Follow the Bouncing Beasley (CAFTA flip flop)

SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Follow the Bouncing Beasley
On CAFTA, flip-flops from “In favor” to “opposed” in just six weeks

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Contact: Wyeth Ruthven at (803) 799-7798

As defeated former governor David Beasley today announced his "Economic Security Plan," new questions emerged about his most recent flip-flop on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Beasley told the Greenville News on Thursday that he opposed CAFTA, noting that "expanding NAFTA at this time is bad for the working families of South Carolina." Beasley further said existing agreements should be rigorously enforced and cheating halted "before we sign any new ones." (Greenville News, May 27, 2004).

Yet six weeks ago Beasley told The Charlotte Observer he was in favor of CAFTA, provided "it includes protections against unfair trade practices and has no loopholes." (Charlotte Observer, April 11, 2004)

"Which one is it, David?" asked SCDP Chairman Joe Erwin. "While South Carolina suffers from the fourth-highest unemployment in the nation, we can’t afford to wait around for David Beasley to figure out where he stands on CAFTA."

"On trade, you have to follow the bouncing Beasley," Erwin said. "Meanwhile, South Carolinians can count on Inez Tenenbaum to consistently oppose trade deals that ship our jobs overseas."