John Nichols: Kerry makes another big-issue mistake

"Unfortunately, Kerry has a penchant for getting the really important issues wrong. For instance, he voted for the October 2002 resolution that authorized President Bush to launch a "pre-emptive" war against Iraq. Kerry, who was critical of the administration's rush to war before and after that critical vote, just couldn't get the courage up to join U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and the chairs of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees in voting "no." That failure of will cost Kerry dearly among grass-roots Democrats, providing an opening that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has exploited relentlessly - and effectively.

Now Kerry is making an equally significant mistake. The issue is trade and, as with the war, Kerry is trying to talk a good line while putting himself on precisely the wrong side of the debate.

Kerry is attacking Dean for supporting fair trade proposals that would require U.S. trading partners to establish basic labor and environmental standards. "Governor Dean has said repeatedly that America should not trade with countries that haven't reached our own environmental and labor standards," Kerry grumbled in a speech to the Detroit Economic Club. "I will assure strong labor and environmental standards. But his approach would mean we couldn't sell a single car anywhere in the developing world."

The problem with Kerry's argument is that he is simply wrong. Dean, a former free trader, has started to talk about the need to do more to prevent the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and other countries. Dean wants to write tougher trade deals in order to defend the interests of workers, farmers, consumers and the environment not just in the United States but in the countries that trade with the United States. That's a reasonable standard, with which most Democrats in Congress - and most Americans - agree. "

on the stances of either candidate but I do know the work of John Nichols and, as a Wisconsinite, I am priveliged to listen to him on WPR from time to time. He's been out front on a number of issues and I respect him greatly.

on edit: that is to say, his comments have been duly noted.

this afternoon on the senate floor.