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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAstroturf Warning: TPP Critics Call Out Fake 'Progressive' Group Pushing Corporate Trade Agenda
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/02/astroturf-warning-tpp-critics-call-out-fake-progressive-group-pushing-corporateThe fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both.'
byDeirdre Fulton, staff writer
Critics of the corporate-friendly Trans-Pacific Partnership are lining up against what they call an "astroturf" operation claiming to represent progressives in favor of Fast Tracking the sweeping and secretive trade deal.
No such progressives exist, they say.
Last month, a Democratic political consulting firm founded by former Obama administration staffers launched a website dubbed "Progressive Coalition for American Jobs," which claimed to prove the existence of progressives who support trade promotion authority, or Fast Track power.
Fast Track, which will likely be taken up by Congress soon after lawmakers return from Easter recess on April 13, would make it easier for Obama to negotiate trade dealsincluding the massive 12-nation TPPby preventing them from being amended by House or Senate members.
However, groups like Public Citizen, CREDO Action, and Democracy for America say no real progressives support handing over trade authority to the White House in this way.
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99Forever
(14,524 posts)I'm SHOCKED!
SHOCKED I say.
JEB
(4,748 posts)2naSalit
(86,875 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)I have just emailed my very progressive Representative Jared Polis who can't seem to make up his mind on Fast Track. A vote for Fast Track is simply an acknowledgement that political power and corporate influence is more important than constituents and democracy. It's time for the progressives we elected to tell us which they serve.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)That's right.
By definition, if you're in favor of giving ultimate authoritarian power to corporations, then you're not a progressive.
What's next? 'Atheists for Jesus'?
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)possibly support any Corporate friendly deal that will further destroy the working class.
clarice
(5,504 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)of creating an illusion of grass roots support or to build some such support.
Snarkoleptic
(6,002 posts)by a special interest group.
TheNutcracker
(2,104 posts)PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)MisterP
(23,730 posts)to their past promises (especially if they were eminently doable) and who tried to protect labor and the environment and health and infrastructure (the bastards!)
on edit: NO LUNCH
G_j
(40,372 posts)that cracked me up..
MisterP
(23,730 posts)Levy (the guy who argued TRUE liberals think Bush went too easy on the Mideast)
obxhead
(8,434 posts)Couldn't have said it better.
Hillary supporters, take note..... You are showing your true colors and you side with the corporations and big money, not the people.
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)We should give no thought of giving up the fight should it pass Congress, with or without fast track. These trade deals are nothing less than an assault on democratic government.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)NBachers
(17,155 posts)lies they need to weaken resistance to the TPP.
it's infuriating!
Not all who claim to be "Progressives" (or Democrats) are the real deal.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)they were ready to fast track the TPP...and needed to keep us and the right wingers locked in a struggle so we would not care what they did.
Look for more of the same coming up...there will be daily outrages.