Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized his rival for the 2016 Democratic president nomination, Hillary Clinton, for not clarifying whether she supports President Obama’s trade agenda.
“You cannot be on the fence on this one. You are either for it or you are against it. No fence-sitting on this one,” Sanders told CNN Sunday.
Sanders was referring specifically to Trade Promotion Authority legislation, also known as “Fast Track,” which the Senate began debating this week. The legislation would prohibit Congress from amending trade bills, limiting them to a strict up or down vote.
The legislation has strong backing from President Obama but there is strong opposition among liberal groups, especially organized labor. All but one Democrat, Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, initially opposed even opening debate on the bill, dealing the White House an embarrassing setback Tuesday.
Sanders, an avowed socialist and independent lawmaker who caucuses with the Democrats, blamed prior trade deals for the lackluster economy.
“When we talk about why the middle class is disappearing and talk about why the gap between the very, very rich and everyone else has grown wider, you have to talk about disastrous trade agreements that have allowed corporate America to shut down this country and move jobs to China and other low-wage countries,” Sanders said.
In the same interview, Sanders said he respected and liked Clinton, who holds a large lead in the primary race, according to polls. He said he hoped to have a civil, serious debate with her on the issues.
Trade Promotion Authority is important to Obama. He sees its passage in Congress as crucial to the rest of his trade agenda, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal with 12 Pacific Rim nations expected to be submitted to Congress for a vote later this year. Critics like Sanders oppose that as well.
Clinton has a complicated history with Fast Track legislation. Bill Clinton used a version of it to help secure passage of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement in 1994 but Hillary voted against renewing it in 2002 when she was a New York senator.
Coming out in opposition of Fast Track would put Clinton at odds with the both administration she served in as first lady and the one where she served as the top official on international relations. Supporting Fast Track would put her at odds with much of the party’s base as she tries to lock down the party’s presidential nomination with a minimum of drama.
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill issued a statement on April 17 outlining the candidate’s trade policy in general. While generally skeptical of trade, it did not comment on Fast Track itself, leaving open the possibility that she could support it and other deals.
Liberal leaders are showing signs of impatience with Clinton. On April 28, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said any candidate who expects his organization’s endorsement should come out in opposition of Fast Track.
