Columbian Free Trade Deal McCain supports Obama wants assurances

one of the most important parts of the third presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain centered on the Columbian Free Trade Agreement.

October 16, 2008
Groups: McCain Rolls Eyes at Murder
@ 4:58 pm by Chris Good
When President Bush's proposed Colombian free trade agreement came up in last night's debate, it was clear the candidates' stances couldn't be more different.

But it's not policy that the AFL-CIO and progressive interest group Americans United for Change are upset about: it's John McCain's facial expression.

McCain raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes when Barack Obama repeated a staple attack on the agreement that has been U.S. labor unions' main argument in lobbying against it–that Colombian labor leaders have been the victims of extra-judicial assassinations at the hands of the Colombian military, making the country unsafe for unionizers and unfit for a trade agreement.

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/10/16/groups-mccain-rolls-eyes-at-murder/

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: OBAMA’S POSITION ON THE COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
October 15, 2008 | debatefactcheck2

Available online at: http://therecord.barackobama.com/debate/

Tonight, Sen. Obama said: “Actually, I understand it pretty well, the history in Colombia right now is that labor leaders have been targeted for assassination on a fairly consistent basis, and there have not been prosecutions, and what I have said because the free trade — the trade agreement itself does have labor and environmental protections, but we have to stand for human rights, and we have to make sure that violence isn’t being perpetrated against workers who are just trying to organize for their rights.” [Presidential Debate, 10/15/08]


THE FACTS: Obama Opposed the Colombia Free Trade Agreement Because of Violence in Colombia which creates an uneven playing field for American workers, While McCain Has Supported it Despite Violence



OBAMA DOESN’T SUPPORT THE COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST UNION WORKERS THERE



Obama Said He Doesn’t Feel Comfortable Moving Ahead With The Colombian Trade Deal Because Of The Violence Against Workers There. Obama said, “You know, I had a good conversation with President Uribe. I think he’s working hard to deal with violence and the drug cartels in Colombia. But as I told him, I think we have to make sure that workers’ rights are protected in Colombia. And we still have more work to do. Union organizers have been killed and disappeared. I know that President Uribe is committed to trying to improve the situation but I don’t feel comfortable moving forward on a trade deal until I have some sense that workers in these countries are going to be safe. You know, I voted for the Peruvian trade deal which is similar to the Colombian trade deal, but it did not have the same issues we’re facing in Colombia in terms of violence against workers.” [Radio Carocol, 9/19/08]

4/08: Obama: “I’ll Also Oppose The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement If Bush Insists On Sending It To Congress Because The Violence Against Unions In Colombia Would Make a Mockery Of The Very Labor Protections That We Have Insisted Be Included.” Obama said, “I’ll also oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements. So you can trust me when I say that whatever trade deals we negotiate when I’m President will be good for American workers, and that they’ll have strong labor and environmental protections that we’ll enforce.” [Remarks at AFL-CIO, 4/2/08]

MCCAIN SAID HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN COLOMBIA BUT SUPPORTS FREE TRADE AGREEMENT ANYWAY



McCain, Said He Was Concerned About Human Rights Abuses In Colombia, But Traveled To Colombia To Pledge His Support For A Free Trade Agreement With Them Anyway. McCain said “he is concerned about human-rights abuses in Colombia but in a visit to this Latin American ally, he praised progress made so far and pushed for ratification of a pending free-trade agreement back home. … He was also highlighting his support for the pending free-trade agreement with Colombia, which he says is needed to support a vital partner in the region.” [WSJ, 7/2/08 ]

http://therecord.barackobama.com/?p=2669