On Wednesday, facing pressure from labor groups, Hillary Clinton came out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Just three years ago, while serving as President Obama’s Secretary of State, Clinton called the TPP the “gold standard in trade agreements.”
MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel highlighted Clinton’s flip-flop on TPP, and other breaks she has had with the Obama administration since deciding to run for President.
Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin doesn’t “believe this is Hillary Clinton’s actual position on the deal.”
Halperin isn’t the only person that doesn’t believe Hillary Clinton actually opposes the TPP.
Vox’s Ezra Klein writes:
“I don’t truly know what’s in Clinton’s heart — perhaps I’m wrong, and despite all evidence to the contrary, she holds all these positions deeply — but as a close reader of her record, I’m not convinced that Clinton, in office, wouldn’t support policies like the Cadillac tax or negotiate trade deals like the TPP. And as someone trying to understand Clinton’s likely governing philosophy, it’s unnerving.”
While NBC News writes:
“Yes, Hillary Clinton’s new opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord cleans up something she needed to do before next week’s first Democratic debate. And, yes, it puts pressure on Vice President Joe Biden getting into the race (because he’d be on the only major candidate in support of TPP). But make no mistake: This flip-flop isn’t believable at all.”
Larry Sabato called Clinton’s reversal on TPP “transparently political” and accused Clinton of pandering to the left.
MSNBC’s Mark Murray said Clinton’s decision on TPP was intended to protect her from attacks on her left flank.
It seems that Hillary Clinton and her campaign are so worried about her sagging poll numbers, coupled with Vice President Joe Biden’s possible presidential run, that they decided Clinton needed to pander to liberal Democrats. However, all this flip-flop shows is that Hillary Clinton will say or do anything to become President. And begs the question: what does Hillary Clinton actually believe?