Senator Clinton's Wrong Priorities

The Peru trade agreement is an example of how corporate interests and their lobbyists and cronies have corrupted the Democratic Party. Like the failed free trade agreements before it, this agreement puts the interests of the big multinational corporations first, ahead of the interests of American workers and communities. Despite progress on labor and environmental standards, the guidelines outlined in this agreement are only as strong as George Bush's will to enforce them -- and we all know, trusting Bush to enforce a trade agreement is like letting Mark Penn negotiate a labor contract for workers.

Coincidentally, Senator Clinton's announcement that she supports the agreement came on the same day that the New York Times reported she would receive the endorsement of former Clinton Administration official and NAFTA architect Robert Rubin. Rubin's endorsement builds on Clinton's already robust support among Wall Street elites who favor free trade policies that prioritize the profits of multinational corporations over the needs of America's workers.

We've all seen the devastating effects of these free trade policies: in recent years our country has lost middle-class manufacturing jobs, seen wages stagnate, and run up larger and larger trade deficits. But it doesn't have to be this way. Instead of expanding the NAFTA model, we need our leaders to fight for trade agreements that strengthen and maintain, rather than undercut and erode, labor rights, environmental standards and wages.

Instead of cozying up to corporate interests, John Edwards will fight for safe and smart trade policies that put the interests of Main Street above the profits of Wall Street. By supporting this agreement, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are sending a powerful signal to voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and across America that they have very different priorities.