Another day, more hypocrisy, this time from the co-chair of Michigan campaign, former Michigan governor Jim Blanchard who during a discussion on NAFTA tells a group in Toronto that he has "not seen anything that would constitute a threat to trade with Canada."
Former U.S. diplomats differ on Canadian trade fears if Democrats win presidency
April 17, 2008 - 16:25
Colin Perkel, THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - Two former American ambassadors to Canada pronounced the race for the U.S. presidency as the Democrats' to lose but differed Thursday on how worried Canadians should be about the future of free trade between the two countries.
(snip)
"There ought to be some concern here in Canada because they've been making some pretty strong (anti-free trade) statements," Cellucci said.
Undoing the North American Free Trade Agreement would be "very bad" for Canada given that a significant underpinning of the Canadian economy is based on exports to the U.S., he added.
But Blanchard argued Democrats are more concerned about Mexico and China than with Canada.
"Their concern is job loss or unfairness in dealing with countries that have low wage and labour standards and low environmental standards," Blanchard said. "I have not seen anything that would constitute a threat to trade with Canada (but) I can understand why Canadians might be concerned."
Blanchard, who is co-chairman of Clinton's campaign in Michigan, played down her antipathy toward the free-trade deal, saying she has visited Canada many times and understands the country well.
Also, noteworthy given Hillary Clinton's recent focus on church-and-guns:
Blanchard also decried the increased presence of religion in American politics, calling it "an ominous sign ."
© Jed Lewison