How many times did Mitt Romney refer to China in this week's debate? Thirteen times. In fact, " cracking down on China" was one of the principal elements, Romney said, of his entire economic plan. The argument dovetailed with the Romney campaign's offensive on the issue in late September.
If you only listened to the Republican candidate, you might think the Obama administration were struggling when it came to addressing unfair Chinese trade practices. In reality, however, President Obama keeps winning these fights.
The World Trade Organization barred China on Thursday from imposing duties on certain U.S. steel exports, siding with U.S. President Barack Obama in a dispute with Beijing over a type of steel made in two election battleground states.
The case involved duties imposed by China on "grain-oriented electrical steel," which is used in the cores of high-efficiency transformers, electric motors and generators. The steel is made by AK Steel Corp of Ohio and ATI Allegheny Ludlum of Pennsylvania.
Although the specialty steel case is tiny compared with other trade disputes with Beijing, the WTO ruling gave Obama a timely win as he defends himself against accusations by his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, that he is soft on China.
And every time this comes up, I'm reminded of this segment from July.
As Rachel noted at the time, the Obama administration has been "confrontational toward China in a way that no modern administration has ever been." Indeed, none other than Mitt Romney complained a few years ago that the president was too tough on China, and should stop cracking down on its unfair trade practices.
All of this seems to be one of the political world's better kept secrets.
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I think President Obama should make it clear that we are allies with China, and that we settle disputes with them in an adult manner. I think it would be in our best interest not to talk in terms of "being hard" on China. It sounds negative. We should always conduct ourselves with the premise of solving our differences diplomatically without using harsh words. Romney as usual has a huge chip on his shoulder. He's like Elmer Fudd. On the war path with those beadie eyes. Not nice. Not nice at all. Bullies have no place in politics. That's one lesson we oughta have learned by now.
I'm not sure we should be allies with a country that commits major human rights suffering.
Sink or swim you only have what is on earth to deal with . Ignoring China or contesting those issues hotly that cross your threshhold might raise the heat a bit , eh ?
The old quote, "Keep your friend close and your enemies closer," comes to mind. While we may not like much of what China does in the way of trade with us, it's not in our interest to break ties with them. We can work with them diplomatically, unlike a country such as Iran that insists on being adversarial.
Pres. Nixon was instrumental in having China declared "most favored nation".
At that time Soviet Union and China were clashing at their borders and simultaneously he worried about being the first U.S. President to lose a war (Vietnam). The Soviet Union did become "warmer" toward the U.S. after U.S. warmed up to visiting China.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/nixon-foreign/
(side note: PBS has a wonderful educational value and should not be defunded)
Also
http://www.china.org.cn/english/china-us/26890.htm
Pres. Bush II had China permanently made most favored nation.
I think that's something we should keep in mind. We can enforce trade agreements with China without being swaggering a-wholes about it. I see Pres. Obama has done just that.
http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200902.delisle.chinapolicyobama.html
Romney's past policy positions just don't matter anymore. If they did, he would have been laughed off the stage long ago.
The media, by and large, have just given up, shrugging their collective shoulders.
And, yes, do try and imagine if the situation was reversed, and that President Obama, or any Dem, told all of the obvious mistruths as Romney has.
Sad commentary.
It's not so much a shrugging of the shoulders imo , as it is giving romney , and the gop , cover and even support for their falsehoods , nbc nailed romney on 2 falsehoods right after the last debate , which was good
But the 1st question in the 1st debate was pretty much
That is just an insane statement / question , but it sells a lot of copy so they go with it
No, I think that would be Pearl harbor or 911. This whole Benghazi thing is a bunch of bull. The key word is "intelligence". People seem to think they are entitled to all the same info that the CIA has. There's a reason they don't release it, it's classified. And until it is unclassified no one gets it. Politics has no place here.
the worst intelligence disaster was the "original" 911 ; can you see the double standard? Obama just by becoming president and the hope it caused throughout the world caused millions of people in many middle east countries to rise up and revolt against their dictators; it should go without saying that in fledging democracies there will be some struggles; some push back, this time it resulted in a tragedy; but if the right wants to politicize it -did you notice the missing buildings and 3000+ people in nyc? it's amazing that most of americans seem to have forgotten that was on bush's and the right's watch, not to mention the attacks on other embassies in africa, a ship in the gulf i mean the list goes on and on all under george bush , to blame obama is anti-american; plus he successfuly ,when he was campaigning in 2008, predicted where bin-laden would be-pakistan!, then he got him! no-one seems to care or is it they have no memory or is it that they are racist and hate the fact that bush actually gave up looking or is it that most americans are really just completely , and devastatingly stupid? maybe it's god's will and this is just the beginning of judgement- romney will lead us and the world to armaggedon?...shudder to think
Agreed!!
The Romnesiacs' heads will explode if you tell them this.
Is there anyway to check the stock portfolio in Romney's "Blind" trust to see which stocks he just dumped?
mr willard gave us a heads up on these investment companies. Yep, some of us didn't plan on investing in china but our investment companies have fooled us, and in some cases we are. That what we get FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT IS IN OUR PORTFOLIOS.
You may want to check them out.
I know it is a surprise for me when I looked closer. Did not plan on doing that!
Yes. Most people are just completely and devastatingly stupid, when it comes to foreign policy in the ME.
Since Willard is such an experienced businessman, you know he was aware of EXACTLY what was in his "blind trust" portfolio.
Mom??? You're investing in China????
You should know you've given me a good laugh today. I probably look like Biden right now with a big old goofy smile.
No wonder you are against Romney with him taking a position that would make your investment worth less...
Maybe he should ask Tommy Thompson, the one's linked to Iran, He was called out on By Tammy Baldwin here in WI during a Debate.
http://www.seriouslyrolling.com/2012/10/pres-debate-2-liberal-pov-madlibs-style.html
"Mitt, Try answering the actual question! Damn, Candy had to keep refocusing you. Fantastic for not letting him ramble on his own tangent. Sneaking a reference of Obamacare into the China answer?! Really was there any campaign topic Mitt didn't try and sneak into that answer? Stump-Speech-Orama! Seriously! I heard more catch phrases and sound bites, but not sure the actual questions was answered. Why does Romney hate China so much? Did he get a bad fortune cookie? Better question, if he’s so critical of them, why did he invest there? Calls the President soft on China!!!!! This piece of @!$%# has the gall to say that after all the jobs he has sent to China?! Yeah, we know "Governor you are the last person who is going to bring jobs back from China! That’s a guy I want as our President!!!!! Said no one who lost their job to China ever!!! "
Mitt ("Just borrow money from your parents!") Rmoney, he's a real tough-guy alright! How/why anyone would vote for this (Moonie) doorknob is beyond nonsense..
Just like Sensata.
It's quite convenient, for Romney, that the mainstream of political journalists seem to think the politically problematic stories about him are not really that newsworthy.
Isn't that just a fortunate coincidence for Romney?
He is allowed to claim he is all for people borrowing money for school now , getting pellgrants and all , when just a month ago he told a college kid asking about the issue to not rely on him or his gov for any assistance at all , it is disgusting to witness the lap dog msm constant failure to just report facts
De funding education is all the gop talk about , till election time , just like romney and his wall st backers are all against shipping jobs over seas now , it makes me physically ill to listen to them getting away with it
Romney doesn't have a leg to stand on, just have people google Sensata! So much for how "tough on China" he's going to be!
I think we know what's to happen in Wingnutttia, now. There's going to be charges of a vast world conspiracy against Willard's talking points.
Romnesia is cute but the hypochristian, cerebrally deficient, moralepers, who continue to incite bigotry and stupidity for the sake of da pope, or a Jesus unfettered with compassion or just because they've been scared that the boogie-man is going to stop them from shooting rabbits with automatic weapons are willing to trade their vote for a bud and a lie. Wake up those of you that are still sentient and vote for an inclusive America.
President Obama is "soft" on China?? Sounds like he's hard as steel! (Cue spelling-challenged nutters prepared to accuse him of trying to "steel" the election in 3... 2... 1...)
Get Enraged and Engaged:
Mooch the Vote 2012!
;-)
On day one as Romney like's to say he would increase the military budget.Then a couple year's later with all his new weapon's he would be ready to launch strike's on China,Russia and Iran.Then he would send Hank William's Jr. and Ted Nugent in to finish off any people that may be left alive with their new NRA rifle's.Just kidding. But seriously this guy would be a danger to have as Commander and Chief.Especially with the same people Bush had as his advisor's.
Is this what it takes to be a successful businessman, having the ability to leave people so thoroughly confused about what you position is? If Romney knows what he stands for, then he's probably the only one. I gave up on him a long time ago.
Tough on China for Mitt means eating Thai for a month.
As a free trade advocate, I do applaud Obama working with china on trade. He has also signed FTAs with Columbia, South Korea, and Panama as well as finalizing most favored nation status on Russia and allowing Mexican trucks coming into the USA. When he gets something right, I will agree with him. Also, I'm very impressed that many people on here agree with him as well.
in general, if we were looking for employment, flip, flopped, rolled over, mis-spoked (lied) , not a team player, and believed in NO APPLOGIES, we would be considered not employable. Is this not Mitt's resume?
Mitt is and was tough on middle America. While Ann thinks Mitt's tree is the right length ($250Mil helps) and that his motives are pure; in reality the only purity he has only shown is that stashing his money offshore is the epitome of pure greed.
with romney it is bush all over again,,,,but worse,,,he creates jobs overseas not in the us,,it is scary to think some peoples believe him,,,why ,,they should listen to all he said for the last few months or year,,,it is like a bad movie,,,flip flop flip flop, nonsense,,,,,,,,,,woman please think hard and take the right decision,,,mitt the sh,t,, will not create jobs unless it is overseas,,,,and he will have us woman back in 1950 ,,,we deserve better,,,,,obama all the way,,,we had 8 years of bush sh,,t we do not need mitt the sh,,t,,,,,,,,,enough is enough
Romney has had a love affair with Communist China for decades. He is heavily invested there, has shipped thousands of jobs there and continues to invest in companies that dismantle American industries and ships them to China. Too bad most of America is too dumb to see what a fraud this guy is.
It's amazing that Romney would bring up China when his company, Bain Capitol, is a majority owner of Senata Technologies which is outsourcing about 200 jobs from Freeport, Illinois to CHINA! So I don't believe a word he says.
My brother and his family recently went to USA for an holiday. They brought me back a New York city mug.. it was made in China.
The Macau arm of billionaire Sheldon Adelson's casino company, Las Vegas Sands
Corp., already operates three resorts on Cotai and is planning a fourth.
Macau is the only part of China where gambling is legal and where Adelson has invested a fortune. For the life of me I don't understand why Romney brings up China at all. I'd love it if Romney angered the Chinese and threw Adelson out of Macau.
There's no way around that the US won't have to deal with China. No denying that we are in a global economy.The world is becoming smaller and no doubt that all nations would have to put up with each other.It seems Gov. Romney always tries to have it both ways simply to get more votes and win the election. When the truth is, his business friends and himself are benefiting from China.He is so aggressive that people believe him that he will be tough with China.You got to be kidding if he is not going to flip flop,simply because all of his huge contributors will be hovering over his head like flies.They might even be practically living in the white house.