President Clinton Apologizes for Trade Policies that Destroyed Haitian Rice Farming

[G_j]

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/clinton_rice


“We Made a Devil’s Bargain”: Fmr. President Clinton Apologizes for Trade Policies that Destroyed Haitian Rice Farming

President Bill Clinton, now the UN Special Envoy to Haiti, publicly apologized last month for forcing Haiti to drop tariffs on imported, subsidized US rice during his time in office. The policy wiped out Haitian rice farming and seriously damaged Haiti’s ability to be self-sufficient. On Wednesday, journalist Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté questioned Clinton about his change of heart and his stance on the return of ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.


President Bill Clinton, now the UN Special Envoy to Haiti, publicly apologized last month for forcing Haiti to drop tariffs on imported, subsidized U.S. rice during his time in office. The policy wiped out Haitian rice farming and seriously damaged Haiti’s ability to be self-sufficient. On Wednesday, journalist Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté questioned Clinton about his change of heart and his stance on the return of ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Fmr. President Bill Clinton, questioned by Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté.

[Oregone]

1. The US needs to end corporate farm subsidies now

Not to mention, get out of this free trade crap

[fascisthunter]

2. the US needs to end Fascism/corporate strangle-hold on our government

because it's coming back to bite us all in the ass. Doing things the wrong way is much more costly to us all in the long run.

[Demeter]

3. O NOW He's Sorry

Still dropping like a rock in the historical rankings...

[sabrina 1]

4. Bill Clinton has apologized for several of his policies

which have been devastating to this and other countries. I thought he was one of our most intelligent presidents yet, as he says 'we made a devil's bargain'. No doubt for 'pragmatic reasons'. And most likely he 'got something' from Republicans each time he agreed to one of their policies.

Now we are being told once again, that this policy of giving away something, (off-shore drilling, mandated insurance) in order to get something else, is 'good politics' and we can always 'fix things later'.

What happened to doing it right the first time?

NAFTA, the Repeal of Glass Steagel, media conglomerates.

Yesterday Obama, another very intelligent president, gave the Republicans off-shore drilling and we are now told, in return for mileage standards.

Sometimes even when the devil gives you something, the cost is too great. And sometimes if you have the guts to fight for it, you can do what is right without making a bargain with the devil at all.

[mod mom]

6. + 1. Has Clinton apologized fro Glass-Steagall, Telecom Act of '96 or was it wishful

thinking?

If he hasn't he definitely should, along with this disastrous favor for Jackson stephens:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/31/21045/9822/688/446786

[sabrina 1]

8. He has said he regrets the Telecom Act.

He's always apologizing but too late.

Just watch what is happening now. Across the internet, people are rushing to tell us not to be too upset over Obama's latest flip flop, because we are getting something we always wanted in return.

Are people really going to buy into this nonsense? Don't we have a majority and if having that makes no difference, they why bother?

Why could Dems not get mileage standards without making a deal with the devil considering they control all three branches of government?

I'm not buying it. In ten years, will Obama be apologizing for the destruction of our coastline also, when it's way too late?

How about this, Democrats, fight for lowering pollution without selling off the coastline? Not all of us are foolish enough to buy these placations.

[G_j]

13. right on the mark

+1000

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. somehow, when you make a deal with the devil, the devil ALWAYS

gets the better end of it.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Indeed. n/t

[sabrina 1]

10. Yes, you'd think we'd have learned.

Clinton's apology to Haiti ought to make people pay more attention to the spin we are getting today for the deals that are being made.

But, dead, starving Haitians or not, and Clinton cannot claim he was not told how devastating those policies would be ~ we do not look back. As our current president has told us, we must look forward and anyone saying otherwise, is just full of gloom and doom.

How long before another Democratic President will be apologizing when it is way too late?

[jody]

5. Clinton's comment supports free trade with other countries and the resultant further loss of jobs.

Is that what unions and non-union workers want?

[Chulanowa]

11. Little late on that, Big Dog

Are you going to do something to fix it, or just wring your hands for the camera?

[elehhhhna]

12. Undo the bad stuff you did , Bill! All will then be forgiven.

Imagine bigdog working to roll back NAFTA etc.