Shady Katie is at it again. In a press conference with Philadelphia-area labor unions yesterday, McGinty railed against trade. But there’s just one problem…
As a Clinton Administration official, Katie McGinty helped promote NAFTA.
WATCH as Katie McGinty promotes the “strong economic growth” that will come from NAFTA during a press briefing at the White House:
[youtube url="https://youtu.be/AJlHjHGdfAQ?t=8s"]
But wait, there’s more.
Here’s a photo of Katie McGinty from the Presidential library with a caption that reads, “Photograph of President William J. Clinton and Vice President Al Gore Meeting with Environmental Groups Endorsing the North American Free Trade Agreement”
BACKGROUND:
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VIDEO: McGinty: “That’s What NAFTA Is All About. Strong Economic Growth With Strong Environmental Protections. The Two Go Hand In Hand.” (Katie McGinty, Remarks At A Briefing On The Global Environment, Washington, D.C., 4/21/94; 1:26-2:23)
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In September 1993, The Clinton Administration “Broadened Its Campaign” For Passing NAFTA When Six Major Environmental Groups Officially Endorsed The Deal. “The Clinton administration Wednesday broadened its campaign for the North American free-trade agreement, picking up the endorsement of six major environmental groups that had threatened to work against the pact. At a Capitol Hill news conference, Vice President Al Gore said the endorsement proved that the widely publicized split in the environmental community over Nafta had been resolved by the newly completed side agreement with Mexico on environmental cooperation and enforcement. ‘The vast and overwhelming majority of environmentalists are strongly in favor of Nafta,’ said Mr. Gore, who is widely respected as an environmental leader. Unlike major U.S. labor unions, which are continuing to lead opposition to the Nafta, a core of large and more moderate environmental groups have become key advocates of the Nafta after influencing the recently completed side agreements with Mexico on labor and environmental enforcement… The six environmental groups, representing about 7 million members, are: The National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, Environmental Defense Fund and Conservation International. Opposed to the agreement are the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.” (John Maggs, “Clinton Wins Support For Nafta From Six Environmental Groups,” Journal Of Commerce, 9/16/93)
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VIDEO: Vice President Al Gore At The Press Conference Announcing The Environmental Groups Endorsements: “This Agreement Is To Our Advantage In Every Way.” (North American Free Trade Agreement Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 9/15/93, 12:10)
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VIDEO: U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor At The Press Conference: “We Would Not Have Gotten This Far Or Have Been This Resolute Without Their Aid And Comfort And Advocacy, Frankly. …You Will See This Is The Most Protective Trade Agreement In History Of The Environment And Frankly Of Labor And Worker’s Rights As Well.” (North American Free Trade Agreement Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 9/15/93, 20:45)
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William J. Clinton Library Photo: “Photograph Of President William J. Clinton And Vice President Al Gore Meeting With Environmental Groups Endorsing The North American Free Trade Agreement”(William J. Clinton Library via Institute Of Museum And Library Services, Photo Taken 9/14/93)
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In 1997, McGinty Said “The Leading Environmental Groups In The United States” Supported NAFTA Because “We Insisted That NAFTA Would Be A Tool To Ensure That Environmental Laws Were Enforced.” Motavalli: “I know the president was a big supporter of bath the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Some people think those agreements have had negative effects by reducing the need for foreign trading partners to comply with U.S. environmental standards.” McGinty: “There’s no case to be made that either of those agreements have led to a suspension of environmental laws. But certainly there is the concern that increased trade will lead to increased environmental degradation, and there are some environmental groups who have taken that posture. Many other environmental groups – in fact, the leading environmental groups in the United States – joined the president in support of NAFTA. And that’s because we insisted that NAFTA would be a tool to ensure that environmental laws were enforced. We can’t guarantee that any country enforces environmental laws or any other law; that’s in the sovereign domain of that country. But we now have a tool which can ensure against the lowering of environmental standards or a failure to enforce environmental laws for short-term economic gains. We never had those tools before, but that kind of practice is now expressly prohibited in NAFTA. With the joint environmental committees we now have with Canada and Mexico, we actually review any complaint that environmental standards are not being followed. We never had that ability before.”(Jim Motavalli, “Katie McGinty: Running Environmental Interference For The Commander-In-Chief,” E Magazine, 1/1/97)
- In 1993, McGinty Said Environmental Safeguards Included In NAFTA “Showed The Benefits Of Linking Trade To The Environment.” “President Clinton’s environmental policy chief wants world trade talks to grapple with ecological issues. The White House’s director of environmental policy, Kathleen McGinty said that the recent deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico on environmental safeguards as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement showed the benefits of linking trade to the environment. She said she wanted to see the whole world discuss common environmental standards in talks on the rules governing world trade.” (The Age [Melbourne, Australia], 8/30/93)