Confused About Ron Kirk

by: David Sirota

Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 10:09

"Kirk launched a counterattack on Bentsen, highlighting his support for President Bush's request for fast-track trade authority. Bentsen was one of 21 House Democrats who backed the measure, which passed the House by one vote. 'He cast the decisive vote to give this trade bill a one-vote victory in the House without any real guarantee of help for workers who lose their jobs because of trade,' Kirk said in a statement." - Roll Call, 3/11/02

"Mr. Kirk has responded by criticizing Mr. Bentsen for backing President Bush's request for fast-track trade authority, a measure that is anathema to labor unions." - NY Times, 3/12/02

Here's what Kirk said as a general election candidate in late 2002:

"[Kirk] reversed his position and endorsing global-trade negotiation powers for the president, known as fast track, during a speech Thursday to a Houston business group. During the Democratic primary campaign, Kirk attacked U.S. Rep. Ken Bentsen, D-Houston, over his December 2001 vote for fast track authority. - AP, 8/2/02

Here's how Kirk's nomination to the Trade Representative office was initially by most news organizations in 2009:

"Kirk opposed fast-track trade negotiating authority in 2002." - Inside U.S. Trade, 12/26/08

Here's what the Houston Chronicle now reports:

"Kirk also favors giving Congress fast-track authority to approve other trade agreements, a provision opposed by organized labor. The process gives the executive branch the authority to negotiate and write trade agreements without consulting Congress. It sets a 90-day deadline for Congress to hold a vote on an agreement and strips Congress of the power to change the deal." - Houston Chronicle, 1/17/09

This is a very, um, confusing record. It kinda looks like Kirk opposed fast-track when he was running in a Democratic primary and it was politically opportune, then switched his position after winning that primary so that he could raise corporate money - and then, when he was nominated to the trade representative position, reporters first assumed he was against fast track because of his original position, but now they've caught on that actually, he's against his original position.

As I said, it's very confusing - and fast-track isn't a small issue for a trade representative. It's huge.

For his part, Obama has pledged to support serious reforms to the fast-track process, before it is ever reauthorized. I take him at his word, though now that he's president, we'll have to wait and see if he really will oppose reauthorization of increased (and undemocratic) powers for the president.