Lou Dobbs Traps Hillary

Lou Dobbs Traps Hillary

03-03-04

Senator Hillary Clinton went on Lou Dobbs on 03/03/04 to talk about her concerns on the outsourcing issue. Hillary didn't know that Lou Dobbs set her up with a trap - and Hillary took the bait. A little background:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a welcoming party and the red carpet treatment for the Indian owned bodyshop TATA and it's CEO Subramaniam Ramadorai. The celebration - TATA was setting up an office in Buffalo. TATA's website praised Clinton's sellout of principle by saying, "The deal was the brainchild of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)".

Vinod Gupta, the president of TATA, admitted that 70% of the work will be sent offshore and only 30% will be done in the United States. Gupta says that half his employees are Indians on work visas, and that was good enough for Hillary! Gupta not only got a call from the Clintons for a dinner banquet during Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit, but he also got a sleepover at the White House. Gupta gave $2,000 to Ms. Clinton to support her campaign and more than $100,000 to the Democratic National Committee.

Here is a list of Indian-owned bodyshops that Hillary invited to New York:

NIIT www.niit.com/
ITC www.itcinfotech.com/
Tata (TCS) www.tata.com/
Mindtree www.mindtree.com/

Ashok Soota, founder of Mindtree, is offered Hillary a nice prize for selling out - an expense paid junket to India for all of her business buddies. Hillary hosted a tea party for the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). www.ciionline.org/

Lou Dobbs Steps Used to Trap Hillary Clinton :

Step 1: Baiting Clinton: Lou Dobbs allows Clinton to blather about how she wants to protect jobs. She even pretends to be compassionate and caring.

CLINTON: Getting our trade system right, you know, I was very disappointed when the current administration moved away from the Jordan free trade agreement, which began to try to put into place higher labor and environmental standards so it wasn't a race to the bottom. We also need to be looking at the fair treatment of our workers, and that's a big problem for us in Upstate New York, because we've lost so many manufacturing jobs and now we're losing service jobs. And we're not giving people the support they need to find their way back into the job market. But at the same time, we've got to have the jobs for them to be able to take.

Step 2: Setting-up Clinton:

DOBBS: I think we're all with you on that part. I would just like to point out, however, that free trade didn't begin with this administration. Your husband's administration was a leading proponent and a rather effective advocate of that, including the onset of NAFTA, of course.

Step 3 - Dropping the Bomb on Clinton: Dobbs asks her about her cozy relationship with TATA.

DOBBS: Amongst the number of things, when we said you were going to be our guest here, Senator, a number of people pointed out to us, e- mailing us and calling us, saying, ask the senator about her helping Tata Consulting, a well-known outsourcer, open jobs -- and office in Buffalo, New York. I'm asking you, did you really understand the degree to which they were involved in outsourcing jobs when you were there?

Step 4: Allow Clinton to dig herself deeper: Clinton's attempt at damage control was pathetic. She sounds like she was coached by Harris Miller. Hillary brags that TATA created ten jobs in Buffalo. She is probably talking about ten token American citizens that TATA hired because you can bet TATA brought a whole lot more than 10 Indians on visa into New York.

CLINTON: Well, of course I know that they outsource jobs, that they've actually brought jobs to Buffalo. They've created 10 jobs in Buffalo and have told me and the Buffalo community that they intend to be a source of new jobs in the area, because, you know, outsourcing does work both ways. You know, we cannot close our borders. We have to be smarter about competing. We have, more enforceable trade agreements. But we also have to attract jobs from around the world. And you know, we are still the biggest market with the greatest potential for growth for businesses from literally every corner of the world.

DOBBS: Senator, the -- John Kerry obviously is now going to be the nominee of your party. Do you think that what you've heard from him at this point is a strong enough statement on reaching a redress in trade imbalances and eliminating deficits and stopping outsourcing?

CLINTON: I think that John Kerry really understands the challenge in front of us and has made some very good proposals about addressing them. I look forward to supporting him in any way that he requests, because I think that we are going to provide an alternative, just as we are today on the Senate floor providing an alternative to the lack of economic policies by this administration and really the celebration of outsourcing.

You know, we're not going to stop all outsourcing. I'm not in favor of putting up fences around our country. I think what I want is to address the challenge we face and make sure that we are equipped to provide the incentives both to our workers and to our employers.

And Lou, let me say one other thing, because this is not just an issue for the public sector. I think that private sector leadership needs to take a good look in the mirror. They take every advantage of the American economy, the American contractual system, the rule of law that we support, everything that is great about living in America. And I think, frankly, that they need to be more responsible in how they view their obligations to this country.

Again, I'm not asking that, you know, they never do business anywhere else. But we've seen too many decisions made. Just in Syracuse, New York, this past year, we saw Carrier shut down a plant that was still operating profitably. And, you know, from my perspective, there needs to be a little more awareness of the implications of this kind of leadership on the part of the private sector. So it becomes a public/private partnership to do what is necessary to make sure that America continues to be as strong in the future as it has been for those of us who grew up enjoying the benefits of a strong economy here.

HENCH adds: "...You know, you know, you know." I won't even try to quote, much less understand, what she's trying to say in that last three sentences of gobble-de-goop in the penultimate paragraph. How the H@LL did she get the label "Smartest Woman in the World." ????

Here's the entire transcript of Hillary making a fool of herself while Dobbs cuts her to shreds:

DOBBS: Senator Clinton joins us now from our studios in Washington, D.C.

Senator, good to have you with us.

CLINTON: It's great to be with you, Lou.

DOBBS: Senator, on this proposal of yours to provide tax incentives to corporations, the cost would likely be sizable. How are we going to pay for it will be the first question critics would put before you. So let me lead with that.

CLINTON: Well, Lou, I think we have to play both offense and defense.

We do have to provide some carrots, some incentives in order to persuade some of our corporate leadership to think twice about exporting jobs. But we also know that we have a lot of loopholes that should have been closed years ago that truly do provide the kind of incentive to go offshore, to set up some charade on some island somewhere to pretend that it's a headquarters or -- when it's really just a mail drop.

We need to look at our tax code and be honest about what it does produce, the consequences of the actions that we're taking. The debate we're having now in the Senate that was brought about because of the European Union threatening tariffs against us if we didn't end an effort to provide subsidies to manufacturers here at home gives us an opportunity to begin to create a bipartisan consensus along a range of possibilities that will help us keep jobs and prevent the exporting of America.

DOBBS: You also recommend a manufacturing research agency modeled on DARPA, the old program that actually led to a couple of interesting things, like the Internet, amongst others.

The idea of government stepping into this is one of those issues that is sure to be a lightning rod for criticism. What do you envision that agency really doing?

CLINTON: Well, Lou, I think, in so many ways in our past, we have had government investments that made us richer in the future, whether we talk about the Internet, a recent Defense Department, government-funded, originally scientific communication system that we obviously know what has resulted from, but, also, the interstate highway system, our airline system, our space program, other investments that we make.

And I think, if we look at what is on the horizon -- you know, we could produce a lot of jobs in our country through clean, smart alternative energy. We could be more competitive in both conservation and in, you know, new means of producing energy for everything from the automobile and other forms of transportation to power plants.

We are ceding that field. The European Union and Japan have rather significant government programs under way to take the risks that are often difficult for the private sector to take in the beginning. And then, once you get over those obstacles, where something is doable and has commercial implications, you put it out in the private sector. And we then can outcompete anybody anywhere.

DOBBS: It's nice to hear you say that. It's nice to hear any elected official say that, because, too often, we are hearing some -- some rationalization, it seems to me, on the part of a few, saying that, not only is labor cheaper, but, in some cases, the suggestion that it's better somewhere, the competitive side of it really masking just simply cheap overseas labor.

I'd like to read, if I may, Senator, a reaction to -- from the manufacturing side to your proposals today. I'm quoting Randall Wolken, the president of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, who said "it is more important to get the government to aggressively retain and attract jobs than to create a new agency."

How would you react to that? And he was generally supportive of your proposals, I must add that.

CLINTON: Well, I think that he's right, that what I'm advocating is a whole range of approaches and policies. The Manufacturing Research Agency is only a part of that. I would certainly start with the more immediate needs because anything that took some time for research and development is some years off. But I wouldn't forget that, because I think planning for the future is something that we can reap benefits from. But I think we need to focus on, number one, getting our tax system right, quit giving incentives to people for moving jobs offshore.

Getting our trade system right, you know, I was very disappointed when the current administration moved away from the Jordan free trade agreement, which began to try to put into place higher labor and environmental standards so it wasn't a race to the bottom. We also need to be looking at the fair treatment of our workers, and that's a big problem for us in Upstate New York, because we've lot lost so many manufacturing jobs and now we're losing service jobs. And we're not giving people the support they need to find their way back into the job market. But at the same time, we've got to have the jobs for them to be able to take.

DOBBS: In your suggestion for honesty, Senator, I have to say that we all bear some responsibility here, it seems to me, Democrats, Republicans, media, corporate America, because there was an acceptance of the initial idea that manufacturing jobs, the loss of them, the millions of them that we've lost over the past, really, almost two decades in this country, somehow would be offset by high-value jobs.

Now that those are being exported, I think there's a little more keenness to be just absolutely honest about it on all our parts. You talked about a bipartisan approach. How reasonable is it to expect a new consensus here? Because we're looking, frankly, at a free trade environment that has led to a half trillion dollar, better than half trillion dollar current account deficit for last year. We're on our way to exceeding that now, as you know. How are we going to do this?

CLINTON: Well, Lou, I think your cautionary note is exactly right. We need a little more humility too. We don't have all the answers, but one thing we can be sure of, if we do nothing, we're going to continue to export American jobs. And that's not only bad for America, that's bad for the entire global economy.

You know, I think of the global economy as an inverted triangle, resting on the shoulders of the American consumer. And if the American consumer cannot have enough disposable income in order to maintain a standard of living that creates more opportunities generation after generation, that's bad for everybody. So it is in our interest to create this bipartisan consensus.

Unfortunately, I think the administration has really bought into the fact that all we need to do is cut taxes on the wealthy, and we have to have a laissez faire attitude toward trade and toward retraining workers, the tax system and everything else, and somehow it's all going to come out in the end. That has never been the American way. You know, what I sense is a sense of fatalism and defeatism that I just reject.

Amongst the number of things, when we said you were going to be our guest here, Senator, a number of people pointed out to us, e- mailing us and calling us, saying, ask the senator about her helping Tata Consulting, a well-known outsourcer, open jobs -- and office in Buffalo, New York. I'm asking you, did you really understand the degree to which they were involved in outsourcing jobs when you were there?

So what I've tried to do is not only figure out tax and trade and retraining and other policies that will enable us to attract and keep jobs, but to be attractive, especially in Upstate new York, which has lost so many jobs that we can get people to come and bring their jobs to our states. So we're making real progress on that.

But, you know, it is something that I'm well aware of, and conscious of the implications. But I think that we've got to percent have trade going both ways. And again, if we're given a chance to compete, we can compete with anybody anywhere.

DOBBS: Senator, one last question. Do you want to be vice president?

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: No. I'm having a great time being senator, and talking to you about an issue that I care deeply about.

DOBBS: Let me put it another way, are you open to the idea?

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: You know, that is totally up to the nominee. And I don't think I would ever be offered. I don't think I would accept. Obviously, I want to do everything I can to see John Kerry elected president.

DOBBS: Do you think you would be helpful in that role as vice presidential candidate?

CLINTON: I think I could be helpful in my role as senator. I think I can do a lot to help people focus on the strengths of our candidate and the weaknesses, frankly, of the opposition. You know, we now have evidence, it's no longer speculative, about what this administration means for our country at home and abroad. And I think we're going to be able to make a very convincing case.

DOBBS: Senator, I think you're moving -- swerving rather sharply away from that call for bipartisan support for those proposals.

(LAUGHTER)

DOBBS: We thank you very much for being with us, Senator Clinton.

CLINTON: Thank you, Lou.