It's sort of strange to hear Ohio Sen. Rob Portman—former U.S. Trade Representative under George W. Bush—saying "I'm fighting every day to level the playing field for Ohio workers, standing up to my own party on trade, and fighting back against China when they threaten Ohio jobs." That makes him sound just like Donald Trump, the presidential candidate he's endorsed. It's particularly at odds with a video of then-Rep. Rob Portman in 1993, speaking from the House floor:
"Madam Chair, I rise today in support of NAFTA because it'll create jobs for Americans," said Portman on the House floor in November of 1993. "NAFTA represents hope, opportunity and economic growth and we need it."
But here's his campaign spokesman now:
Rob and Donald Trump agree that we need to dramatically increase exports, crack down on unfair imports, and be tougher on China by holding them accountable when they cheat.
Does Portman know his spokesman is telling the world that he agrees with Donald Trump? Not too many Republicans running for re-election are eager to embrace the bombastic Republican nominee so enthusiastically. It's also interesting to see Portman embrace the anti-trade rhetoric of his Democratic opponent, Ted Strickland, which Strickland points out in an email release from his campaign.
The passionate advocacy Senator Portman displays for NAFTA in this video is entirely consistent with his decades-long, unabashed record of championing unfair trade deals that have cost Ohio over 300,000 jobs, devastated our economy and hurt our working families. This video evidence only underscores the arrogance and dishonesty Senator Portman has displayed in attempting to mislead Ohioans about his long record of supporting damaging trade policies that have sent our jobs to places like Mexico and China. Unlike Senator Portman, in the Senate I will continue fighting back against these kinds of damaging trade policies in order to protect American jobs and Ohio’s working families.
Portman is going for a brazen flip-flop and it might work, but he's probably going to have a much harder time dealing with the major embrace of Trump.
Please give $3 to help Ted Strickland send Rob Portman packing.