CSM: Will tea party allies in Congress balk at international trade pacts?

[pampango]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/1110/Will-tea-party-allies-in-Congress-balk-at-international-trade-pacts

Normally, a big Republican majority in Congress would bode well for free-trade pacts. Republicans, more than labor-union-backed Democrats, have typically been the promoters of international trade. But these are not normal times. The new Republican majority, set to take office in January, was elected on a wave of populist tea party energy.

A new Pew Research Center poll contains some warning signs from rank-and-file Americans for Obama and the newly elected Republican majority in Congress.

“Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who agree with the tea party have a particularly negative view of the impact of free trade agreements,” Pew reports. Only 24 percent say that pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been good for the United States, the survey found. In contrast, among Republicans who disagree with the tea party or have no opinion of it, 42 percent say trade agreements have been good for the US.

One new tea party senator who may bring a mixed view of international trade to Congress is Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky. On his campaign website, under the heading “Sovereignty,” he says that the US is “often subservient to foreign bodies,” including the WTO, a view that echoes the position of his father, Rep. Ron Paul (R) of Texas.

[get the red out]

1. No

They will talk a good game, but the Republican $$$ rules. They will be reminded of all the Chamber of Commerce money that went into helping them get elected. Hard to outrun that debt.