Clinton berates Obama over NAFTA
She referred to report that his adviser had told Canadians the debate was 'political positioning.'
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
TOLEDO — In her final Ohio appearance before Election Day, Sen. Hillary Clinton launched a direct attack on Sen. Barack Obama, saying she would not "secretly" talk to foreign governments about the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Clinton spoke Monday, March 3, to about 1,200 people at the University of Toledo. She referred to an Associated Press report that Obama's senior economic policy adviser met privately on Feb. 8 with Canadian officials and told them the debate over trade was "political positioning." The AP based its report on a Canadian government memo.
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Clinton accused Obama of saying "one thing in Ohio" and having his campaign signal an opposite message to a foreign government. Both campaigns have called for stronger enforcement of trade policies and new rules to protect American jobs and consumers.
Obama's spokesman Ben LaBolt said the Canadian memo "did not accurately characterize" the remarks made by the adviser, Austan Goolsbee. According to the AP, Goolsbee said he did not use the phrase "political positioning."
The Canadian Embassy also issued a statement saying, "There was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA."
Also Monday during the Toledo rally, Clinton emphasized her support for a manufacturing strategy, funding for alternative energy sources and universal health care coverage.
She called for a government investigation of high gas prices and pressure on oil producing companies that set prices and production levels.
"I'm not interested in holding hands with the Saudis; I want to hold them accountable," Clinton said.
Clinton also spoke of ending the war in Iraq and winning the war in Afghanistan, and said when troops come home they will get the health care and benefits they deserve.
Clinton also emphasized her experience and readiness to lead, themes that resonated with supporters who were interviewed afterward.



