Astroturf Warning: TPP Critics Call Out Fake 'Progressive' Group Pushing Corporate Trade Agenda
'The fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both.'
Critics of the corporate-friendly Trans-Pacific Partnership are lining up against what they call an "astroturf" operation claiming to represent progressives in favor of Fast Tracking the sweeping and secretive trade deal.
No such progressives exist, they say.
Last month, a Democratic political consulting firm founded by former Obama administration staffers launched a website dubbed "Progressive Coalition for American Jobs," which claimed to prove the existence of progressives who support trade promotion authority, or Fast Track power.
Fast Track, which will likely be taken up by Congress soon after lawmakers return from Easter recess on April 13, would make it easier for Obama to negotiate trade deals--including the massive 12-nation TPP--by preventing them from being amended by House or Senate members.
However, groups like Public Citizen, CREDO Action, and Democracy for America say no real progressives support handing over trade authority to the White House in this way.
"A consultant-run, pro-TPP astroturf campaign won't change the fact that progressives are united in their opposition to Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said Murshed Zaheed, deputy political director at CREDO Action, on a press call (pdf) Wednesday.
In fact, added Neil Sroka, Democracy for America's communications director, "The progressive movement could not be more united, more focused, more committed to holding our leaders accountable for the actions they take in Washington than we are right now in the fight against Fast Track authority for the TPP."
He continued: "The fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, encouraged lawmakers to listen to their constituents over consultants.
"Millions of people nationwide are engaging their members of Congress to oppose Fast Track because they understand the damage more job-killing, environment-gutting 'trade' agreements would mean for them," she stated.
"The grassroots forces against Fast Track are the local clergy, small business owners, union and environmental group members, activist retirees and students that members of Congress face whenever they go home," Wallach said. "Meanwhile, the millions being spent to lobby for Fast Track by Wall Street interests, pharmaceutical and agribusiness firms, job-offshoring multinational corporations and their lobby shops--along with their astroturf operations--go away after the vote."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Critics of the corporate-friendly Trans-Pacific Partnership are lining up against what they call an "astroturf" operation claiming to represent progressives in favor of Fast Tracking the sweeping and secretive trade deal.
No such progressives exist, they say.
Last month, a Democratic political consulting firm founded by former Obama administration staffers launched a website dubbed "Progressive Coalition for American Jobs," which claimed to prove the existence of progressives who support trade promotion authority, or Fast Track power.
Fast Track, which will likely be taken up by Congress soon after lawmakers return from Easter recess on April 13, would make it easier for Obama to negotiate trade deals--including the massive 12-nation TPP--by preventing them from being amended by House or Senate members.
However, groups like Public Citizen, CREDO Action, and Democracy for America say no real progressives support handing over trade authority to the White House in this way.
"A consultant-run, pro-TPP astroturf campaign won't change the fact that progressives are united in their opposition to Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said Murshed Zaheed, deputy political director at CREDO Action, on a press call (pdf) Wednesday.
In fact, added Neil Sroka, Democracy for America's communications director, "The progressive movement could not be more united, more focused, more committed to holding our leaders accountable for the actions they take in Washington than we are right now in the fight against Fast Track authority for the TPP."
He continued: "The fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, encouraged lawmakers to listen to their constituents over consultants.
"Millions of people nationwide are engaging their members of Congress to oppose Fast Track because they understand the damage more job-killing, environment-gutting 'trade' agreements would mean for them," she stated.
"The grassroots forces against Fast Track are the local clergy, small business owners, union and environmental group members, activist retirees and students that members of Congress face whenever they go home," Wallach said. "Meanwhile, the millions being spent to lobby for Fast Track by Wall Street interests, pharmaceutical and agribusiness firms, job-offshoring multinational corporations and their lobby shops--along with their astroturf operations--go away after the vote."
Critics of the corporate-friendly Trans-Pacific Partnership are lining up against what they call an "astroturf" operation claiming to represent progressives in favor of Fast Tracking the sweeping and secretive trade deal.
No such progressives exist, they say.
Last month, a Democratic political consulting firm founded by former Obama administration staffers launched a website dubbed "Progressive Coalition for American Jobs," which claimed to prove the existence of progressives who support trade promotion authority, or Fast Track power.
Fast Track, which will likely be taken up by Congress soon after lawmakers return from Easter recess on April 13, would make it easier for Obama to negotiate trade deals--including the massive 12-nation TPP--by preventing them from being amended by House or Senate members.
However, groups like Public Citizen, CREDO Action, and Democracy for America say no real progressives support handing over trade authority to the White House in this way.
"A consultant-run, pro-TPP astroturf campaign won't change the fact that progressives are united in their opposition to Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said Murshed Zaheed, deputy political director at CREDO Action, on a press call (pdf) Wednesday.
In fact, added Neil Sroka, Democracy for America's communications director, "The progressive movement could not be more united, more focused, more committed to holding our leaders accountable for the actions they take in Washington than we are right now in the fight against Fast Track authority for the TPP."
He continued: "The fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, encouraged lawmakers to listen to their constituents over consultants.
"Millions of people nationwide are engaging their members of Congress to oppose Fast Track because they understand the damage more job-killing, environment-gutting 'trade' agreements would mean for them," she stated.
"The grassroots forces against Fast Track are the local clergy, small business owners, union and environmental group members, activist retirees and students that members of Congress face whenever they go home," Wallach said. "Meanwhile, the millions being spent to lobby for Fast Track by Wall Street interests, pharmaceutical and agribusiness firms, job-offshoring multinational corporations and their lobby shops--along with their astroturf operations--go away after the vote."