Contact with Canadians on NAFTA

The story regarding an Obama aide allegedly speaking with the Canadian government is getting even more bizarre. The Globe and Mail has a story reporting that Ian Brodie, chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, first mentioned contact from a presidential candidate regarding NAFTA. However the contact came from an unexpected source (emphasis mine):

At the end of an extended conversation, Mr. Brodie was asked about remarks aimed by the Democratic candidates at Ohio’s anti-NAFTA voters that carried serious economic implications for Canada.

Since 75 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton’s musings about reopening the North American free-trade pact had caused some concern.

Mr. Brodie downplayed those concerns.

“Quite a few people heard it,” said one source in the room.

“He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt. . . That someone called us and told us not to worry.”

Government officials did not deny the conversation took place.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign!!??? After Clinton won the Ohio primary, at least partially due to reports suggesting that Obama had made such claims, it turns out the Clinton campaign has been speaking with the Canadians regarding NAFTA. Has Clinton been attacking Obama’s campaign for what she had  done? I sure wouldn’t put it past her. Josh Marshall has the same question:

So was Hillary bashing Obama for what her own campaign had done? Did they both do it? Was it all a set up? I think the overarching story here is that friendly governments should not interfere in our elections.

7 Comments

  1. 1
    Judith in NYC says:

    I believe Canada’s Prime Minister and the Canadian government in whole owe us an apology and anything else that is in their power to clarify this situation.

    I called Stephen Harper today and demanded a apology. I hope the assistant is keeping track of the calls. Or maybe I just got transferred to the RNC.

  2. 2
    DrToketee says:

    So why is this information NOT on the American national newscasts? Where in hell are the Obama communications people?

  3. 3
    Ron Chusid says:

    This just came out last night in a Canadian newspaper. Hopefully this will be picked up by the US media and hopefully Obama’s people will be using this today.

  4. 4
    NanD says:

    I sent it to the DNC around 1 a.m. this morning – I am TOTALLY disgusted with Clinton! I have also sent it to several newspapers! It’s pretty clear to ME this is how she won Ohio! Shame on the DNC for allowing her to continue such a dishonest campaign!

  5. 5
    Judith in NYC says:

    NanD–all you will get from the DNC is a request for money, at least that’s what I got today.

  6. 6
    DrToketee says:

    Basically, this all comes down to … Ohioans now looking like a bunch of dumb-asses for believing the NAFTA crap that was feed to them by Clinton, yet Clinton was the one who told the Canadians to ignore her speeches, that she favored NAFTA, that she lied to Ohioans. Ohio has to be one of our most ignorant states; no wonder they lose jobs, their people are so uneducated …

  7. 7
    Mcollier says:

    Breaking: Senator Clinton not Obama told Canada not to worry about NAFTA

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080305.wharpleak0305/BNStory/National/home

    Send, post, share the Hillary Clinton NAFTA hipocracy to as many news organazations, blogs, co-workers, family, friends, your senators and congress persons… Forget about the rethugs and clintonites attempts here trying to defend her on this…. We need to stick to message: The era of old politics is our choice, this is the change we can believe in.

    Clinton cannot be trusted, she isn’t even president and she is already defaming America in the eyes of the world with this shamefully action.

    Vote for someone you can trust, vote for Barack Obama.

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