Posted on 06/11/2015 10:56:37 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) expressed surprise that the U.S. State Department describes Vietnam as an “authoritarian state” ruled by the Communist Party when asked by CNSNews.com on Thursday whether the United States should form a free-trade zone with a Communist regime under the umbrella of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that the Obama administration is now negotiating with Vietnam and 10 other countries. […]
Rep. Kelly responded: “Are you saying the State Department’s saying this?”
CNSNews.com answered: “The State Department says that Vietnam is an authoritarian state under Communist rule.”
Kelly then said: “So this is part of an executive agency, a second branch, right? So, I have no—Is there communication between those two or not? I’m a little bit puzzled by that. I don’t really know. I haven’t seen that statement.”
CNSNews.com then asked: “Well, I was just wondering: Considering that they’re a Communist regime, should America be forming a free-trade zone with them?”
Kelly said: “I don’t know. Is this referring to TPP?”
CNSNews.com: “Yes.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
He didn’t hear about that little war we had with the NVA and Viet Cong?
well, we’ve already made one dangerous communist regime wealthy, being China, why not another one.
my sister’s husband died three years ago from heart failure. she is getting a check from the government because he was in Vietnam and a number of the vets are dying early from heart trouble.
I’m mot big on the govt giving out money, but if they are, I’d rather it goes to vets and their spouses.
they played Taps at his graveside. it was heartbreaking.
Except that their children study, get good grades, listen to their teachers and are entrepreneurial.
so VIetNam is very much like Obama’s Transformed America, eh?
Idiot. (Kelly, not you Olog)
Stupid Congressman. But what’s new in that.
I fought in Vietnam, and went back with my daughter in 2000. I found Saigon, in all but name, a free enterprise zone. Lots of private capital, lots of private investment.
In the Danang area things seemed a bit more restrictive, but still open to entrepreneurship.
It wasn’t until we got to Hanoi that we definitely felt we were in an authoritarian regime. But it suits is people; colder, except for souvenir sellers. Not so open to, nor as curious and as friendly to Americans as were the cases further south.
In other words, they seemed like three distinctly different governing structures, which, if one has studied Vietnamese history, has more or less always been the case.
How can you possible have “free trade” with an unfree nation of state-controlled enterprises?
After a famine caused by communist policies killed a lot of people, they reformed their policies, and McCain helped Clinton change the ban on business years ago. .
the US Navy even has visited there.
No communist regime loves the US. They believe in subverting all countries to communist rule. And I think (or I hope) you are not unaware of the low opinion that people here have of McCain.
Hard to follow ... is he expressing awe that the State Dept actually used the C-word, which amazes me too, or is that dumb?
Is he that dumb, that is.
He appears to be that dumb.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.