Posted on 06/22/2004 1:12:26 PM PDT by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
Like the rest of us, former Missouri Republican Senator, UN Ambassador-designate, and Episcopal Minister John Danforth has the right to think and say anything he wants. And the funeral of a political leader inevitably has political elements and implications. But you would think that a man of God like the Rev. Danforth would have the decency to resist the kind of cheap and misleading stunt he pulled while officiating at former President Reagan's memorial service.
In his homily to Reagan, Danforth correctly noted that the former President's vision held "policy implications." Fair enough. But Danforth didn't stop at generalities like "America could not hide its light under a bushel." Instead, he insisted, the Reagan vision meant that "Isolationism was not an option; neither was protectionism."
As documented in last week's edition of GLOBALIZATION FOLLIES, this description of the Reagan vision's implication is flat wrong. Reagan's record on trade was a mixture of conventionally expanding trade liberalization and providing major trade protections for big U.S. industries. Just as important, these import relief programs all boosted the competitiveness of these industries even though price increases remained restrained.
Even worse, as a Senator, Danforth himself regularly ignored such warnings about protectionism. For example, he was a strong supporter of aggressive use of Super 301, a U.S. trade law widely considered outrageously protectionist.
With U.S. industry and working families still suffering major trade-related damage, painting a false picture of the Reagan economic legacy is disgraceful. And convenient amnesia about one's own record is indefensible. Here's hoping that by the time his UN Ambassadorship begins, Danforth's memory, judgement, and willingness to defend American economic interests will improve dramatically.
Sources: "Remarks by Former Senator John Danforth," The New York Times, June 11, 2004;
"Senators Propose GATT Language," Trade Week in Review and Resources 3 No. 25, June 24, 1994
Alan Tonelson is a Research Fellow at the U.S. Business & Industry Educational Foundation and the author of The Race to the Bottom: Why a Worldwide Worker Surplus and Uncontrolled Free Trade are Sinking American Living Standards (Westview Press).
ping
No matter how you twist it Willie, Reagan still considered himself a free trader.
BTTT
Any alleged cheap shots from Danforth were offset by Ron Jr’s cheap shots at Bush during the funeral.
Yeah, it is hard to figure out why it is a cheap shot.
Yeah, it is hard to figure out why it is a cheap shot.
And rightly so.
Unlike the neocon influenced current administration, Ronald Reagan had the personal integrity to pursue free trade on a fair and level playing field.
This so-called neocon-influenced administration that put tarrifs on steel.....You can make a similar case for Bush as for Reagan.
The respect I gained for Danforth during the Thomas confirmation hearings was lost as he presided over the Waco whitewash.
Huh? He said Reagan believed in free trade, and that Bush is partly impeding it.
No you can't.
Bush's steel tariffs were an excercise in pandering hypocrisy.
He systematicly castrated them with hundreds off loopholes and exemptions, and lamely lifted them as soon as the Euroweenies whined to the WTO. A patheticly spineless and shallow gesture compared to Reagan's firm committment to America's best interests.
So very true. The question also remains as why he was ask. Remember he when governor of Missouri would go hunting & fishing with Bubba. My analysis - the "Two-Party Cartel" protecting itself.
Good point. Name calling and labels like "neocon", "free trade", and "fair and level playing field" (free traitor anyone?) are great for food fights and politics. Earning a living requires specifics.
Reagan changed America's course by tearing down tariff walls with fast track trade agreements, working with GATT, and putting more countries on MFN status. This has been the trend ever since, and we have more and better paying jobs than ever. Another trend he started was the reduction of spending and taxes in proportion to a faster growing economy.
What cheap shot?
But what he PRACTICED was Fair Trade with an America First flavor.
It was much better than the sermon that pastor preached to Nancy and the kids there at the end in CA.
The one where he said that Reagan would have supported free trade making China a permanent favorite trading partner. Free trade created more jobs in China than in America. Reagan put a tariff on bikes to protect Harley Davidson when jobs were on the line. Reagan wanted trade not job exporting.
I wonder if the author of this piece wants some cheese with his whine.
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