Free trade's victims turning against Bush, GOP

The Herald Sun ^ | August 25, 2003 | associated press

[snopercod]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- This year's highly publicized job losses in North Carolina manufacturing, including the Pillowtex bankruptcy, could mean trouble next year for President Bush in a region that was a stronghold in 2000.

Bush won more than 56 percent of the vote in both North Carolina and South Carolina in 2000. But his strong support of free trade has turned some against him in the South, where U.S. trade policies are blamed for the loss of jobs in textiles and other manufacturing sectors.

Andy Warlick, chief executive officer of Parkdale Mills in Gaston County, said he doubts he will repeat his 2000 vote for Bush next year.

"He made a lot of promises and he hasn't delivered on any of them," Warlick said. "I've had some firsthand experience of him sending down trade and commerce officials, but they're just photo ops. It's empty rhetoric."

Fred Reese, the president of Western N.C. Industries, an employers' association, said executives are beginning to raise their voices against Bush and are planning education and voter drives.

"We're seeing a new dynamic where the executives and employees are both beginning to see a real threat to their interests. You're going to see people who traditionally voted Republican switch over," Reese predicted.

The hard feelings were on display days after Pillowtex's July 30 bankruptcy filing, when Republican U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes walked into a Kannapolis auditorium to meet with former workers.

"Thanks for sending the jobs overseas, Robin!" shouted Brenda Miller, a longtime worker at the textile giant's Salisbury plant.

In December 2001 Hayes -- who is an heir to the Cannon family textile fortune -- cast the tie-breaking vote to give Bush the authority to negotiate "fast-track" trade agreements, trade treaties that Congress must vote up or down with no amendments.

At the time, Hayes said he won promises from the Bush administration that it would more strictly enforce existing trade agreements and pressure foreign countries to open their markets to U.S. textiles.

"Are we pleased with the way they responded? Absolutely," Hayes said. "Are we satisfied with where we are? Absolutely not."

Jobs in many industries have fled overseas since 1993, when Congress passed the Clinton-backed North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. About half the textile and apparel jobs that existed in 1994 are gone.

Since Bush took office in January 2001, it is estimated North Carolina and South Carolina have lost more than 180,000 manufacturing jobs.

And even more textile jobs could be out the door once quotas on Chinese imports expire at the end of next year.

Republican U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger voted for NAFTA and fast-track, and has seen his 10th District lose nearly 40,000 jobs, primarily in the textile and furniture industries.

"Certainly, there's a political cost to any controversial vote no matter which side you take," he said. "People are casting stones, but we're trying to pick them up and build something."

Democratic U.S. Sen. John Edwards voted against fast-track in 2002 after voting for an earlier version. In 2000 he voted for permanent normal trade relations with China.

Recently, though, while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, Edwards has attacked Bush's trade policies and called for fairer trade measures.

Robert Neal, vice president of the local chapter of the Pillowtex workers' union, said Hayes has worked to try to ease the impact of job losses in his district.

"Though he (Hayes) voted for fast-track, he is really concerned about the workers and their conditions in the state of North Carolina," Neal said.

Not everyone feels that way.

Reese is organizing 1,500 manufacturing companies across North Carolina in an effort to leverage what he calls a new voting bloc.

In South Carolina, voter drives are planned for the first time at Milliken & Co., which has about 30 plants in the state. Mount Vernon Mills of Greenville, S.C., is forming a political action committee.

The company's president Roger Chastain, a one-time Bush voter, doesn't expect to support the president or Jim DeMint, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Ernest Hollings.

"We're basically liquidating our whole middle class, polarizing people on the two extremes, have and have-nots," Chastain said of the manufacturing job losses. "We'll be a Third World country."

[Mad Dawgg]

"Do yourself a favor - go start your own company, and see how cavalier you are about good 'Murricans dipping into your pocket as a matter of right."

Oh dear, I think I am in Love!

[Texas_Dawg]

Move? No dipwad, it's no better these days in the rural or small to medium city size areas either. Between offshoring, H1Bs, L1s and illegals who are now pulling down $10-$15/hr+ there is little left for either laid off skilled workers or for young people trying to build a foothold in the job market.

That's funny. Those "illegals" don't seem to be having to hard a time finding job. I guess they are just better than you and your friends in this area. Oh well, congrats to them for winning.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Ouch. Painful truth for all.

[scottlang]

Do you understand cyclical economic downturns? Do you realize the screams and fears are the same every single time only to be forgotten in the better times a few years later? I don't like Bush's "handling" of the economy only in that he has had to pander to your crowd too much. But I understand the populace he is dealing with so I can forgive him for pandering to win votes if that's what it takes.




I do understand down turns. But that does not medigate the fact that Bush has not done much more then tax cuts to help the economy. It seems that more is needed.

I will say this if he does not start pay attention the the economy and jobs he will find a large number of voter won't vote for him.

[JNB]

If anything, I am socially conservative, pro military and economically nationalist, and I disagree again with Buchanans views on the military. And what I say stands, it is those who are pro free trade at all and any cost, and except for the lone libertarian(Gunslingr3) on this thread, who is at least consistent on his views, the reast of the people defensing free trade are what I would classify as Neo-Conservatives, claiming they are conservative, yet being for globalism at all and any cost.

Again, its ideology by slogan and pundits, and not thinking things through. How many give though about the kind of society they want to live in? How many have stopped to think about the impact a withering away of the industrial base would have? How many have thought that there will be a point that a majority of voters will no longer be willing to work harder and hader or less and less(as my REAL figures have pointed out). There will be a breaking point, and once that has been reached, all the economic and social freedoms you hold so dear will be on the table.

[JNB]

Mad Dawgg, you are only making a further fool out of yourself by this behavior. Can any of the free trade advocates in here aside from Gunslinger3 debate in a intelligent reasonable fashion?

[null and void]

We just don't want the federal government "giving" jobs to foreign workers. ~ luckystarmom

Good thing it doesn't do that. ~ Texas_Dawg

Your naïvty is astonishing.

Here's how the game is played:

A company wants to hire a cheap engineer (or whatever).

They locate a foreign national who looks like thay can do the job, maybe.

The job description is written to EXACTLY match his resume, for example 3 years C++ programing experience, 5 years AutoCAD experience, etc.

They advertise for the position. A candidate with 2 years C++ and 5 years AutoCAD is under qualified. 3 years C++ and 6 years AutoCAD is over qualified. Repeat for a dozen parameters.

SHOCK!!! No US candidates meet the job requirements.

File for an H1-B permit. Hire the selected candidate for 30-40% of the going rate.

Oh, if he looks for a better job, or tries to get fair compensation, fire him and have him deported.

It's the modern indentured servitude.

Now if y'all will excuse me, I have a contract negotiation to get to.

Keep the thread warm...

[holdmuhbeer]

You haven't told me anything I don't already know, be more specific.

[Texas_Dawg]

I will say this if he does not start pay attention the the economy and jobs he will find a large number of voter won't vote for him.

I'm sure he's never thought of this. I bet he is too busy playing golf in Crawford to just go fix the economy with his magic wand that he left back in Washington. If only he would force companies to jack their expenses up and cut their profits greatly and force the Dow down a few thousand points and on and on by paying exorbitant rates so that a few out-of-work manufacturers can afford the newest DVD player and cell phone.

[Dane]

There will be a breaking point, and once that has been reached, all the economic and social freedoms you hold so dear will be on the table

Did you lift that line from a Buchanan speech or article? Sure sounds like you did. Gloom and doom, yada, yada, yada.

Ronald Reagan was an optimist and I will follow his path.

Oh BTW, why are you repeatedly acting like a "Judas" towards Pat Buchanan with your replies after your reply #714, when in reply #714, you with your quote "the neo-cons are self destructing" is Buchanan scripture?

[WRhine]

I saw Dean perfecting his attack before a small group on C-SPAN...trotted out Bush's assurance to the Indian Government that NOTHING will be done to reign in "OUTSOURCING".

Pretty mind boggling isn't it? This is appears to be an extension of Bush’s policy of putting the interests of Mexican Illegal Aliens well above the interests of the American People. At least Bush is consistent.

A few months ago when responding to a reporter’s question about H1B Visas Bush said something to the effect that anyone that doesn't like the idea of American companies importing umpteen thousands of Indians under the H1B Visa were bigots.

Makes you wonder who he thinks he works for.

When it hits, it will be a Lightning Bolt!!!

You Bet.

[Lael]

701+ replies to the post and counting

Bushco...Big Trouble...BIG TIME!!!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Sure. The businesses aren't yours, you guys didn't create them, nor do you have to deal with the consequences when they fail - and as a consequence, the business owners have no duty to provide sinecures for white underachievers who just happened to be born here. You can blast your trumpet regarding sovereignty and European culture all you want, but neither of those give you or your race mates the legal ability to sap the lifeblood out of a business.

[scottlang]

Bush 41 lost in 1992 because it seemed to the common man that he did not care or cared to do nothing about a poorly performing economy and the people's deep concerns over the job situation. If this is the same way in 2004 Bush could very well lose.

[StolarStorm]

"Telling someone that just lost a $20/hr job to shut up and go to McDonalds just validates the worst liberal stereotypes about Republicans."

That's why I'm convinced that Texas_Dawg isn't for real.

[scottlang]

"Telling someone that just lost a $20/hr job to shut up and go to McDonalds just validates the worst liberal stereotypes about Republicans."

This attitude help to assure a dem victory in 2004. It will hack off the middle.

[dogbyte12]

You're a lawyer, aren't you? Seriously.

Lawyers are one of the biggest drains on our economy. Malpractice, workman's comp, nuissance lawsuits. Ya know how much that costs our economy? It's staggering.

They finally settled the Jim and Tammy Fay Baker lawsuit case. After all the lawyers fees, there was under $7 left for each of the people defrauded. The lawyers suggested that since the total amount was so little, they should end up keeping that too.

I would settle for tort reform first. I am reminded of a quote from Bill Shakespeare on lawyers. Compared to him, I am a moderate.

[fortaydoos]

I had the same thought. He is a DU disruptor, playing some stereotypical "I GOT MINE, SCREW YOU" Republican.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Mad Dawgg, you are only making a further fool out of yourself by this behavior. Can any of the free trade advocates in here aside from Gunslinger3 debate in a intelligent reasonable fashion?"

We are severely hampered in our efforts since it requires two to "debate in a intelligent and reasonable fashion." I mean so far all I've heard from your side save for harpseal is that MORE Government intervention will solve the problem.

Remember, when one is digging oneself into the ground a bigger shovel and renewed effort is not the best approach to remedy the situation.

This is why our side is using the tried and true tactic of "SARCASM" which has totally escaped the notice of the Peoples Progressive Brotherhood of Unionized Buggy-whip Laborers that seem to flock to these anti-free-traitor threads.

(Copys of this testimonial may be picked up in the lobby as you leave.)

Brought to you by the good folks at the Neo-Luddite League

Neo-Luddites: Chucking wooden shoes into the cogs of progress for over 100 years.