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September 25, 2004
Buying Votes
“…I would hope that nations around the world, and leaders, would understand the logic behind saying that good foreign policy, good relations must be firm on our borders. I can't think of anything more logical and more common-sensical than to understand our hemisphere which can be and will be bound by freedom and free markets and free trade is in the interests of our people.”
-George W. Bush (February 16th, 2001)
“…we are committed to ensuring that American industry and American workers can compete on a level playing field. That is why, today, I am announcing my intent to launch an initiative to respond to the challenges facing the U.S. steel industry. This initiative will be designed to restore market forces to world steel markets and eliminate the practices that harm our steel industry and its workers.”
-George W. Bush (June 5th, 2001)
It was a huge disappointment when President Bush, who talked so passionately about free trade during the 2000 election, decided to place tariffs on foreign steel in order to protect the domestic steel industry. To his credit the President did remove the tariffs last December, as he apparently realized that not only were the tariffs economically a bad decision but a political one as well. Steel importers expressed their anger at the President while steel unions were still reluctant to endorse him. But unfortunately this article tells a slightly different story:
"...some steelworkers were happy with the relief they got, including Bob Hoover, of New Cumberland, W.Va. He donned a black and gold 'Steelworkers for Bush' T-shirt in August when he stood with about 20 others from West Virginia and Ohio at a rally in Wheeling.
'Mainly, it was to let him know that not all steelworkers believe he's not doing a good job,' Hoover said Friday. 'The 201 tariffs did help.' "
The article does not go into any votes that Bush possibly lost from political backlash but my guess is that it's not many. The administration knew full well that free traders would not likely support Kerry, who has recently turned towards protectionism to shore up union votes. This despite a strong free trade record in the Senate.
What this article does demonstrate is that politicians still find it possible to buy a vote from Peter using money from Paul. Truly a sad state of affairs.
Posted by Peter Mork at September 25, 2004 5:35 PM
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