Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Obama wows UAW members in Flint, Mich.
Perhaps there was no better place for Sen. Barack Obama to give a speech titled "Restoring America's Competitiveness" than in Flint, Mich.
It's possible that no other city in America has suffered more for the GOP's misguided trade policies, inattention to the nation's infrastructure, and lack of a national health care plan.
Those problems were on the minds of many UAW members in the crowd when Obama delivered his speech on Monday to rousing applause and numerous standing ovations to about 1,000 people at Kettering University's Connie and Jim John Recreation Center in Flint.
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| Barack Obama meets with UAW members after his speech at Kettering University in Flint, Mich. |
"It's time for new policies that create the jobs and opportunities of the future -- a competitiveness agenda built upon education and energy, innovation and infrastructure, fair trade and reform," Obama said.
His remarks on trade were particularly well-received by Flint-area residents, who have seen thousands of well-paying, union jobs leave the area. Bill Jordan, president of UAW Local 599, spelled out the problems Obama will inherit from years of GOP mismanagement.
"This is one of the most devastated towns in the country," Jordan said. "We've lost 20,000 jobs here, and we must save these manufacturing jobs by reforming existing trade laws to return jobs to the U.S. and prevent more from going overseas."
It was a sentiment Obama reflected in his speech that detailed his position on trade:
"We need to remember that our economic policies must be supported by strong and smart trade policies. I have said before, and will say again -- I believe in free trade," Obama said.
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| Barack Obama says he's for free trade -- as long as it is fair trade that helps American workers. |
" ... But unlike George Bush and John McCain, I do not think that any trade agreement is a good trade agreement. I don't think an agreement that allows South Korea to import hundreds of thousands of cars into the U.S., but continues to restrict U.S. car exports into South Korea to a few thousand, is a smart deal. I don't think that trade agreements without labor or environmental agreements are in our long term interests."
Obama spoke for about an hour at Kettering University, and garnered the endorsement of former Vice President Al Gore, who joined him at a rally in the Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit Monday. He made another appearance in suburban Detroit oin Tuesday.
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