Nobel-Winning Economist Comes to Elizabeth Warren's Defense on Trade

[Jefferson23]

At a Roosevelt Institute Event, Warren and economist Joseph Stiglitz hit back on the Trans-Pacific Partnership after Obama’s harsh words for the Massachusetts senator.

By Eric Garcia

May 12, 2015 Speaking at an event held by the Roosevelt Institute Tuesday morning, Sen. Elizabeth Warren did not let up in her critique of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that the White House is proposing. And this time, she got a little help from Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

Stiglitz, while unveiling a new report on inequality, criticized the TPP, calling it a move to increase corporate power at the expense of average Americans that could lead to increased inequality.

Stiglitz also addressed President Obama's recent attacks on progressives over trade, and particularly those against Warren, whom Obama recently called "absolutely wrong" for saying the proposed deal could to lead to the dismantling of Dodd-Frank.

"The president is making some fairly nasty remarks about people on the other side that they don't understand we're in the 21st century," Stiglitz said. "Actually, we do. I don't think he understands what's happened in the last third of a century."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/nobel-winning-economist-comes-to-elizabeth-warren-s-defense-on-trade-20150512

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I understand that Stiglitz is advising Hillary.

I don't know how central a figure he is in shaping her platform, but it is indeed good to imagine that she is hearing his perspective on this & a bunch of other things.

[Jefferson23]

2. That is encouraging, somewhat. I recall a conversation Stiglitz had in an interview, I believe back

in 2008. Obama phoned him, he said, they spoke about policies etc and that was the last
time Stiglitz heard from him...as far as I am aware.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I got a hide the other day for essentially quoting Rahm Emanuel

about "retarded progressives" so I won't point out that this is the category in which Obama apparently placed Stiglitz. Professional courtesy among Nobel winners, I guess.

[Jefferson23]

4. I don't imagine Obama views Stiglitz that way. The decison to not include him seems more about

not rocking the boat, and that is pure speculation on my part, but I did find it a very interesting
mention by David Axelrod in his book where he took aim at Summers and Geithner and not in a
flattering manner.