Sanders stalls in effort to oppose trade deal in platform
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a campaign rally at Qualcomm Stadium.
ORLANDO, Fla. >> Bernie Sanders failed in his quest to include opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal in a draft of the Democratic Party’s policy positions Saturday, where several amendments against the deal were voted down by Hillary Clinton supporters.
During a combative meeting in a hotel ballroom, members of the Democratic National Convention’s full Platform Committee voted down amendments to explicitly oppose the deal and to oppose a vote on it in Congress. Instead, they endorsed an amendment that included stronger language governing trade deals, including the TPP.
Sanders and Clinton have come out against the trade deal, but President Barack Obama supports it. Clinton supporters, including labor leaders, believed that toughening the trade language made enough of a statement without directly opposing the president. Sanders backers expressed their frustration with boos and angry shouts.
Sanders supporter Benjamin Jealous, a former president of the NAACP argued that language opposing the TPP would help Democrats win the presidential election in November. “I want us to stop making it harder for us to win and start making it easier for us to win,” he said.
Since Clinton effectively clinched the presidential nomination, the Vermont senator has aggressively campaigned to include his progressive policies in the party platform. He has won a number of concessions, including a win Friday with an amendment calling for increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 over time, indexed to inflation. The previous platform draft had not included explicit language on a $15 federal minimum wage.
The party guidelines also have language endorsing steps to break up large Wall Street banks and urging an end to the death penalty. But Sanders is looking for more before the meeting concludes. He wants the platform to support a carbon tax to address climate change and seek a freeze on hydraulic fracking.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
The roughly 15,000-word platform is a nonbinding document that serves as a guidepost for the party. After the Orlando meeting, the document will be voted on at the convention in Philadelphia this month. The Orlando meeting is not the final stop for the Sanders’ efforts. He could seek to revive some of these issues at the convention.
Sanders has so far avoided endorsing Clinton, but appears to be closing in on backing her campaign. He told reporters Saturday that the campaigns are “coming closer and closer together in trying to address the major issues facing this country.”
17 responses to “Sanders stalls in effort to oppose trade deal in platform”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Bernie and Hilliary supporters, all aboard the Trump Train. Trump 2016
In your racist dreams!
Accusing me of being racist makes you a racist. You believe that your race is superior to mine. You look down on my race.
Perhaps I have been misunderstood, and perhaps I have misunderstood you.
I just heard all the awful things Trump has said about so many different groups of people. I had assumed his supporters must be as racist as he.
I always wondered how the people of Germany could have elected Hitler as their leader despite the terrible things he said about really anyone who was not German. But, we are seeing the same things in this country now, I believe.
Trump is not a polished politicians and says what’s on his mind. What you hear may not necessarily be true. The reason why he’s in the race is because he and 14 million people believe there is something wrong with America. Certainly, his views may not resonate to a lot of people of both parties. But would it be wise to put someone in office that lies to the American people? You make the choice.
These are probably the 3 worst candidates (Sanders included) that I have seen come out of the primaries since I have been alive. Pick your poison. Email lying, turn the other way when hubby is cheating Hillary or say whatever he feels Trump. I really am still undecided. Maybe the VP announcements may be my deciding factor. But again, I think both may have a hard time finding VPs as that may taint their future chances of presidency.
I suspect you are a Republican who rightfully cannot support Trump. But, I think most Democrats are quite satisfied.
I’m am very glad, actually, that the party seems to be returning to the policies of FDR after all these years.
I applaud you for voting across party lines for Trump. Yes, I agree with you that the Democrat candidate should be in prison instead of running for POTUS.
And what are YOU doing, specifically and actively, to advance and support candidates that YOU approve of – or to run for office yourself?
Well, even if my candidate is a billionaire I still help out financially, I campaign for him. I think he’ll do the best for America.
Now that you asked me, what do you do for your candidate? She’s always in the news. Honest, trustworthy, careful, experienced, sophisticated, the best candidate man or women.
It’s not about you Bernie.
Too many in power like the gravy train. Heck, even in supposedly liberal old Hawaii, the state Democratic platform failed to support a state income tax that would be at least as progressive (versus regressive) as the federal income tax. And don’t forget that Senator Sander’s anti-government corruption plank failed to get support from Secretary Clinton’s supporters. This is the anti-revolving door position.
People who support Clinton, go out and vote for her. You don’t need to browbeat Trump and those who believe he will make America Great. The man has not put you at risk. He had nothing to do with the morass and quandary of our present administration. He was not responsible for ISIS, Syrian refugees, illegal immigrants, black lives matter, unemployment, national debt.
Instead you should speak to the honesty, integrity, accomplishments, good judgement, experience or the lack thereof of Hilliary Clinton.
Please remember, no matter what race you are, your life is what you make it. Don’t waste it or your vote.
Clinton is the most qualified to be president.
Absolutely, the choice is yours.
Heard today the Oversight committee has asked for a referral concerning Clinton’s lying under oath. The FBI will be looking into perjury charges. Apparently, as you stated, she is the most qualified liar to ever run for POTUS. Also, Loretta goes before Congress tomorrow to receive some chitlings deep fried in bacon grease and some homemade Pocahontas pone bread.
At least Bernie got a tour of the Oval Office and more Hilliary lies. He fell for it like a ton of bricks.