Kerry blasts Bush trade policies
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry delivered an indictment Sunday of the Bush administration's trade policies, which he blamed for causing needless suffering in America.
In remarks to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Kerry vowed to end both the Bush presidency and a trade policy that "hasn't made America stronger."
The Bush administration has ignored Americans in need, Kerry said.
"For four years, they've basically told us: 'You're on your own,'" he said.
Promising to mitigate the problems of those in need, Kerry vowed to strengthen U.S. trade positions and reduce the trade deficit if elected. Bush has refused to do both, he said.
"This administration hasn't enforced our trade deals -- I will," Kerry announced to applause.
Kerry said he would establish a commission charged with reviewing all trade agreements to ensure fairness.
He also promised to "level the playing field" and attack unfair trade practices from other countries, "because when we do there's not a country in the world the American worker can't compete with and win."
Kerry attacked Bush on the hot-button topic of the outsourcing of American jobs: "If a company is torn between creating jobs here or overseas, we now have a tax code that tells you to go overseas. That's wrong."
Kerry also mentioned what Bush's critics sees as the president's refusal to admit mistakes.
"This administration has stubbornly refused to admit a single mistake and stubbornly turned away the chances they've had to fix them. Now they're running on the promise that they'll keep doing more of the same," said the junior senator from Massachusetts.
"This is like the Red Sox saying, 'Let's see if we can go another 86 years without a World Series.' "
