Look, I understand that people have problems with TPA/TPP. Fine. I’m not here to change people’s minds; I make rhetorical weapons for other people to use. That’s what I am reasonably good at, and I let other people be the silver-tongued devils that go out and convert folks. However: please do not be stupid. And ‘stupid,’ in this context, very much includes ‘willing to let people manipulate your opinion without looking them up first.’
A leading voice against a pending Asian free trade agreement is tailoring his message to the country’s grassroots conservatives, but until recently he described himself as a progressive and worked for union-backed Democrats.
Curtis Ellis leads a group called the American Jobs Alliance that vehemently opposes the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and “fast-track” authority that would expedite its congressional consideration.
Which would suggest that Curtis Ellis thinks that you are an idiot. Yes, you. Are you laughing and calling it ‘Obamatrade,’ too? Yeah, let me quote what Curtis Ellis has written about you, specifically.
The [Tea Partiers] are essentially replaying the ’60s protest paradigm. (We’re aging boomers ourselves, so we know it when we see it.) They fancy themselves the vanguard of a revolution, when in fact they are typical self-absorbed, privileged children used to having their way — now— and uninhibited about complaining loudly when they don’t. It’s the same demographic Spiro Agnew called “an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.”
As you can see, this came up when Curtis Ellis worked for Jack Davis, a spoiler candidate who helped ensure that Democrat Kathy Hochul won that special election in NY-26 in 2011. So I guess that Curtis Ellis got away with treating conservatives as fools then, huh? He maybe got away with it so cleanly that he’s apparently now cynically and gleefully trying to push an anti-free trade agenda and make the Right the face of it. Because that’s what the Activist Left does. They’re like digger wasps; give them an opportunity, and they will hijack your movement and suck it dry.
Again. You don’t have to be for TPP/TPA. But you do have to avoid being stupid about it. There are people who want to take advantage of you. And some of you are letting them.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
PS: I don’t CARE if you think that you need allies where you can find them. From their point of view, you’re not their ally. You’re a late-night snack.
I’d say I’m kind of with Ace on this issue. The secrecy combined with the ham fisted cramdown approach to the sales pitch from R congressional leadership is just dismaying. No one seems to be even trying to explain what’s going on beyond saying “trust us”.
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This damnable approach creates the opening parasites like Ellis need.
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “stick with the devil you know”.
So after 6+ years of subversion, deception and out-right lies, I’m supposed to suddenly trust Obama on this trade deal? Really?
That’s not the question, jetty. The question was: why should you trust Curtis Ellis?
Obama is for it and he is pushing it behind closed doors. So the question is, what is his motive? Obama can not be pro-capitalism or pro-Republican (or, dare I add, pro-American) for 5 seconds. Now he is pushing a trade bill that’s somehow good for the country and good for me? No and no. I don’t trust Obama, and since it will be Obama who signs this cursed thing into law, I think my focus is on the right person.
:shrug: Not my job to tell you what to think. Just to tell you what the heck is going on. I have done so.
One could also ask: “Why should we trust Barack Obama and his administration?”
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Moe, this isn’t simply about whether or not Ellis is trustworthy, this is about who do you consider to be more trustworthy: Ellis or Obama?
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Given the fact it was Obama’s IRS that targetted Conservatives, his DoJ conspired to blame gun stores for the gun-running campaign of Fast & Furious, etc., in addition to the secretive nature of this deal; it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if Ellis is actually telling the truth (for once).
Then this [post] has failed. Fine, I tried.
Moe, I understand the message you’re trying to convey. Ellis is a slimeball, I agree with you.
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The problem is that we’re having to choose between a slimeball and the most transparently corrupt administration in my lifetime (an administration with a history of using government to target average Americans for political reasons, and a long record of being anti-capitalist).
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Neither option is a good choice…
My problem, Moe, is that Obama is very much for this deal, and for the last six and a half years the man has proven over and over that he lies like a rug. Anything he is for, like this thing, in which so much can be hidden, should be regarded with a tremendous amount of skepticism.
Rush, himself said that, considering Obama’s dislike for America, he expects America to take it in the shorts with this thing.
If they want us to trust them, the GOP leadership should consider releasing the text of the agreement, not just tell us to trust them, for as God knows, I don’t trust them and never will again.
^this.
Why is a national nurses union (“we put the care in health care”) running drive time radio ads against the trade bill and asking that listeners call Steny Hoyer? Because he’s still on the fence , or they are ticked at him and think it’s a good way to threaten him ? Pro or con on the trade bill , I don’t buy the ” it will make cancer drugs more expensive and increase pollution” shtick .
Moe, I don’t trust Ellis. But why should I trust the deal’s supporters?
Maxim 29: The enemy of my enemy is my enemy’s enemy. No more. No less.
As long as you don’t trust Ellis – which includes taking a good, hard look at what he’s peddling – my work here is done.
Moe, I don’t think anyone here would take what Ellis says at face value.
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The issue here is that Obama supports this trade deal, and let’s be honest here, if he follows his track record, then this is another attempt to take more power.
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I don’t particularly know what Ellis’s record and I don’t know what he’s said the bill contains (what I’ve heard from American Family Radio on this is pretty bad), but the way I see it: We’re comparing a slimeball to the most transparently corrupt President in my lifetime (and that’s saying since I’m including Bill Clinton). With what I currently know, I would take Ellis’s word (as shaky as it is), over Obama and those supporting this trade deal. The reason being that Ellis doesn’t have any real power.
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I really wish I was more informed on this , but I’ve been extremely busy of late (between my sister’s wedding and working long hours (I had an 11 hour day today).
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Also as far as the “increase pollution shtick,” I actually can believe that, I think we’ve all seen how effective Obama is at negotiating (that’s giving Obama the benefit of the doubt and assuming incompetitence); many countries (such as China), don’t have the environmental standards that are seen in the US. An incredibly one-sided deal, could cause even more manufacturing to move overseas, which would cause more pollution.
I can only say ‘my post is about a progressive activist in conservative’s clothing’ so many times, folks. 🙂
Personally the OPM hack torpedoed the TPA/TPP when your negotiators personal info has been compromised you can’t trust any agreement they make.
By that standard, Catseyes, very few treaties would ever have been entered into. The shenanigans and assignations at the Congress of Vienna only being a glaring example.
The most refreshing thing is that the Democrats are not in lock-step support. They know Obama is exiting the stage. Those that remain – of Democrats – in DC are looking to their own future.
While knowing nothing of Chris Ellis than what our host has linked to, I am more than willing to sit back and let things be explained to me.
I hate knee-jerk reactions (that means surprise – I dislike surprise) so I wait and I ponder.*
*Waiting and pondering has a track record of iffy-ness, but that’s my personality.
*Curtis Ellis. My pardon.