By Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. Originally published at at Down With Tyranny. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny
President Obama and all of his corporatist buddies, including some, but not all, in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), are hell-bent on passing the TPP in the lame duck session of Congress just after the election but prior to Obama’s leaving office. It’s reasonable to speculate why, and we did so here:
As to the timing, the choice is obvious. First, there’s the unusual composition of a lame duck Congress. As Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, wrote recently in The Hill (my emphasis):
So [TPP] is looking like a very close vote. (For procedural and political reasons, Obama will not bring it to a vote unless he is sure he has the necessary votes). Now let’s look at one special group of Representatives who can swing this vote: the actual lame-ducks, i.e., those who will be in office only until Jan. 3. It depends partly on how many lose their election on Nov. 8, but the average number of representatives who left after the last three elections was about 80.
Most of these people will be looking for a job, preferably one that can pay them more than $1 million a year. From the dataprovided by OpenSecrets.org, we can estimate that about a quarter of these people will become lobbyists. (An additional number will work for firms that are clients of lobbyists).
So there you have it: It is all about corruption, and this is about as unadulterated as corruption gets in our hallowed democracy, other than literal cash under a literal table. These are the people whom Obama needs to pass this agreement, and the window between Nov. 9 and Jan. 3 is the only time that they are available to sell their votes to future employers without any personal political consequences whatsoever. The only time that the electorate can be rendered so completely irrelevant, if Obama can pull this off.
The lame duck session, in other words, is the only time when Obama and the corporatists in both parties can appeal to House members and senators who are still in office, yet completely untethered from any responsibility to anything but their personal ambition and future paychecks — completely untethered, since they will likely never face voters again in another election.
There’s second reason as well. If Obama pulls this off, getting the TPP passed, it’s Obama’s trade deal, not the next president’s (though that president, should she or he be opposed, could immediately execute the Withdrawal clause and renegotiate).
Remember, it only took 28 Democrats (or “Democrats”) in the House to pass Fast Track when it came up for a final vote, and only 13 Democratic senators.
Democratic Pro-Fast Track Votes in the House
Here’s the House list, in order by state. I’ve highlighted a few of the names:
Terri Sewell (AL-07)
Susan Davis (CA-53)
Sam Farr (CA-20)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Ami Bera (CA-07)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Jared Polis (CO-02)
James Himes (CT-04)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
Mike Quigley (IL-05)
John Delaney (MD-06)
Brad Ashford (NE-02)
Gregory Meeks (NY-05)
Kathleen Rice (NY-04)
Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
Eddie Johnson (TX-30)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Beto O’Rourke (TX-16)
Gerald Connolly (VA-11)
Donald Beyer (VA-08)
Rick Larsen (WA-02)
Suzan DelBene (WA-01)
Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
Ron Kind (WI-03)
These 28 Democratic Yes votes were needed because 50 Republicans voted No. The bolded names — Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Suzan DelBene — claim to be progressives when they campaign back home. The bold-italicized representatives — Terri Sewell, Gregory Meeks, and Eddie Bernice Johnson — are CBC members.
Democratic Pro-Fast Track Votes in the Senate
On the Senate side, 13 Democrats voted to make sure TPP would get a Fast Track vote by voting to close debate (voting for cloture):
Michael Bennet, Colorado
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Tom Carper, Delaware
Chris Coons, Delaware
Dianne Feinstein, California
Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
Tim Kaine, Virginia
Claire McCaskill, Missouri
Patty Murray, Washington
Bill Nelson, Florida
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Mark Warner, Virginia
Ron Wyden, Oregon
In both houses of Congress, these were the barest of margins — 218 Yes votes in the House and 60 Yes votes in the Senate, in each case exactly the minimum required for passage. Another indication of how toxic this “trade” bill is. No Democrat dared touch it who didn’t want to or have to.
Black Lives Matter and the TPP
And now the TPP has become even more toxic, since the Black Lives Matter (BLM) social-justice movement has endorsed the anti-TPP position. Politico Pro has this (sub. required; my emphasis):
Obama’s latest TPP foe: Black Lives Matter
By Andrew Hanna
Monday, Oct. 31, 2016The Obama administration will face an unexpected adversaryas it gears up for what could be a blockbuster lame-duck fight over the Trans-Pacific Partnership: the Black Lives Matter movement.
The group — best known best for its protests of police shootings of African-Americans — has joined the fray over the Asian Pacific trade deal as part of its growing focus on economic issues, contending the pact would lead to greater racial injustice. It ties past trade deals to the closures of factories that have hurt black workers disproportionately and increased black poverty.
Its involvement could influence the votes of a handful of wavering Democrats, should Congress tackle TPP during the lame duck.
“There are groups that are going to pay a lot of close attention to what they say, especially the Congressional Black Caucus,” said Bill Reinsch, a fellow at the Stimson Center and close trade-vote watcher.
Only a small band of 28 House Democrats voted to give the president fast track authority to complete TPP, including three members of the Congressional Black Caucus: Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.). A fourth black caucus member, Republican Mia Love of Utah, also voted for fast-track authority.
With anti-trade fervor whipped into a fever pitch by the presidential election campaign, their votes are considered key to passage of the pact — and all are under increasing pressure to abandon the president should the pact come to a ratification vote.
The pretend reason, of course, for TPP support is support for a major legacy “want” by the first black president. The pro-Clinton members of the Democratic Platform Committee, for example, resisted to the end any explicit language about TPP on the grounds that the Party must support its president.
Democrats Prioritize Party Unity Over Including Stand Against TPP In Platform
Members of the Democratic National Convention Platform Committee shot down an attempt to include specific opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal in the platform, despite the fact that both Democratic presidential candidates have taken positions against the TPP.
The attempt failed because members appointed by Hillary Clinton and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz claimed it was improper to oppose the TPP when President Barack Obama fervently believes in the agreement. However, by putting party unity before taking a firm stand against the trade agreement, the door was left open for Clinton to go back to supporting the TPP, which was the case when she was secretary of state.
“It is hard for me to understand why Secretary Clinton’s delegates won’t stand behind Secretary Clinton’s positions in the party’s platform,” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said….
Even platform committee chair, Representative E.J. Cummings [normally progressive on trade issues], chose to vote against the resolution. He, too, bragged about not voting for trade agreements.
“I don’t want to do anything as he ends his term to undercut the president of the United States. I’m just not going to do it. And that’s where I stand,” Cummings proclaimed.
That’s the pretend reason — supporting the first black president — for most of them anyway. The real reason is different and not unexpected — money and everything money can buy. The Democratic Party as it’s currently configured exists to enable the fire hose flow of corporate and big-wealth dollars into its coffers. Opposing that flow gets you the “Sanders treatment,” but I’m not spilling any new beans in saying that.
This move by Black Lives Matter takes away the pretend reason and thus puts some careers at risk. BLM has high visibility at the moment. It will be worth watching the result, the actual TPP vote, as this plays out later.
What to Watch For in the Lame Duck
Once the Democrats figure out how many Republicans will defect from their leadership in each house of Congress (there were 50 House Republican defections last time plus six not voting, and five Senate defections plus two not voting), they’ll know how many Democrats will have to “take one for the team” — vote Yes on TPP so others with reputations to protect (like Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi) don’t have to.
The numbers needed to pass TPP in the Senate have changed this time. Only 51 votes are needed there now (that’s part of what “fast track” means). Finding 50 No votes in the Senate is not an impossible task, but it’s a very high bar — depending on the way Republicans vote, as few as four “Democrats” like Ron Wyden could guarantee passage.
So the greatest vulnerability for TPP is in the House. Can Democrats again muster something like 28 pro-corporate votes? Which Democrats will chose to take the fall a second time? Corporatists like Ron Kind will eagerly comply. But will Earl Blumenauer (bow-tie bicycle guy)? Will CBC members Sewell and Johnson, with BLM lobbying hard against them? Or will other House Democrats be needed (and willing) to take the fall so Pelosi can move TPP across the line?
Again, Fast Track passed the House with zero votes to spare. What if the Republican opposition — including the opposition to Speaker Ryan in the wake of the Trump debacle — swells to more than 50? This could be a very close vote.
TPP, Obama’s Legacy and “A Glide Path to His Life as an Ex-President”
The Politico article quoted above helpfully notes this about Obama’s legacy:
If successfully pushed through Congress, ratification of the trade accord would be the last major piece of legislation of the Obama presidency. The prospect that black lawmakers and activists could help to hand him a defeat is complicated by Obama’s position as the first black president.
“This is part of President Obama’s legacy,” said [CBC member Gregory] Meeks.
Will Barack Obama get his legacy wish, along with his legacy library and foundation? The New York Times a few weeks ago told us this about Obama’s future plans and needs:
Publicly, Mr. Obama betrays little urgency about his future. Privately, he is preparing for his postpresidency with the same fierce discipline and fund-raising ambition that characterized the 2008 campaign that got him to the White House.
The long-running dinner this past February is part of a methodical effort taking place inside and outside the White House as the president, first lady and a cadre of top aides map out a postpresidential infrastructure and endowment they estimate could cost as much as $1 billion. The president’s aides did not ask any of the guests for library contributions after the dinner, but a number of those at the table could be donors in the future….
So far, Mr. Obama has raised just over $5.4 million from 12 donors, with gifts ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. Michael J. Sacks, a Chicago businessman, gave $666,666. Fred Eychaner, the founder of Chicago-based Newsweb Corp., which owns community newspapers and radio stations, donated $1 million. Mark T. Gallogly, a private equity executive, and James H. Simons, a technology entrepreneur, each contributed $340,000 to a foundation set up to oversee development of the library.
The real push for donations, foundation officials said, will come after Mr. Obama leaves the White House.
Shailagh Murray, a senior adviser, oversees an effort inside the White House to keep attention on Mr. Obama’s future and to ensure that his final 17 months in office, barring crises, serve as a glide path to his life as an ex-president.
“A glide path to his life as an ex-president.” I guess you could call him, after his 2008 trademark, “ever hopeful and looking for change” Interesting times indeed.
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Michael J. Sacks, a Chicago businessman, gave $666,666.
maybe we could use this to get the evangelicals on board against the tpp?
michael j sacks is the antichrist!
Why the hell would someone give that specific amount of money anyway? Why not 665,666 or 667,666 or something?
Why the hell would Google announce a stock buyback of $7,019,340,976.83?
Because it’s 26 to the power of e [Euler’s constant 2.71828].
Idle elitists love to play games with numerology.
Don’t be evil! ;-)
It might be e to the 26–I haven’t checked–but it sure isn’t 26 to the e, which would just be in the low thousands. Come, come, Jim!
7019340976.83 = exp(22.67193…), so someone needs to come up with more-plausible mystical numerology.
e^26 ≠ 7019340976.83
26^e ≠ 7019340976.83
26^e = 7019.34097683
I presume they only talk in millions of dollars at Google.
They only talk in millions of dollars at Google.
I agree fully. There’s something symbolic is about the number $666,666.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in that list? I’m shocked, just shocked.
Are they foaming the runway for the “glide path”?
Ron wyden has as far as I know reversed his stance on the TPP. So one less vote in senate.
When I called Wyden’s office to check on his position on the TPP about a week ago, the staff person said he was uncommitted. I needed to know as an Oregon voter. Needless to say, my mail-in vote went to a third party candidate.
I don’t understand. He likes hip hop. He said so the other day. And he had dinner with Anthony Bourdain. It was on CNN. And he’s such an inspiring speaker. Therefore he’s good and cool. Therefore TPP is OK, just like anything else he touches.
Black Lives Matter being against the TPP is going to cause some cognitive dissonance among the zerohedge/4chan wing of the Trump party.
not to mention the obama/clinton wing of the democratic party. of course, that’s the wing with the money and power. blm (imo) was constrained in attacking obama, the first black president, when he made decisions that hurt everybody in the middle and lower classes. maybe not so much with clinton.
The constitutional lawyer committed to Investor-State tribunals overturning the legislative powers of Congress.
The Nike swoosh hooks Oregon’s beltway politicians. Cascadia may just want to dump us if Wyden, Bonamici, Blumenauer and Schrader help pass the TPP.
Is that a legacy they can live with?
“The real push for donations, foundation officials said, will come after Mr. Obama leaves the White House.”
I can understand that Obama needs to fundraise after leaving office for optics reasons.
So while there is the need for future Obama quid, but what future Obama quo can he provide the donors in return?
If donor pledge, silently, a lot of money for the Obama Library before he leaves office, and he gets the TPP done for them, what is to prevent them from deciding they have better uses for the money and stiffing Obama on the pledge?
Will he rat on them as untrustworthy “donors” to other politicians seeking to be bought in the future, simply forcing payment in advance the next time donors want influence?
The Clintons had connections and some promise of future influence and power when WJC left office.
What can Obama offer?
Maybe Obama’s narcissism will get the better of him as is forced to downsize to a much smaller library, when donations don’t show up.
I think donations will show up. Obama worked very hard to make the Super Rich Super richer. He expects a rich reward. If the OverClasses stiff Obama for all the hard work he did for them as President, they set a visible precedent of “welshing on the deal”. if they are seen doing that, then the next President who wishes to sell policy for millions of dollars will wonder why he/she should even bother. Because if Obama didn’t get paid back, how could Next President trust that he/she would get paid back?
The OverClass doesn’t want to open that Can of Doubt. So they will reward Obama richly according to what he has gotten accomplished for them.
I live in the Eastern Suburbs of Seattle.
Suzan DelBene (WA-01) is the local Congress-critter.
She is about as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, and will almost certainly vote for TPP.
Suzan DelBene is one of those people who wants open borders, unlimited Immigration, etc. She represents Microsoft, not the voters.
Vote her out. Tuesday.
It would appear that the word “matter”, “matters”, etc., could be a powerful word in little 3-word hashmemes.
Perhaps some surprise-fellow-travelers-of-convenience ON THIS ONE ISSUE with Black Lives Matter could hash-name and hash-meme themselves. Perhaps they could call themselves Fair Trade Matters.
#FairTradeMatters could be their Twitter Tag.
As to the Trade Traitor Democrats who voted for Fast Track, this makes a handy list for primary challenges and/or Third Party Naderization drives. The goal would be to get them defeated and removed from politics one way or the other. This would involve accepting the fact that they would probably be replaced with Republicans. But that is a price to pay over the medium term for the reward of successfully purging and berning all the Catfood Democrat Trade Traitors from the Democratic Party.
(Slogan: “Make the Democrat Party Democratic again”.)