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Clinton's 1993 NAFTA Meeting
March 19, 2008 4:58 PM
One interesting event in Sen. Hillary Clinton's just-released schedules from the 1990s comes on Nov. 10 1993, when the former first lady was to serve as the closing act during a briefing on NAFTA, the trade agreement she now assails.
11:30 am -
11:45 am
NAFTA BRIEFING DROP-BY
Room 450, OEOB
CLOSED PRESS
PARTICIPANTS: Approx 120 expected to attend
(See briefing book for further info)
FORMAT:
- Alexis Herman intros HRC for brief remarks
-HRC concludes program
(pp. 1375 and 1376)
Two attendees of that closed-door briefing, neither of whom are affiliated with any campaign, describe that event for ABC News. It was a room full of women involved in international trade. David Gergen served as a sort of master of ceremonies as various women members of the Cabinet talked up NAFTA, which had yet to pass Congress.
"It wasn’t a drop-by it was organized around her participation," said one attendee. "Her remarks were totally pro-NAFTA and what a good thing it would be for the economy. There was no equivocation for her support for NAFTA at the time. Folks were pleased that she came by. If this is a still a question about what Hillary's position when she was First Lady, she was totally supportive of NAFTA.
That first attendee recalls that the First Lady's office in the East Wing put together "the invitation list, who was invited authorizations and all that stuff."
And what is this attendee's response to Clinton today distancing herself from NAFTA? "For people who worked hard to pass NAFTA and who support the importance of markets opening for the economy in the long term, they're very upset. A number of the women who were there are very upset. You need to have some integrity in your position. The Clintons when Bill Clinton was president took a moderate position on trade for Democrats. For her to repudiate that now seems pretty phony."
Recalls a second attendee, "they were looking for women in international trade who supported NAFTA. Senator Clinton came by at the end. And of course she asked for our support and help in passing NAFTA."
Women who attended that event, the second attendee says, have been incredulous to see Clinton distance herself from the trade agreement as she campaigns today. "They're all saying, 'What's this all about?' We all heard it firsthand." She says Clinton isn't being honest with voters today.
- jpt
UPDATE: The Clinton campaign has asked that I post this recent quote on CNN from Mr. Gergen, referenced above, saying, "I was actually there in the Clinton White House during the NAFTA fight and I must tell you Hillary Clinton was extremely unenthusiastic about NAFTA. And I think that’s putting it mildly. I’m not sure she objected to all the provisions of it but she just didn’t see why her husband and that White House had to go and do that fight. She was very unhappy about it and wanted to move on to health care. So I do think there’s some justification for her camp saying, you know, she’s never been a great backer for NAFTA."
It's long-established that Hillary Clinton wanted to tackle health care before NAFTA. I don't know that that necessarily undermines the idea that she supported NAFTA. But if she didn't, then why was she telling this room full of businesswomen how great it would be for the economy?
March 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (250)
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here's a news flash. Hillary made a speech on a future housing plan today in Philadelphia; what's so strange is that it is so similar to the memo Obama sent out March 2007 to Federal Reserve Chairman and Treasury Secretary. Hillary has a lot of gall and what she banks on is the American people not reading...
Posted by: rle | Mar 24, 2008 3:25:27 PM
It is an indictment of main stream journalism, including news organizations such as ABC, that after they made such an extraordinary effort to smear Barrack with a story from a dubious source which was subsequently discredited only after the Ohio primary, they do not bother to even report that the Hilary campaign has indeed had meetings with the Canadian government. It is also very dishonest of the Hilary campaign and Hilary herself to have taken advantage of this erroneous story, when they knew it was false and very hypocritical considering that Hilary was never critical of NAFTA till it became a campaign issue. And now that she has suddenly "always been critical" of NAFTA" she really hasn't said what specifically she doesn't like about it.
Posted by: Philip L | Mar 24, 2008 4:13:47 AM
As the old saying goes fair exchange is not highway robbery. If you are with a person and you have been knowing this person a long long time and he is your friend, you go walking with this person and he are she suddenly decides to jump off a bridge doesn't mean that you will do the same. You can lead a horse to water but it doesn't mean that the horse is going to drink the water.
The media, paper and magazines will always concentrate on the negative to make you buy. That is how they make their money. If you believe everything you hear are see then you are a troubled person.
Put the postives and negatives that you like about each candidate and if you have more negatives then that is not the candidate you want.. Take the Enquirer for example, do you believe all that is in it? Think about how much money is made if everyone buy it. Get the entirety of everything before you make a decision of who you want to be your president. America needs to say lets move on and get to the real issues. Stop wasting time. We are smarter than that to figure out what is going on.
Posted by: Sharon | Mar 22, 2008 2:36:42 AM
Think about it this way: If Hillary can persuade others to vote for NAFTA, just think how she could do in the White House getting health insurance, the economy going again and building up the reserve again, ( like her husband did, remember )
Posted by: ikkeye | Mar 21, 2008 12:33:59 PM
THE CLINTON'S ARE PATHOLOGICAL LIARS.
THIS HAS BEEN CLEAR SINCE 1992.
Posted by: sammie | Mar 21, 2008 11:20:27 AM
I deeply resent my post being removed. With all the diatribes here. All the obvious "dumbed down" campaign posts.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 21, 2008 2:06:22 AM
Now, you see after reading that, people still have made up their minds in who they are going to vote for. It doesn't matter how many Documents they release on Hillary, or how many of Obama's sermons you see on the TV, In the end, you all already chosen what you want. Lets see how many votes are tallied when the dust has been cleared.
Posted by: SDVoter | Mar 20, 2008 11:08:48 PM
Yes, it's crystal clear that Senator Clinton lied when she said she never supported NAFTA. Why do you think she hasn't released tax returns and other records showing contributions from lobbyists? What could the reason be that she won't expose this information until after the PA primary? On the other hand, Obama, openly and honestly fesses up to frailties and has open books. Come on Senator Clinton for once be transparent and quit hiding.
Posted by: lambs | Mar 20, 2008 10:41:15 PM
Isn't it interesting that these docs were held until after the Ohio primary, just long enough to allow Hillary's lie to get her extra votes.
Posted by: fool me once | Mar 20, 2008 8:51:48 PM
A SURE WAY TO DETERMINE IF HILLARY IS LYING: SEE IF HER LIPS ARE MOVING, IF THEY ARE, SHE'S LYING.
Posted by: Randle Bate | Mar 20, 2008 5:05:22 PM
Everyone should look into Hillary's membership into the "Family", a religious cult of the elite around the world. No wonder she isn't saying too much about Obama and Rev. Wright. And look up the Tuskegee Experiments - see how the U.S. experimented on blacks with syphilis for 40 yrs. Bill Clinton apologized to blacks for this past agregious act of the U.S.'s. Rev. Wright should have used that example!
Posted by: Susan M | Mar 20, 2008 2:23:30 PM
Say Hello to President OBAMA everybody.
Posted by: Will | Mar 20, 2008 1:59:23 PM
Another of the LIES of Hillary. Let's talk logic: do you think that while her husband was ACTIVELY PROMOTING NAFTA, his wife would organize on 10 November 1993 a drop-by meeting with 150 influential and business oriented women in the White House to oppose the treaty? ARE WE STUPID OR MENTALLY RETARDED? This shows again that Hillary would say ANYTHING to get to the White House !!!!
Posted by: Denis van Dam | Mar 20, 2008 1:48:49 PM
Lets talk VP ...PLEEEAAASSSEE.
I really like Kathleen Sebelius as VP to Obama. She is a woman of integrity, honest and she is a woman who stands on her own tru experience. As a woman, I believe in strong independent women who do not need to pretend they have experince and honesty, they just have it. She would make an excellent VP for Obama as she has all the qualities needed.
Posted by: Karen | Mar 20, 2008 1:46:18 PM
"I must tell you Hillary Clinton was extremely unenthusiastic about NAFTA. And I think that’s putting it mildly. I’m not sure she objected to all the provisions of it but she just didn’t see why her husband and that White House had to go and do that fight. She was very unhappy about it and wanted to move on to health care."
It would seem that Hillary was more concerned that her pet project of universal healthcare was taking a backseat to NAFTA than she was concerned about whether NAFTA was good or bad policy.
So, where does that leave us?
-If, at that time, she really didn't believe NAFTA was good policy, she was saying what she believed to be politically expedient THEN.
-If, at that time, she believed NAFTA to be good policy, she is saying what she believes to be politically expedient NOW.
I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can expect from her as a leader. More spin, obfuscation, and distortion - the same as we've had for 8+ years. It is time for change.
Posted by: jb | Mar 20, 2008 1:02:02 PM
This isn't news. America knew Hillary was lying when she said she opposed NAFTA.
Hillary is a LIAR folks get used to it.
Posted by: Syl | Mar 20, 2008 12:38:43 PM
I'm confused fellow bloggers; was this article about Hillary or Obama?
Obama '08
Posted by: ddpwoman | Mar 20, 2008 12:25:34 PM
"I must tell you Hillary Clinton was extremely unenthusiastic about NAFTA. And I think that’s putting it mildly. I’m not sure she objected to all the provisions of it but she just didn’t see why her husband and that White House had to go and do that fight. She was very unhappy about it and wanted to move on to health care."
It would seem that Hillary was more concerned that her pet project of universal healthcare was taking a backseat to NAFTA than she was concerned about whether NAFTA was good or bad policy.
So, where does that leave us?
-If, at that time, she really didn't believe NAFTA was good policy, she was saying what she believed to be politically expedient THEN.
-If, at that time, she believed NAFTA to be good policy, she is saying what she believes to be politically expedient NOW.
I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can expect from her as a leader. More spin, obfuscation, and distortion - the same as we've had for 8+ years. It is time for change.
Posted by: jb | Mar 20, 2008 12:24:51 PM
She is one woman who does not shiver at the thought of lying. She has PhD in fabrication and falsehood.
Posted by: Kizeem | Mar 20, 2008 12:11:52 PM
From reading all these comments,just lets me know, We the PEOPLE have a lot of racism, sexism and hatred in our hearts. The Media is SUCCESSFUL with what it is trying to do. Keep us separated!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
I am an Obama supporter, but I do like some of the values the Clinton's posed as well. However, i have many of friends, that has horrible views on life or people, yet, they are still my friends. If we hold him accountably guilty by association, than we are ALL GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION.
Honestly, I would be fine with Obama or Clinton in office, Although, I am a strong Obama supporter. I am just looking at the facts: SUPERDELEGATES will not go against the will of the people and we need to take a look at who is ahead in the delegate count. Obama, even if Hillary wins, she will not win a large enough margin to gain delegates, even if Fl & MI was included. It is time for us to wake up and come together and start working on building a better world for us, and our children. Look at what is going on around us. The Republicans are loving this battle.
This yeas seems to be the end of the Democratic Party!!!
Posted by: Natasha | Mar 20, 2008 11:49:13 AM
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