Obama's Jobs Rhetoric

Since we're on the subject of Barack Obama's economic nationalism, here's a radio ad airing in Wisconsin in which he suggests John McCain has a treasonous desire to ship American jobs off to nasty, grasping foreigners. You can listen to it here. (Text of the ad is also after the jump).It's all part of some "Buy American" strategy to be pursued in Pennsylvania and the midwest. Great. 

Now, sure, some of this is just campaign rhetoric. But when Obama stokes protectionist fires, when he characterises trading partners as the enemy, when he suggests that there's something wrong or illegitimate with foreign companies owning properties in the United States he not only makes it harder for US companies seeking to expand overseas, he goes some way towards making a mockery of his desire for a fresh and better relationship with the rest of the world.

In this he seems every bit as myopic as the Bush administration which seemed to expect the rest of the world not to notice, say, the administration's illegal steel tariffs. What you say on the campaign trail matters. You can't just turn round and say, heck I was just playing those suckers. Or if you do, you can expect the suckers to be irritated. At some point all this amounts to writing cheques that you may not want to see cashed. Whatever it is, it's not "change we can believe in" is it?

Ad text:

(Motors revving)

Announcer: Listen to John McCain speaking to motorcycle enthusiasts in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Tuesday.

McCain: Not long ago a couple of hundred thousand Berliners made a lot of noise for my opponent. I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day...

Announcer: But when it comes to his record, American-made motorcycles like Harleys don't matter to John McCain. Back in Washington, McCain opposed the requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles. And he said all buy-American provisions were quote "disgraceful." Surprised? You shouldn't be. This is the same John McCain who supported billions in tax breaks for companies who ship American jobs overseas.

(More motors revving)

Announcer: It's time to hear the roar of the strong American economy again -- and stop John McCain from shipping our jobs overseas.

Obama: I'm Barack Obama, candidate for president, and I approved this message. Paid for by Obama for America.