Posted on 03/11/2016 3:46:36 AM PST by Helicondelta
At Thursday night’s Republican debate, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Kasich, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) all parroted talking points about trade that do not seem to match their prior legislative records and statements on the critical issue.
While Donald Trump has articulated his vociferous opposition to President Barack Obama’s trade agenda in practically every GOP debate, tonight marked the first debate in which all of the other candidates were asked about their previous support for trade globalism.
...
Jake Tapper then asked Cruz: “You were a supporter of the Pacific trade deal [TPP], but after taking some heat from conservatives, you changed your position. Why should these voters who don’t like these trade deals trust that you will fight for them all the time and not just in election years?”
In response, Cruz said:
Actually that’s incorrect. There are two different agreements. There’s TPA and TPP. I opposed TPP and have always opposed TPP, which is what you asked about. And when it comes to trade, look, free trade, when we open up foreign markets, helps Americans. But we’re getting killed in international trade right now. And we’re getting killed because we have an administration that’s doesn’t look out for American workers and jobs are going overseas. We’re driving jobs overseas.
However, Cruz voted to fast-track the TPP by voting for TPA on the first go-around.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Donald Trump is the only one who actually opposes the TPP trade deal.
TPA is not TPP. Protectionists refuse to acknowledge the distinction. This is intellectually incompetent and politically irresponsible, but it has become par for the course.
‘Cruz voted to fast-track the TPP by voting for TPA on the first go-around.’
Is that correct?
[For those who don’t know, Carry Okie is an authority on treaties. We are blessed to have him here on this forum.]
The other 3 candidates dutifully parroted Trumps platform on trade and on immigration too, despite their past records
They seemed rehearsed and aware of what questions would be asked except for Trump who had to respond from his head and heart
What a coincidence
TPP could not have happened without TPA. And you know what? Those of us who know how that thing played out don’t like being called “intellectually incompetent and politically irresponsible”.
I am sure Cruz actually “believes” Smoot-Hawley caused the Great Depression. Does he believe in the tooth fairy too?
Great article. Cruz is a snake.
Cruz is habitually dishonest about his quiet pro-GOPe positions and his public “outsider” rhetoric.
I was agape at the sight and sound of all three of the backbenchers spouting things that Trump has been preaching since Day One. And I was so pleased with how Trump calmly and statesmanly remained calm, cool and collected; stating his case and making his points. And the Drudge Poll reflects that this morning.
Cruz is my guy, but TPA is the chink in his armor.
He voted for TPA when it could have been stopped; he later voted against it when it could not be stopped. He said its because McConnell misrepresented it, which I don’t doubt, but the whole point of it was to give Obama fast track authority to impose a trade deal, the content of which no one was allowed to see. It was a bad deal, and Cruz of all people ought to have known better than to trust Obama, or McConnell.
Headline is false. All of them, including Trump, were FLEXIBLE on trade. Trump phrased it as negotiating a GREAT deal. But more than any of the others, he was for negotiating deals.
Ted tried to educated the ignorant by explaining the difference between FREE trade and NEGOTIATED trade. In the past, the trade deals labeled FREE trade have not been FREE at all. They have been complex favoritism for Chamber of Commerce, environmentalists, labor union bosses, foreign special interests and Beltway Cartel interests.
Pathological LIAR Cruz (Goldman Sacs, Lawyer) VOTED
to help ObamaTRADE because it was secret and he
was PAID by Goldman Sacs, as was his wife.
Cruz is a lying betrayer.
And a past voting-supporter of ObamaTRADE.
Even Breitbart can't get it straight. "However, Cruz voted to fast-track the TPP by voting for TPA on the first go-around. When TPA came up again in the Senate, Cruz changed his position to oppose it"
Cruz has always been against TPP
Trump would surely want Fast-Track authority for his Trade Deals to "Make America Great" again.
But McConnell and the Dems slipped illegal immigration language and Export/Import Bank re-authorization into the bill.
Ted Cruz changed his vote to NO and then called Mitch McConnell a liar on the Senate floor to be recorded for prosperity.
So how is Cruz a snake?
Re-writting history on works in Communist countries.
Trump would surely want Fast-Track authority for his Trade Deals to "Make America Great" again.
But McConnell and the Dems slipped illegal immigration language and Export/Import Bank re-authorization into the bill.
Ted Cruz changed his vote to NO and then called Mitch McConnell a liar on the Senate floor to be recorded for prosperity.
Is that correct?
NO, that is Session's opinion. TPP has never come up for a vote.
Cruz has always been my second choice. Who else is there? But to see and hear him tell half-truths, and slickly parse his words, like Slick Willy; really takes me aback.
For instance, on Thursday morning he told CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, that Trump has said “he loves uninformed voters.” But that is only a small part of what Trump said.
About six weeks ago some wag stated that all Trump’s supporters were dumb, low education people. Immediately, Trump replied, I love all my supporters; my highly educated ones, my medium educated ones, and I love my less educated ones.”
That slick, untrue, dishonorable lie by Cruz really cut him down, in my eyes, and reinforced my view of career politicians. No matter how reassuring they TALK and claim their being outside and above the system; when the chips are down, they always default back to being a slick politician.
It shows up in the Drudge Poll today. The uneducated ain’t buying the slick political stuff anymore.
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