Hillary Clinton stands up for Tatas, outsourcing

Times of India ^ | THURSDAY, MARCH 04, 2004 | CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

WASHINGTON: Former First Lady Hillary Clinton on Wednesday defended the general principles of free trade and outsourcing , while rejecting suggestions that she was allowing Indian info-tech major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to take away jobs from the state that elected her to the Senate.

The New York Senator was ambushed by CNN's Lou Dobbs on his show, a daily outlet for anti-free trade rants, with questions about a TCS center she opened last year in Buffalo in upstate New York despite the company's reputation as an 'outsourcer.'

"Of course, I know they outsource," Clinton retorted. "But they have also brought jobs and they intend to be a source of new jobs in the state."

Outsourcing works both ways, she told Dobbs and his constituency of anti-free traders who tried to corner her on the issue. While not minimizing the problems of job flight, she said free trade also provided opportunities for the US to attract jobs from around the world if they got the domestic diagnosis right.

The administration and the Congress needed to figure out changes in tax codes and trade laws to provide incentives for companies to keep jobs at home and create new jobs instead of blindly striking out against outsourcing.

 "We are not against all outsourcing; we are not in favour of putting up fences," Clinton said firmly, adding that Americans were capable of competing against anyone if they summoned the will.

TCS opened a 10-person center in Buffalo last March at the prompting of the former First Lady and local officials eager to generate local employment. The company also collaborates closely with the University of Buffalo on various projects aimed at galvanising the local sci-tech economy.

But anti-outsourcing elements have targeted the office, arguing that TCS will simply outsource the jobs to India or bring in Indian hands to Buffalo to do the work.

They have also attacked Clinton for inviting TCS, and in some instances accused her of working with what one anti-outsourcing website described as the 'enemy.'

But the New York Senator dismissed the fears on Wednesday, and instead offered various prescriptions aimed at creating more jobs at home, including creating a 'Manufacturing Research Agency.'

Her proposals, amid a slew of other prescriptions and legislations by other lawmakers, prompted speculation that she was moving center-stage with an eye on the vice-presidential ticket alongside John Kerry. But the former First Lady laughed away the suggestion saying she was happy with her work as a Senator.

Tata factfile

• India's largest info-tech company; first to cross $1 billion in revenues
• Employs more than 25,000 people, including 5,000 in the US and Canada
• Has 50 branches in the US including three in New York State

[Willie Green]

Treasury's Snow defends U.S. job outsourcing

[TomGuy]

The New York Senator was ambushed by CNN's Lou Dobbs on his show, a daily outlet for anti-free trade rants,

Mean Dobbs, mean!!!!


lol

Ambushing poor lil ole Hillary.

lol. Glad reporter CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA is 'fair and balanced.'

[keithtoo]

Bodacious Tatas?

[dfwgator]

Hillary Clinton stands up for Tatas

Why is this news? We've always known Hillary was a lesbo.

[OldFriend]

First the dose and now this!!! Thank you thank you thank you. I could not bear the hate rhetoric coming from the hate media today.

[clintonh8r]

Hellary: Please do not show us your tatas!!

[reagan_fanatic]

"Hillary Clinton stands up for Tatas"

I expect she will be exposing herself yet again on the boob-tube.

[harpu]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, the sky is falling, oh, whatever...

[PJ-Comix]

I believe there was once a movie called Bodacious Tatas.

[Southack]

Interesting article...

[NYC GOP Chick]

I knew someone else would think of it first!

[StriperSniper]

figure out changes in tax codes and trade laws

The key word is 'less', of both.

[humptydumpty]

Thank you Lou Dobbs for carrying the torch !!!!

Great !!!!

[Constitution Day]

FYI.

[general_re]

I dunno, my friend. I think I could get in trouble for posting pictures of Tatas.

Ah, what the heck...

:^)

[Constitution Day]

That top Tata is a a bit too big for my taste.
Otherwise, good work!

;^)

[general_re]

Yeah, I prefer a matched pair of Tatas myself ;)

[sandlady]

I can't believe it took 'til the 3rd post!!!

[mountaineer]

See also Americans, quit whining, compete: Hillary Clinton (Story on Outsourcing from Indian newspaper), posted March 4.

[NeoCaveman]

No article should ever have the words "Hillary" and "Tatas" in the same headline.