Cross posted from Raising Kaine
In reading the transcript of yesterday's debate between Sen. Joe Lieberman (D??? - CT) and challenger Ned Lamont, I was struck by how strongly Ned Lamont is running as the populist, reform, anti-Iraq War, "fair trade," anti-outsourcing candidate in that race.
Here in Virginia, of course, we have Jim Webb running as the populist, reform, anti-Iraq War, "fair trade," anti-outsourcing candidate against an incumbent who votes 97% of the time with George W. Bush, who never met a lobbyist - or a "free trade" agreement - he doesn't like, who thinks the Iraq War was/is a great idea, and who is totally beholden to special interest group. Does this sound familiar or what?
Why have so many people grown tired of Joe Lieberman in Connecticut, and also of George Allen here in Virginia? One issue is globalization and the export of good American jobs to China, India, etc. Here's Ned Lamont from the debate:
Senator, we just keep exporting jobs. Over the last 18 years, as I said before, we have lost most of our -- 40 percent of our manufacturing jobs, a lot of our defense-related jobs.
We are the largest market on the face of this earth. People want to do business with the United States of America. And we should negotiate these trade agreements from the position of strength. Labor agreements, environmental standards, these should be key to what we want to do. We owe it to our workers to give them a level playing field and let them compete around the world. Our workers can compete with anybody. They can compete with anybody if given a fair shot.
Very interesting, and I personally agree with Ned Lamont strongly on this. I also can't help but thinking about the big differences between George Allen and Jim Webb on globalization, trade, and the outsourcing of American jobs. Here's Jim Webb on trade:
![](http://www.raisingkaine.com/Images/IMG_5863.JPG)
In my view, free trade only exists when two countries that have comparative economic and governmental systems are involved - as, for the most part, we can see in our practices with western Europe. For the rest of it, adjustments should be made, unless there are other trade-offs (forgive the pun) that occur elsewhere in a relationship. We are in a situation where workers are losing jobs because of unfair trade practices from foreign governments, and we cannot and should not allow these practices to continue. The first place I would look would be the protections available to our industries in our existing trade laws. We should make it clear to foreign governments that we will not allow them to operate outside of established international trade law to gain an advantage over U.S. companies. Beyond that, I believe it would be fair to re-examine NAFTA and other acts to try and rebalance the playing field.
Sounds to me like Senators Webb and Lamont would work very well together on this issue, and probably a lot of other ones as well. As you read last night's closing statement by Ned Lamont, you might want to ponder whether George Allen or Jim Webb would do a better job in these areas for Virginia and for America. I believe the choice is clear.
As I travel flat out around the state of Connecticut, people tell me one thing. They want their political leaders to stand up, think big ideas, dream big dreams, say what you mean, and mean what you say. And with Ned Lamont as your next Democratic senator, I mean to do just that. It won't take me 18 years to sign onto a bill that says health care is a basic right for each and every American. And I'll vote to roll back the Bush-Cheney-Lieberman energy bill, which provides billions of subsidies to big oil and does so little for conservation, energy independence and the environment.
And I will not find common ground with the Bush administration when they are trying to privatize Social Security. I'll fight for Social Security. I'll fight for our constitutional liberties. I believe so strongly that we're stronger as a country when we are true to our basic values and we work in concert with our allies.
And most importantly, I will bring our brave troops home to the heroes' welcome that they deserve. Rather than spending $250 million a day, $250 million a day in Iraq, we're going to invest. We're going to invest in those kids at Harding High School, we're going to invest in grade schools and clean energy and affordable housing and public transportation. We're going to bring our cities back as great as they were 100 years ago.
And, Senator, this is not about anybody's career. This election is about the people. And I don't want you to vote against somebody. I want you to vote for somebody. I want you to vote for your dreams. I want you to vote for your hopes. I want you to vote for your heart.
My name is Ned Lamont, and if you approve this message, I could use your support on August 8th.
Populism, reform, a realization that the war in Iraq was a big mistake, and a belief in fair trade - not so-called "free trade": sounds like a great combination to me. This year, in Connecticut and Virginia, voters can choose between very different Senate candidates in all of these areas. The fundamental question is this: are we happy with the direction the country is taking, or is it time to fundamentally change course? It seems to me that if most people believe the latter, Ned Lamont and Jim Webb win this November. Stay tuned.