Gephardt supports an International Minimum Wage!

Gephardt led the fight against corporate globalization and NAFTA, but the DLC Democrats like John Forbes Kerry and Howard Dean sold us out, fronting for the corporations who outsourced American jobs to regimes like Communist China. So Gephardt then proposed that if corporations are allowed to follow the cheap labor, we'll have to guarentee everyone in the new global economy a fair minimum wage, to stop the "race to the bottom" the corporate globalist are trying to push on us, with the help of their plants in the DLC. Gephardt himself was in the DLC, but because of his opposition to corporate trade agreements and his strong support of unions, he is now considered "too liberal".

"Based on the imperative of protecting both human dignity around the world and American jobs here at home, Dick Gephardt believes we must establish an international minimum wage.

The World Trade Organization should establish an international standard for a minimum wage. The creation of such a wage would guarantee that workers all over the world earn a livable wage. It also would keep U.S. workers competitive in the global marketplace. Countries could offset lower wages with trade concessions, and more developed nations would share in the burden facing less developed nations."

Gephardt has the solid backing of the unions, a very important and core group of the Democratic party. Gephardt also has some clout in Washington, he's been there fighting for years. His war votes upset a lot of liberal activist types (like myself) but his views on the war are in line with what most Americans believe. Gephardt is opposed to Bush's unilateralism as well, he says :

"If I were president, I'd ask NATO to join with us immediately, to secure peace and stability in post-war Iraq. And I'd go to the U.N. right now and ask for a Security Council mandate, so countries like India and Russia and France and Germany will join us."

Gephardt can beat Bush easily, and with a strong VP like Clark, we will finally be able to reverse the Bush coup and restore American democracy.

http://www.dickgephardt2004.com/index.aspx

people will show up... But before that happens,I will say this is a good example of Gephardts true progressive politics. He still has the best health care plan on the table, and has broad support among the traditional democratic base of working people in unions.

I know you don't care for Kerry, but I believe along with him, Gephardt is the most liberal electable candidate in the race.

... I do hope he shows up to vote for it....

I don't want to bash Gep, but I am at a loss as to why so many DUers feel that issues somehow outweigh the personality of a candidate.

They don't. I personally would say that it's about 60%/40% in personality's favor.

And Gephardt (and Lieberman, at the very least) looks as if he's bored with himself, or under an enormous strain, or something.

Do you really find him to be an energetic speaker or believe him to have an exciting new vision? Do you think he has a magnetic personality?

Merely being on the right side of an issue and having worked in Washington for a million years does not automatically mean "good president material". Rather--it MAY mean that, but it doesn't mean "voters will appreciate that and vote for you".

The election of 2000 told me that in no uncertain terms.

yes, i agree personality does come into it, especially in the national election with the "independent, undecided" voters. but gephardt does come across better than i ever thought he would. especially when he talks about labor and workers rights type issues. my opinion of him changed after seeing some of his recent appearances and speeches.

A while ago, I too was impressed with the strength of his speeches.

But then it seemed to slide backwards...I saw a bit of his thing with Harkin, and I was like, geez, Dick, go get some rest or something. And then in forums with other candidates, he is one of the flatter fellows.

I dunno. I'm willing to keep an open mind about him, but currently I don't think he's dynamic enough to win a general.

Enough of the corporate speak. I like old boring visions, like Democracy, unionization, and a fair economy. "Exciting new visions" usually turn out to be snake oil.

onto products produced overseas by US companies...unless they can PROVE that they paid US wages..

Those companies would be back "home" in a heartbeat..

anyone who thinks we can force another sovereign nation into paying wages that WE like is nuts..

We created this monster by "outsourcing" and "overseas tax dodging".. WE are the only ones who can solve the problem..

Countries need to develop their OWN industries and products...NOT lure RICH,GREEDY corporatists to their countries so they can make $150 shoes for 2 bucks..

I agree that Gephardt speaks well and has good policy positions. But why are we praising him for what he says he'll do in his next job if he can't be bothered to do the same in his current job?

Contrary to the deceptive stories about that vote being pushed by the paid candidate spokespeople on DU, the Republicans had already won that vote. Gephardt knew what he was doing.

Explain to me how winning by three votes with 6 democratic abstentions means the Republicans had already won it.

We know our elected officials by the way they vote. I'm not a Kucinich supporter, but I respect nothing about Kucinich more than his extremely low record of abstentions. I ask for the opportunity to know Gephardt the same way -- not through his telling me he would have voted against it had the vote mattered.

look it up, it's a common legislative tactic, like a filibuster is. I could post a long thread about it, but I don't think most people on this board are actually interested in knowing, they are just using the fact that people don't understand legislative process to bash the other candidates.

The Republicans had the vote, and BY THE WAY, overtime has not been cut.

I understand how votes are traded on the Senate floor, but I also understand that in a society where talk is as cheap as it is now, we can only evaluate those who represent us by their actions.

Any candidate attempting to shed the pro-corporate image that plagues the mainstream Democrats should think seriously about the message his record of votes sends. Otherwise, the 60-70% personality that is so important may not be enough and we might actually have to judge our candidates by their actions.

Show me *any* candidate with the same on the record, pro-working Americans voting history that's better than Gephardts. You've got Kucinich, and Wellstone, and the other House Progressive Caucus members, and that's about it.

So that's good, let's judge Gephardt on his actions, his voting record, which is second to none.

Has skipped 85% of the votes this year. Yeah, great record.

Perhaps you forgot. They have a majority to pass almost any bill they want, and they are disciplined to vote the party line, unlike most Democrats. On their most controversial bills, if they can pick up Dem votes, they will let a "moderate" Republican vote no or abstain. Legislators know how this works, and they act accordingly.

If I want a "perfect" candidate, I'll vote for Kucinich. It may be that Gephardt is the most electable. Gebhardt or Kucinich is much better than the DLC Kerry and pro-corporate Dean, that's for sure.

show up and do his job on occasion.

Or should the Dems just leave the House to the Pubs for the next year, and hope we can take it back in 04?

against the Democratic Congress under Reagan and Bush. "These liberals don't even do their jobs."

And now, DLC/pro-corporate Democrats are using that line of attack against pro-Labor, anti-corporate globalization Democrats.

I'm neither DLC nor pro corporate. I'm just asking that a representative show up to represent his constituency more than 10% of the time. Or is that too much to ask of a member of someone who wants to represent us all?

Is he going to be bothered doing his job as President 10% of the time?

And just what WAS he doing? It seems to me that if you want to be known as the "labor" candidate then you ought to show up to vote for such an important issue, even if it is only for the symbolic value. So what was he doing that was more important than voting on one of the most important pieces of legislation in YEARS dealing with "his" issues? It seems to me that he was tilting at personal presidential windmills.

Gephardt was in the Congress leading the fight against it. The record is very clear. Gephardt supports American workers, and Dean supports global corporations.

1) Do you have a link to Gephardt's Health Plan?

2) What justifies this: "While Dean was busy fronting for corporations to pass NAFTA?" (A source would be appreciated more than additional opinion.)

Gephardt's health plan is on his website, linked on the front page of DU. NAFTA was being pushed by corporations, not the AFL-CIO, not the NAACP, not the NOW. So when Dean because a "state lobbyist" for NAFTA, who was he fronting for? Not any traditional Democratic group, but for corporations.

He is animated, excited and convincing. When you speak to him directly, you can see that he has a sparkle in his eye when he talks about things he wants to do. The international minmum wage is a good idea. People sometimes laugh at the 26 years in the house being a good thing, but he knows what he can get passed and how to do it. He's not going for pie-in-the-sky agendas. He's going to do things that are doable. His health care plan for instance - he's not trying to redo the whole system. He wants to help pay for what's there for now and then move on in steps that will pass votes. He really knows what he's doing. I think he could get more votes outside the Dem party than anyone and we need that.

Kucinich and Kerry. Probably Sharpton and Braun. Any others?

I think this IS a big deal and makes more sense economically than building bigger bombs.

I was beginning to wonder. His health care plan isn't too bad but there are better ones out there.

I want to deal with 3 issues (Gep's labor record, Gep's boring stigma and Health Care)

Before I get to these three things I want to begin with a paraphased quote, "Time will show that during the last 5 years Dick Gephardt has been one the greatest obstructionists in the history of the House of Representatives."---Alan Gottlieb, March 2000

I know that doesn't sound like an endearing quote, but think about it. This guy is referring to the 5 years in which Newt Gingrich and his boys were trying to screw everyone and anyone. Gephardt fought Next tooth and nail. Day in and day out. I'm thankful for that. It seems we all forget a little too easily around here. But I have't forgotten his battles with Newt!

1) This idea of an International Living Wage is very important if we ever want to get serious about fair trade in this country. This is a bold idea from a candidate who is proven that even after 26 years in DC, he can still come up with some good ideas. Labor knows Gephardt has had their back for years. I know he came in a little rough and did some things to piss off unions in the late 70's and early 80's, but the guy has voted alongside the AFL-CIO on 300 of the last 303 issues they've scored. That's pretty good. I realize all the candidates in this field have good labor records, but what those scores don't show is the leadership aspect. Dick has LED the fight against many unfair trade agreements like NAFTA, China, PNTR, Steel Quota, FastTrack and just last week the Singapore and Chilean agreements. While I'd be surprised for anyone to garner the full AFL endorsement, I do fully expect more unions to endorse this guy. I know he's missed some votes, but as a union guy I'm willing to sacrifice that if it means a Gephardt presidency in the end!

http://www.uswa.org/rapid/072503_candidates.htm
http://www.uswa.org/pdf/072503%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Positions.pdf

2) Dick Gephardt can get extremely fired up! I like JeniB have been lucky enough to see the guy show some real emtion. I too wish he'd do it more often. But I don't think boring is the right word. Maybe too cautious? But is that a bad thing? I think 26 years of experience is a good thing given today's global environment. Watch him get all fired up while speaking to the Machinists Union. (Real Player needed) http://216.211.131.3/iamaw/video.ram?c=4557

3).I know many are scared by the price tag of Gephardt's health plan, but I have to give the guy some credit. He seems to be the only one who has proposed an idea that is a truly universal, truly comprehensive health care plan. It really is coverage that can never be taken away. This is a serious problem. A report commissioned by the National Coalition on Health Care estimates that as many as 53.7 million Americans will be without health insurance by 2006 unless there is major, comprehensive reform of the nation’s health care system. We need to do something before the we are Wal-Marted to death

According to the National Journal, "Rep. Dick Gephardt's universal health care proposal was found to be the best approach among major presidential candidates on covering the uninsured, ensuring workers don't get dropped from their health care plans and controlling out-of-pocket costs for consumers. One analyst found that the plans proposed by the other major candidates would exacerbate the problem by encouraging employers to stop offering health insurance.

BC

I feel all alone here sometimes, a few other candidates pay people to post, hell, Gep, if you're listening, I could use some extra work!

just a hunch :) They usually vote together on these kinds of issues. Kucinich is willing to go the extra mile and get tagged a "leftist" for it.

I consider myself to be closer to Kucinich on most issues, but Gephardt is *supposedly* more electable. I haven't decided between the two of them, and it's still a long way until the primary...

as well stripping Americans of their 4th ammendment rights.

I congragulate Gephardt. It is a very important step in stopping capital's race around the world for cheap labor. I hope he sticks to it.

wouldn't solve all of our problems, but it's a good start.

I like things with a snowball's chance in hell.

Give him a pat on the back. I'm not voting for him but he needs to keep bringing this up.

...
Indeed, under the current global economic rules, U.S. companies in industry after industry are forced into a no-win choice: relocate and operate overseas to compete, or remain loyal to U.S. workers and communities and face bankruptcy. All too often, workers here and around the globe find themselves in an economic downward spiral. This system is hollowing out the U.S. manufacturing base on which our country's national security and middle class workforce rely. Almost two million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the past two years alone.

The IMW will eliminate the race to the bottom by building a floor — a standard of decency below which no company which seeks the benefits of the global trade system may go. This standard will actually help to stabilize international trade pressures. A Gephardt Administration will aggressively lead this process and be prepared to lend its political and financial capital to ensuring its success.
http://www.dickgephardt2004.com/issues/intl_wage.html

I know a lot of his supporters do, I hope he comes out for one as well.

Also what is needed is the Tobin tax proposed by economist James Tobin, which would place a tax of the flow of capital from one country to another. An international minimum wage and the Tobin tax will go a long way to reign in the unfettered globalization we've been witnessing.