The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Support for Free Trade with China

George W. Bush ^ | April 28, 2004

[RWR8189]

The Boston Fog Report
An ongoing examination of John Kerry’s “nuances and shades of gray in both foreign and domestic policy.” (Editorial, “A Primary Endorsement,” The New York Times, 2/26/04)

for·a·gainst adverb.

1. To be both for and against something at the same time: e.g. “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops,” The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

"John Kerry's rhetoric advocating economic isolationism and attacking trade with China contradicts Kerry's long record of supporting trade with China. During the Democrat primaries, Kerry railed against policies that promote American competitiveness and now he says he wants to get 'tough.' Kerry’s record on trade is at odds with his anti-free trade rhetoric on the campaign trail."
- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

THE BOSTON FOG ROLLS OVER KERRY'S SUPPORT FOR FREE TRADE WITH CHINA:

THEN: For Years Kerry Has Supported Free Trade With China

In 1987, Kerry Introduced An Amendment To Promote Trade With China. "The Kerry amendment would promote trade with China, the largest untapped potential market for U.S. goods in the world, through a program training Chinese technocrats and managers in Massachusetts and elsewhere, with the hope that the Chinese would continue to import the same technology on which they were trained." ("Kerry Says China Trade Bill Will Help Massachusetts Businesses," PR Newswire, 6/4/87)

Kerry Said "Increased Trade With China Will Mean Increased Economic Development." "'This bill represents a major export opportunity for Massachusetts small- and medium-sized businesses,' [Kerry] said. 'Increased trade with China will mean increased economic development and jobs for Massachusetts,' Kerry added." ("John-Kerry/China-Bill," Business Wire, 3/12/87)

NOW: Kerry Says Trade With China Is Hurting America

"'American workers … don't want to be hurt by their own government that turns a blind eye to China and other countries that don't keep their part of the bargain,' Kerry said in a statement." (Jerome Bernard, "Kerry On Campaign Trail To Highlight Jobs Plan For US," Agence France Presse, 4/26/04)

THEN: Kerry Supported Most-Favored Trade Status For China

In 1991, Kerry Supported Most-Favored Trade Status For China. "Sen. John Kerry said yesterday that he is breaking party ranks to support most-favored-nation trade status for China … 'I think the president has some strong arguments about some of the assets of most-favored-nation status for China,' Kerry said." (John Aloysius Farrell, "Kerry Breaks Party Ranks To Back China Trade Status," The Boston Globe, 6/15/91)

In 1997, Kerry Said Most Favored Nation Status For China "Absolutely Vital" To U.S.' Future. CBS' BOB SCHIEFFER: "How do you feel, Senator Kerry, about this? Do you think it is wise for us to engage China and to grant them this most favored nation status?" Sen. KERRY: "I think it's not only wise, Bob, I think it's absolutely vital to our future and to our foreign policy as well as to larger interests that we have at stake with China." (CBS' "Face The Nation," 5/25/97)

NOW: Kerry Says We Have To Be Tough On China

Kerry said, "We have to be tough on some things. China understands that. It's a way of life out there to get away with what you can until you are called on it. The violations of intellectual property are disgraceful and unacceptable. We need to be tough on currency manipulation." (Daniel Sneider, "Focus On Foreign Policy Plays To Kerry's Strength," San Jose Mercury News, 12/16/03)

THEN: Kerry Supported Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) For China

Kerry Voted In Favor Of Permanent Normal Trade Relations With China. (H.R. 4444, CQ Vote #251: Passed 83-15: R 46-8; D 37-7, 9/19/00, Kerry Voted Yea)

Kerry Said Granting China PNTR And Bringing It Into The WTO Was "In The Best Interests Of Our Economy." "Engagement is a course best pursued by granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and bringing it into the WTO. It is in the best interests of our economy and it is in the best interests of our foreign policy, and I hope we can all join together in moving the United States Senate and our Nation in that direction." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 9/19/00, p. S8693)

Kerry Said U.S. Workers Could Lose Jobs To European And Asian Companies If We Fail To Support China's Admission To WTO And PNTR. "If the U.S. fails to support PNTR, and thus fails to take advantage of the benefits of China's inevitable membership in the WTO, U.S. companies stand to lose market share and U.S. workers may lose jobs to European and Asian companies that gain a strong foothold in China." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 9/19/00, p. S8693)

NOW: Kerry Criticizes The Bush Administration For Trading With China

"Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said on Monday Americans workers were paying the price for President Bush's weak stance on trade with China and other countries. … On the bus tour, Kerry singled out the Bush administration's handling of trade with China and said that country was manipulating its currency." (Caren Bohan, "Kerry Pledges Aggressive Trade Stance," Reuters, 4/26/04)

[ken5050]

Given that JFK has those luxury yachts, I'd locve to see them research his speechs and his votes years back when the dems passed the luxury tax on yachts..Remember...it was a soak the rich tax, yet it had the opposite efect..the rich stopped buying yacchts, and a number of boatbuilders went belly up, and thousands of blue collar workers lost their jobs..

[Smartass]