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Subscribe to RSSREDMOND, WA — In his second major policy speech in less than a week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney left no doubt where he stood on the topic of today's address: trade.
"I'm a big free trade guy. I like free trade." Romney said "I'm going to push free trade everywhere in the world we can achieve it"
Speaking from notes before a friendly office of 200 Microsoft employees on their sprawling campus here, Romney delved deeper into his beliefs on trade, first laid out in the jobs plan he presented in September.
The central tenets of Romney's trade policy: open up global markets for America's goods and services, enforce trade rules to keep free trade fair, and confront those who cheat on trade agreements, especially China, directly.
"We need to be far more aggressive in opening up markets for America's goods and services," Romney told the crowd - a goal he said he would achieve by pushing for more free trade agreements like those with South Korea, Panama and Columbia passed by congress this week.
"Thank heavens," Romney said, that those agreements were passed after "languishing" for three years under President Obama.
Romney praised his business-oriented audience, and lauded their productivity and innovation as proof that America can thrive in a free-trade world; if the rules are fair and enforced.
"As long as trade rules and regulations are fair," Romney said, "America can compete and can win anywhere in the world."
Romney said that deregulation, in reference to trade, was actually a misnomer.
"What we really should say is we want to have regulation up to date and modern, dynamic," Romney said, repeating a belief laid out in his book and frequently cited in his economic roundtables on the trail.
The biggest roadblock to more free trade, Romney argued, was rampant "cheating" by countries like China, that must be confronted.
"There is a huge advantage to cheating," Romney said. "China in particular has learned the extraordinary advantage of cheating. And it has had a positive effect on China, and a very seriously negative effect on us. "
Romney's views on how to confront that cheating, on a range of issues from intellectual property theft to China's manipulation of the Yuan, have been considered somewhat controversial. His desire to label China a currency manipulator on day one of his presidency has led some critics, including the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, to say he is stoking the possibility of a trade war. Romney pushed back against that argument today.
"There is some concern of course that if we got tough with China, and say 'Guys, you've just got to play by the rules. You've just got to abide by the agreements that you've entered into,' that if we do that they might retaliate with a trade war. And we don't want that, but we also don't want a trade surrender, which is what we're enduring." Romney said, adding "Right now we buy about $273 billion dollars more from China than they buy from us, every year. They don't have any interest in a trade war, given that kind of figure."
Romney called legislation just passed by the Senate to deal with the issue of China's currency "political theater", arguing that the president already has the power he needs to deal with China, he simply lacks the willpower.
"We don't need new legislation, we need a new president" Romney said.
Romney also plugged his plan to create a so-called "Reagan Free Trade Zone", in which countries that agreed to abide by higher standards for free and fair trade and the protection of intellectual property could enjoy a more robust trade relationship with the United States.
And on a day in which his lunchtime fundraiser was picketed by members of the anti-Wall Street "Occupy Seattle" movement, Romney also defended American business more broadly.
"I'm afraid in some corners, people don't like you very much. I'm not just talking about Microsoft. I'm talking about private sector individuals generally," Romney told the audience. "They feel somehow business is bad. That business people are bad. I don't dislike you, I love you. I appreciate what you do."
Prior to the speech, Romney met with a group of Microsoft executives, including CEO Steve Ballmer, for a private roundtable discussion about business and economic issues. He said Ballmer reminded him that when Romney was at Bain he once tried to recruit Ballmer to join the venture capital firm. Romney recalled telling Ballmer that the decision to work for the start-up Microsoft instead was "very high risk".
Romney joked that if Ballmer had accepted his offer to come to Bain instead, that the billionaire Ballmer might be "worth a million or two by now."
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Romney's face would be perfect for the United Healthcare ad next door! He is a disingenuous wimp. If Republicans want him as their nominee then so be it. You get what you paid for . . . or maybe not since he flip flops more than my uncle's toupee.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS
For me, the most disturbing aspect of the Republican political culture is how it puts its unquenchable thirst for power, domination and a radical ideology above facts, reason and truth. Al Gore
Romney, China cheating? What about America all these years? Why do you think we're falling so far behind? Because you and your friends were thieves to America's consumers. Cheaters. And now, houses are sitting empty because of foreclosures. Wages are going down. Why do you point to China? How have we been behaving for the last 30 years? Where was our integrity?
It didn't exist. That's what deregulation did. It made no one accountable.
I think all politicians should be talking about the OWS situation. There's a reason why they're protesting. They see that all our institutions are broken, and this all began under Ronald Reagan, step by step.
There was a time in this country when we all respected each other. It didn't make a damn bit of difference how much money you made. It was enough that you got up each day and went to your job; and for the working class, it usually meant going to two jobs, the second job so that you could send your children to college.
No complaints. No feeling sorry for themselves. These parents just did it, for years.
But now the "conservatives" have made working people a punch line. They have made minorities a punch line. They have made the working class attempting to earn a decent living a punch line. Voting rights is now a punch line. Public education is a punch line. Real activism is a punch line. And now college educated kids who can't find a job and are marching are called "elitists". You can't win.
And people in this country are falling for it. That's what is so hard to fathom. Now it's every man for himself, with corporate America running the show. They have politicians in all of their pockets. And people still, still look the other way here in this country.
Greed has gone threw the roof. Lying is all anybody can do anymore. It's become second nature to politicians and most of the media.
How can so-called reporters work for Fox/Murdoch? Have they no shame at all? No. Those reporters sold their souls a long time ago, including Hannity and O'Reilly.
Tuitions are unaffordable. Buying a home is unaffordable. What are these young people going to do?
March.
And you know what Romney said about them? Simple. He said -
They're looking for a scapegoat.
That's his answer. These people did nothing wrong. They want a job. They want to pay their tuititions. They want to buy a home and raise families.
How can they? No one will listen to what they're up against.
Well, at least we the people recognize their situation.
President Obama is having to figure out a way to work with the Republican Party - our United States Government - to help them. Imagine that? He has a government who flat out refuse to help them.
They are being exploited, made to suffer because of these rich white dudes in Congress who have no sympathy for their cause.
I wonder. How many of these protestors fought in Bush's wars? Has anyone bothered to ask? Wars that Romney wanted. And he has the audacity to talk about China?
The Republicans now are too busy raising money so they can retain the GOP House. The GOP establishment is too busy pushing Perry & Cain out of the way so that their puppet Romney can get the nomination.
They're looking for a scapegoat.
Yes, we should have saved the banks. No, we should not have helped the auto workers. Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.
Today in the House it was Abortion Day. Vote to defund abortions, which according to Rachel Maddow just now, was DEFUNDED back in the 1970's.
Yet people protest for weeks. And the Republicans are having Abortion Day.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS. DON'T BOTHER. THEY'RE HERE.
Great post, Pat. It is so frustrating watching these clowns. I heard one of the democrats say this is day 280 in this Congress and not once has the GOP brought to the table a jobs plan. American burns and it's Abortion Day again for the GOP House. Where are the jobs, Speaker Boehner?
Ask Obama Jody. He had a plan. It sucked.
Dems in control of 1/2 of congress and WH, YET YOU ASK THE GOP?
You make me laugh Jody. You too Pat.
What up DNC?
Jody, there are so many people in this country looking the other way too. We used to look at European history when we were growing up and marvel how we as Americans would never have societies like they did back then. We had made our mistakes but we fought and fought to correct them. Slavery. Jim Crow. Women's rights. Voting rights. Anti-war demonstrations. Etc.
We defeated fascism. And we were proud of our leaders. We were proud of our fathers for fighting in WWII. And all through the years we blamed not just the leaders in all those countries, but the people as well. We couldn't understand how they could be so blind. They had the power to stop it before it was too late.
Now people here are doing something very very dangerous. Whatever their leaders/corporate masters/media in the GOP say - they fall into step.
I never thought it would happen here but it has. It truly has.
It's why I admire the OWS so much. They're trying to stop the madness. I so hope Congress comes around someday. Both parties.
The vote today in the Teapublican House was a charade and vote for ER to refuse treatment to women having complications, women who want to have a baby, but pretending it was all about pro-life. What a bunch of worthless sexists. (Punk, SFTU, no one is interested in you or what you post.)
My my my..... how offended the liberals seem to be. Liberals offer nothing but corporate hatred, rich hatred, and republican hatred. With all this hatred hanging around their necks, it's no wonder liberals are caught up in speaking so much slander. The liberals will go so far as to invite socialism into our country because they hate conservatism so much. It's completely irrational these days. They'd rather see the destruction of corporations, wall street and any prosperity... all because they have formulated such a formenting hatred.
I rarely see any sort of rational thought... it's as if common sense is gone.
What do you want liberals? What is it exactly that you want? Do you want to see the total destruction of conservatism? Then what? What will you want after that? You don't know what you want... you are driven by a desire to accomplish nothing but harming anyone that doesn't think like you do. Forget the freedom of expression... it's something that you can't stand... because that freedom will assail your destructive desires. Jerkoffs like TruePatriot will tell others to shut the f up because morons like untrue patriot cannot accept anyone that will not conform to the liberal thought process.
If you liberals can't' see this, then you have exactly the same mentality as the 3rd Reich and that's exactly where you will lead everyone if you win in your quest for domination. This conservative will stand in your way
That's because YOU lack logic and critical thinking skills, or have gone off your meds.
Brianb -- You don't know what socialism is--you're just parroting a squawking point, and anyone who breaks Godwin's law can't be taken seriously (look it up). BTW, socialism is on the liberal end of the spectrum and fascism (3rd Reich) is on the conservative end of the ideological spectrum. It would be VERY difficult to be both.
Trolls who stalk and harasses posters are the Jerkoffs. I only reply to attacks they initiate. In the meantime, you simply have a lot of growing up to do.
TruePatriot
Look up fascism on wikipedia. Fascism is anti-conservative and anti-liberalism. Its also anti-capitalism. It also wants government ran everything. So which side of the spectrum does it lean more towards again?
Definition of FASCISM
1
often capitalized :a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2
: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge>
Cases most referenced are Mussolini and Hitler. While liberal populism may have been used to rise to power, once in power the governmental system becomes a pro-military, corporatist, nationalist (symbolism, e.g. swastika) dictatorship. What part of this is progressive? None.
I agree, he looks good, but that usually doesn't amount to much. He doesn't seem to have social skills. He seems very rude to the people he meets on the street.
Wapo had a thing or 2 to say about Obama's social skills. I'm sure you read that - he is not very good and is clinically depressed.
Obama, rude? Funny, but he seems to have alienated so many dems in the senate.
Spanky? It is such a hoot to hear your comments on 'Social Skills'. You are obviously a man of the world, absorbed by your many friends and social commitments... One lawsuit after another in the courtroom... And, you always win, as you are the 'wise one'...
How do you find the time to be a constant, and I mean CONSTANT poster on this site?
Spanky talking about social skills?!? Talk about an oxyMORON...
Now that's funny @!$%#, right there...I wonder what his therapist has to say about that...
@Mickey. What would your therapist say about your obsession with Spanky? You stalk his every comment. LOL Now that is funny right there.
As with everything else Romney proposes, his ideas for trade are no different than those we have heard previously. These are the same tired ideas we have heard from republican candidates year after year yet when they have the chance to make trade really fair, they argue against it just as they argue against eliminating tax breaks from businesses who ship jobs overs and against giving tax breaks to businesses creating jobs here.
Pat, Boston is right: Send in the clowns, don't bother, they're here.
I presume you love Obama's free trade agreements, eh Jody?
You are precious. Keep it up.
Please.
Jody is oblivious to Obama's anything. Blindly following the liberal messiah and drooling anytime Obama speaks is the way of life for liberals like Jody. Obama is the master blaster and that's all liberals know. I don't think I've ever come across a more worthy set of Lemmings than the liberals on this board. They want Obama and they deserve him.
Hardly, Brian B. I'm smart enough to know that NO president can please every person including me but right-wing lemmings such as yourself cannot comprehend such an idea. Plus we are talking about Romney's trade ideas. Prove they are any different from those of previous presidents.
I would like to see the pay cuts in the house and senate. 174,000$ is too much for people who only show up to work every so often. They have the nerve to say a teacher gets the summer off so that makes them lazy? It's the house and senate who are lazy good for nothing b------s
So you are form Mexico? the $ goes in front of the number Hoss.
Damn, teachers today just suck.
So are you an editor from the planet RUDE? I don't know about teachers today since I haven't been to school in 40 years.
Welcome to Planet Spanks.
No gravity.
Just tethers.
Bluebird Sister:
[So are you an editor from the planet RUDE?]
Well, the "counselor" is just the First Read resident troll...feed him at your own risk, but feel free to slap him around a bit...
...FYI...he HATES facts...
The republican clowns have denied the unemployed a chance at jobs because they say these jobs would come mostly to union workers. They are simply trying to bust the unions, especially public workers. That's what I consider the house and senate to be. Cut their paychecks by 2/3 and then we'll talk.
Pension plans for congress should be the first to go before they attack the common citizen about anything.
I love the way they get those pay raises under the radar. I never hear about them getting a raise until it's over. Not that anyone could do anything to stop it anyway.
Bluebird,
Question for you. I dont believe it is the fact they are union jobs (and they mostly are union jobs) but more in the fact it leaves the public holding the bag.
If there is funding added to add teachers and police and firemen, but this is temporary funding, who pays them after the funding runs out? They are not premanent jobs.
It is BHO wanting to throw 500 billion to the wind for some temp workers. And what usually happens is this funding runs out, and the local and state governments have to find a way to continue to fund it, so up goes the property taxes.
This "Jobs Bill", which I like to call Stimulus2 does nothing to create sustainable private sector jobs. It only creates government jobs, and temporary ones at that. A huge waste of money. And we currently have the largest percentage of people in government jobs in our history. We cannot afford to keep the ones we have employed, let alone add more. But this is the crux of this plan.
It is another attempt by BHO to apprease his union supporters, add to his big government workforce, and demonize Republicans because the average citizen hears "Jobs Plan" and cant see why anywone would be against it. He should be prevented from calling it anything other than what it is.
If he had named it more appropriately, say maybe "Huge Waste of Taxpayers Money" or maybe "Another $500 Billiion into the Wind" people would see it for what it is.
Or if he does not like those names, just call it "Unsustainable Jobs Bill" . That seems to be a compromise, which is what everyone wants after all, isnt it?
The Republicans dont want to bust the unions per se. But they do want to bust the Liberals and their free spending. It just so happens the two are so intertwined you cannot separate them, so to defeat one, you have to attack the other. And lets face it, the Unions treat their companies the same way the Dems treat the taxpayers. We want more, We want more, We want, We want .......... No regard to if the money is there to supply what they want or if it will bankrupt the entity in the process.
So essentially they are the same and have to be defeated the same.
Can you name anything in this "Jobs Plan" that will create a job that will last more than 2 years, without the TAXPAYERS having to pick up the funding to keep the job going beyond this? And most are only funded for 1 year...
ABO 2012
By the way Sparky, you typed form instead of from. Just sayin!
Off topic, but the Vine now has avatar/pics added to comments.
Must be a move to 'simpler and more responsive'.
Like the dude to my immediate right.
Has anyone watched this commercial on TV? Duderocker claims that UnitedHealthcare saved his life... I had that 'care' for years, and I use the term 'care' loosley. They nickle and dimed me the few times I saw a Dr. 3 times in 11 years - it's not like I abused them.
And when a sports injury Dr. prescribed something that didn't work with what my GP has prescribed, my pharmasist caught it, not the frickin Ins Co, that would rather fight than pay a frickin dine...
This spot is a classic example of what's wrong with our HCR. These companies should be spending money on patient care, not advertising... THEY are SICK...
Romney is "Obama Lite".
soooo...it's really capitalism "ripping us off"? Please tell me I misinterpreted!
darned Reply button didn't work...responding to Gramma...
t's AMERICAN companies choosing to import from AMERICAN companies who relocated there, not a currency problem that CAUSED the trade imbalance.
Do you defenders of China corporatism actually believe the EPA regs are the primary reason these companies are doing their manufacturing there?
Do you actually believe allowing companies to do what ever they like to the environment here would be good for our Country?