Republicans will no doubt be heartened to see that, once again, Donald Trump proved Tuesday that he has the ability to read from a prepared speech—this time on trade.
Here's the quick and dirty on his themes:
1) Voting for Trump = Economic Independence = Fast
2) Bill and Hillary = Job Killers
3) NAFTA and TPP = Never Forget
Here was his secondary theme:
1) China = Cheaters and Stealers (very presidential)
Trump started out by implicating himself in "rigging the system" against American workers so he could turn a profit.
"Our politicians have aggressively pursued a policy of globalization, moving our jobs, our wealth and our factories to Mexico and overseas. Globalization has made the financial elite who donate to politicians very, very wealthy. I used to be one of them," Trump admitted. "The people who rigged the system for their benefit will do anything and say anything to keep things exactly the way they are."
Hmm. Ok, but now, Trump assures us, he's a man of the people.
"Under a Trump presidency, the American worker will finally have a president who will protect them and fight for them. We will stand up to trade cheating. Cheating. Cheaters, that's what they are—Cheaters [as in, the Chinese]. We will stand up to trade cheating.”
Also, Trump waxed poetic about rebuilding America with beautiful “American steel," which he incidentally bypassed using to build the Trump Tower because it was just too expensive for his purposes.
A Trump administration will also ensure that we start using American steel for American infrastructure. And aluminum. Just like the American steel from Pennsylvania that built the Empire State building—that's what we're going do, it built the Empire State building. It Will be American steel that will fortify America's crumbling bridges. American steel. It will be American steel that sends our skyscrapers soaring, soaring into the sky, beautiful site, more beautiful with American steel. It will be American steel that rebuilds our inner cities.
And just like he promised to use the American steel he shunned before, he promises to make things better for the American workers he’s also bypassed using to make the products that bear his name:
A Trump administration will get a fair deal for the American people and the American worker. The era of economic surrender will finally be over. It will be over. You're not going to see it anymore. Although I can't guarantee it because after me they'll probably start doing it again but we will have four and maybe eight great, great, great productive years and we'll never go back and we'll make sure we never go back.
Also, back when she was first lady, "Hillary Clinton unleashed a trade war against the American worker..."
But, trust him, things will be different under President Trump.