Saying one thing . . . yawn:
GEORGE W. Bush proclaimed himself a “free trader” yesterday, while his chief trade negotiator boasted to Congress that he had protected US beef, dairy and sugar farmers from their Australian competition.
As Mr Bush, facing an election in November, accused Democrats of pushing “economic isolationism”, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick bragged to the Senate finance committee how little the US had opened its key markets to Australian farmers under the new free trade agreement.
. . .
[T]he reluctance to open US markets stands at odds with the claims Mr Bush is now making in his election campaign about his free trade credentials.
“As our economy moves forward and new jobs are added, some are questioning whether American companies and American workers are up to the challenge of foreign competition,” Mr Bush said. “There are economic isolationists in our country who believe we should separate ourselves from the rest of the world by raising up barriers and closing off markets. They’re wrong.
“If we are to continue growing this economy and creating new jobs, America must remain confident and strong about our ability to trade in the world. Given a level playing field, America will outperform the competition.”
Rather than getting upset every time I hear his b.s., perhaps I’ll start pretending that Bush is speaking ironically.