Obama Lobbied Corporate Leaders to 'Say Positive Things' About TPP Trade Deal
heWhite House invited senior members of the Sony Corporation to make
statements in favor of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
trade deal, according to an internal Sony email published
by Wikileaks. The email, sent by Sony’s executive vice president Keith
Weaver to its CEO and other executives, mentions a “meeting with Froman
[Obama’s trade representative, Michael Froman] and your peers at the
White House last year.” The email then alludes to President Obama’s
apparent efforts to lobby the business sector to make statements in
support of the TPP: “the President/Froman want key industries saying
positive things about the [TPP’s] benefits.”
The email seems to suggest that Obama asked the
heads of powerful corporations, like Sony, to help him sell the TPP to
the American public. In May, Obama made a highly televised speech from
the headquarters of Nike, where he pitched the supposed benefits of the
TPP to Americans. At the same event, Nike announced it would create
10,000 jobs in the US if the TPP passed.
heads of powerful corporations, like Sony, to help him sell the TPP to
the American public. In May, Obama made a highly televised speech from
the headquarters of Nike, where he pitched the supposed benefits of the
TPP to Americans. At the same event, Nike announced it would create
10,000 jobs in the US if the TPP passed.
Many of the leaked Sony emails demonstrate that
leaders of Sony were in communication or on friendly terms with a number
of influential Democratic senators, Congressional representatives, US
ambassadors and even President Obama.
leaders of Sony were in communication or on friendly terms with a number
of influential Democratic senators, Congressional representatives, US
ambassadors and even President Obama.
Another email published
by Wikileaks shows journalist Jonathan Alter, who has written two books
about Obama, telling the CEO of Sony about the president’s fondness for
him: “At White House Xmas party, gene Sperling [Obama’s assistant for
Economic Policy] said the president really likes you.And He was telling
me how much he dreaded calling you on SOPA.” SOPA, short for “Stop
Online Piracy Act,” was a controversial bill that would have curtailed
Internet freedoms. Following widespread protest, SOPA failed to pass.
by Wikileaks shows journalist Jonathan Alter, who has written two books
about Obama, telling the CEO of Sony about the president’s fondness for
him: “At White House Xmas party, gene Sperling [Obama’s assistant for
Economic Policy] said the president really likes you.And He was telling
me how much he dreaded calling you on SOPA.” SOPA, short for “Stop
Online Piracy Act,” was a controversial bill that would have curtailed
Internet freedoms. Following widespread protest, SOPA failed to pass.
Like SOPA, the TPP is no stranger to widespread
opposition, with many of the world’s most respected organizations, from
the AARP to Amnesty International, voicing disapproval. The AARP
(American Association of Retired Persons), along with Doctors Without
Borders, criticized the
TPP’s “emphasis on drug industry priorities at the expense of consumer
and patient needs.” Doctors Without Borders went a step further, with
the organization’s US Access Campaign manager, Judit Ruis Sanjuan, stating,
“Make no mistake, in terms of health, the TPP remains the most damaging
trade agreement we’ve ever seen.” Ms. Sanjuan also warned that the
trade deal will disproportionately impact the poor in the countries
negotiating the TPP. “This is a massive, far-reaching trade deal that is
putting lives at stake,” she said.
opposition, with many of the world’s most respected organizations, from
the AARP to Amnesty International, voicing disapproval. The AARP
(American Association of Retired Persons), along with Doctors Without
Borders, criticized the
TPP’s “emphasis on drug industry priorities at the expense of consumer
and patient needs.” Doctors Without Borders went a step further, with
the organization’s US Access Campaign manager, Judit Ruis Sanjuan, stating,
“Make no mistake, in terms of health, the TPP remains the most damaging
trade agreement we’ve ever seen.” Ms. Sanjuan also warned that the
trade deal will disproportionately impact the poor in the countries
negotiating the TPP. “This is a massive, far-reaching trade deal that is
putting lives at stake,” she said.
Amnesty International shared these concerns about the TPP’s impact on public health, stating, “No
one has the right to trade away our hard-fought legal protections for
free speech and the right to health, and much less to do it behind
closed doors.”
one has the right to trade away our hard-fought legal protections for
free speech and the right to health, and much less to do it behind
closed doors.”
The TPP’s effect on the environment is also a cause
for concern, drawing criticism from environmental groups like the Sierra
Club and 350.org. As the Sierra Club warned,
“the TPP could lead to increased stress on natural resources and
species including trees, fish, and wildlife.” Sierra Club also noted,
“The TPP may allow for significantly increased exports of liquefied
natural gas without the careful study or adequate protections necessary
to safeguard the American public. This would mean an increase of
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.”
for concern, drawing criticism from environmental groups like the Sierra
Club and 350.org. As the Sierra Club warned,
“the TPP could lead to increased stress on natural resources and
species including trees, fish, and wildlife.” Sierra Club also noted,
“The TPP may allow for significantly increased exports of liquefied
natural gas without the careful study or adequate protections necessary
to safeguard the American public. This would mean an increase of
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.”
President
Obama visited Nike's Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters in May to drum up
support for his Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. (photo: Reuters)
