd support the U.S.-Peru trade agreement that passed the House last week with 109 Democratic votes. But then on Monday in Iowa, speaking to the United Auto Workers, she declared that if elected President she would call a "time out" on trade deals. She didn't say how long this holiday from economic diplomacy would last, but she noted that she'd appoint someone to ensure that trade deals protect labor and environmental standards. "Every trade agreement has to be independently, objectively analyzed," she added.
Now, there's a stalwart pose. As President, she'll actually study these trade agreements--perhaps even appoint a U.S. Trade Representative she'd have to appoint in any case. She well knows that the Bush Administration has already conceded to Democratic labor and green demands, which will be incorporated into all of these pending deals. Mrs. Clinton has previously said she opposes the U.S.-South Korea trade deal, but that she is withholding judgment on those with Colombia and Panama.
Mrs. Clinton is trying to have it several different ways, signaling to business that she remains open to trade deals, while telling labor that she's more protectionist than her husband. Her "time out" ploy is one more example of how she wants to disguise her real beliefs until she's elected.
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