The Return of the John Edwards.
John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, and former candidate for Vice President should announce any day now, his bid for the White House. Edwards has spent the past two years beefing up on his “weaknesses” from 2004. He is the best funded challenger to a potential run by Hillary Clinton. In a recent interview about trade, Edwards answered some important questions which aid in our discussion of the potential cnatidates for 2008 views on globalization/free trade.
Q: Should the US seek more free or liberalized trade agreements?
Edwards: I believe we need trade that works for America and the world, and have outlined a new approach to trade agreements that will protect American jobs and require labor and environmental standards in trade agreements. My approach would also establish an international ‘right to know,’ so that consumers know if corporations have moved jobs overseas or engage in abusive environmental and labor standards. I would also take aggressive measures to make sure foreign markets are open to US goods and include strong environmental and labor standards in all trade deals.
Q: How do you intend to boost the manufacturing base?
Edwards: We have lost over 3 million private sector jobs under President Bush. Two and a half million of those are manufacturing jobs. In order to protect the jobs we have I would do the following. Put enforceable provisions into our trade agreements for environmental protection, labor protection, prohibitions for child labor and forced labor. All of these would be aimed at helping level the playing field for American workers. Close corporate tax loopholes that give American companies an incentive to go overseas and take jobs with them. Instead I would give tax breaks to American companies who would keep manufacturing jobs here in America. I would provide seed money of venture capital to new business who would locate in areas where jobs have been lost. For existing business and industries that are willing to locate a plant of facility those areas I would give tax write offs.
Edwards is rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record and showing us his relatively anti-Globalization/Free Trade stances.
Edwards has a shot at the nomination, especially if Hillary chooses not to run, however his anti-Globalization/Free Trade stances could hurt him in the general election should he win the nomination. While other potential democrats are less decisive about Globalization/Free Trade, Edwards could potentially polarize the issue too much. But first, he has to win the nomination.
