The Paradigm Shift on "Free" Trade

Ron Brownstein's piece in the LA Times today about the debate over the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is really a piece over a paradigm shift going on within the Democratic Party. As Brownstein notes, the "Democratic Party is continuing to shift away from the free trade positions that President Clinton promoted in the 1990s." The opposition to CAFTA represents "a long-term shift away from the free trade views embodied by Clinton's support for NAFTA." This shift away from listening to Wall Street and towards listening to ordinary Americans is what is more commonly referred to in poltiics as "major progress," and Democrats should be commended.

One thing I find particularly interesting - Brownstein, like most reporters, only seems to think this is a story now that so-called "moderate" Democrats are falling in line. That negates the years-long efforts of people like Reps. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to force the Democratic Party to shift away from corporate-written "free" trade deals that sell out American workers.

Yes, I am happy that former "free" traders like Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) are now against CAFTA, and I have applauded them. But let's not forget where the real fuel of this movement comes from: progressives. They should be proud of the work they've done - and be encouraged that the Democratic Establishment is repositioning itself. For too long, that Establishment has seemed more comfortable appeasing the fat cats on Wall Street with "free" trade deals that D.C. insiders never have to feel the real-world effects of. That is changing - and that is a good thing.