I caught this seemingly 'impromptu' Live Interview of Sherrod Brown yesterday, when I was channel-surfing for Political News, and happened to land on MSNBC.
Since I used to like Sherrod Brown, I stopped surfing and tuned in. By the time he got to the end of his few minutes though — I could NOT believe what I was hearing. And I couldn't believe he dared to speak so bluntly about his hopes of "Fixing the TPP" — and at such an early point in the election. I was dumbfounded and frankly still am, about the implied back-tracking of his preferred candidate.
I just found that video, which just 'made the rotation' on the All In site, with Chris Hayes. Unfortunately, the Senator Brown interview does not start until about 2 minutes in on the following clip.
PS. I transcribed the text below, in case you have issues playing or finding the right clip.
----
All In with Chris Hayes -- March 14, 2016, 5:23 PST
Democrats make final case before Ohio
Chris Hayes talks to Democratic Senator of Ohio Sherrod Brown and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner about the final hours before voting begins in their state.
Starting Time Mark: 1:55
Chris Hayes: “Joining us now is Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. And Senator earlier today, with my colleague Chris Matthews, Hillary Clinton said of Sanders, about 'his approach to Trade Deals is that he is against everything -- even with International implications -- even before they're done'. Is that fair?”
Sherrod Brown: "Aaah, yeah that's fair, but so am I -- I've been against these Trade Policies too.
But I think the issue is, what are we doing to try to change our Trade Policy. And you know, Hillary has very specifically laid out a much more detailed in-depth manufacturing plan; what to do about Trade, with the special trade prosecutor on currency; on issues like non-market economies -- what to do about designation there with China.
You know I just think there's a depth of understanding, and I've worked with Hillary on some of the plans on this. Bernie's been against it [Free Trade], and I've applauded him and stood with him when he did that. But I don't know if I've seen, and I don't want to be critical of him because I don't think that is what this race is all about.
But I want to look forward on how we put together a Trade Policy that works. Because were going to trade, there is going to be Globalization, but we need to do it under terms, under rules that work -- as rules work for our Domestic Economy on the dynamics of Capitalism. You need to do Trade in the same way -- and I think Hillary Clinton understands that. So that's why I like it, the direction she wants to take us in."
Chris Hayes: Let me ... I'm going ah, present to you a cynical case and you tell me why I'm wrong. Democratic Politicians come to Ohio every Election every 4 years, and they critique Trade Deals. I remember in 2008, in the run-up to the Ohio Primary, Barack Obama was attacking Hillary Clinton from her left, as a supporter of NAFTA. He gets elected President. He's now passing the TPP. They say it is much better, that it has stronger safeguards than NAFTA ever did. But the cynical view is basically: in the week before the the Ohio Primary, everyone 'gets Religion' on Trade Deals -- then as soon as they become President, they push for more.
Sherrod Brown: "Yeah, I hear that cynicism. I kind of shared that back in 2008, when I heard both Candidates then say something I wasn't really convinced of. But I've seen something different -- first of all I've seen the input she's welcomed. She's let me, and worked with me, in helping formulating Trade Policy.
I think the world is different, and I think Sec. Clinton knows that. I see all four presidential candidates the leading four, Cruz, Trump, Sanders, and Clinton all oppose TPP. And Hillary can cite 'chapter and verse' about what's wrong with it -- AND How to Fix it.
And I will be standing with her, as she does that, when I'm Chairman of the Banking Committee in 2017, and sit on the Finance Committee that works on Trade Deals. And I think we'll see a very different Trade Policy, a very different Tax Policy. No more of this whole business plan, which has become the way companies do things now -- you shut down production, in Mansfield Ohio and Sandusky Ohio, and you move it to China. Sell products back into the US.
That just doesn't work for our country anymore. I think Hillary Clinton has an acute understanding of that, and how you fix it."
Chris Hayes: Alright Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, thank you for joining me.
I’ve highlighted the most surprising parts to me, with bold and italics. I guess that implied run ‘back to the center’ could not come soon enough in some circles.
Is Senator Brown angling for VP? Time will tell. With up-front work like that, you never know.