Jindal wants trade promotion authority, just not for Obama

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, July 21, 2015 - “I’m not opposed to fast track authority for presidents, Republican or Democrat. I’m opposed to fast track authority for this president,” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said today.

His comments were captured during a taping of RFD-TV’s new Rural Town Hall series. Agri-Pulse is working with RFD-TV to capture presidential candidate’s positions on agriculture, food and rural issues, as part of its Rural Route to the White House series.

“First, I’ve seen him abuse and ignore the constitution and the law whether it was amnesty or Obamacare. I just don’t trust him to give him additional authority, him in particular, not all Democratic presidents.

“Second, I’ve seen how he negotiated with Iran. That was a very bad deal, a very bad deal for us, for Israel. They don’t have to give up their centrifuges, they can keep up to 5,000 centrifuges, they don’t have to recognize Israel. They don’t have to cut off power to terrorist groups. They don’t have to release those American prisoners. So I worry what kind of deal he would negotiate on our behalf, especially when they are not willing to tell us some of the details.

“My opposition to fast track authority is not opposition to a good trade agreement. I think we can get a good trade agreement. My opposition is to this president and giving him that authority. I’m more than happy to give it to future presidents and I would certainly be happy to give it to me. But, I’d also be open to giving it other presidents of either party that really was a good president.”

Jindal said he believes a good deal with specific countries would be a good deal for America. “It will provide economic opportunity for our farmers and manufacturers and economy and it’s a huge national security opportunity. You have countries in Asia who are normally our allies like South Korea and Taiwan and Japan that look to America for leadership.  We also have countries that are not allies like India and Viet Nam who are looking to America for leadership as well.

“And if we have a critical moment we can provide that leadership.  If we don’t, they will turn elsewhere.

In response to a question from Agri-Pulse regarding his vote in Congress against the Central America Free Trade Agreement, Jindal said, “I did oppose CAFTA.  At the time I voted against CAFTA, I made a commitment to my folks back in Louisiana to oppose it even before I got elected to Congress. Our sugar cane farmers were very concerned this would result in unfair treatment to them compared what would happen in some of the countries that were part of CAFTA. So it was concern for the agricultural community in Louisiana that caused me to vote against it, even though there were many folks in my district that would actually benefit from it.”

Jindal is the first presidential candidate to appear on RFD-TV’s RURAL TOWN HALL. The program, which will address issues affecting rural America is the first of its kind in a presidential election. RURAL TOWN HALL premieres Thursday, July 23rd at 10 PM ET on RFD-TV. Produced in conjunction with Mediacom Connections Channel and Gannett, RURAL TOWN HALL will be a series of one-hour prime-time specials focusing on rural American issues in advance of the 2016 presidential election.

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