Sen. Obama rips Korea. Again (OK, he said this last month):
As he campaigns against what he describes as unfair foreign trade deals, Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, often singles out Japan and especially South Korea for criticism. Both countries, he complains, have erected “all kinds of restrictions and barriers” to shut out American products, including beef and automobiles.
“You can’t get beef into Japan and Korea, even though, obviously, we have the highest safety standards of anybody, but they don’t want to have that competition from U.S. producers,” Mr. Obama said last month in a speech to farmers in South Dakota. Last week, near Detroit, he asserted that “if South Korea is selling hundreds of thousands of cars to the United States and we can only sell less than 5,000 in South Korea, something is wrong.”
Even if Obama’s stump rhetoric about safety standards are laughable, his overall message — that Korea has almost unfettered access to the US market while simultaneously closing its market to US goods — is correct. Whether the good senator actually does something about this, however, will be interesting to see, especially in light of what Obama said or didn’t say to the Canadians.
(HT to cm)
58 Comments
wow, i see the word ‘japan’ there too.
“Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, often singles out Japan and especially South Korea for criticism.”
Embedded in the word “especially” is the word “special” especially for pwi.
Yes, Japan is guilty — perhaps to a lesser degree, perhaps not — of the same behavior as Korea, but Japan will get a pass because (i) Japan is a more powerful state, and (ii) Japan is a much better American ally and member of the so-called “international community”. Korea doesn’t have the same level of cred that Japan has. That’s realpolitik for you.
Through the latest beef nonsense and the accumulated weight of all Korea’s anti-American bullshit over the years Korea has earned itself a starring role in the US Presidential campaign season. Look for more, much more, to come on the “Korea-bashing” (or, critical examination of the true merits of the relationship) front.
But the good news is, people are finally starting to pay attention to the Hub of Hubs.
hard to get around that word ‘japan’ cuz it’s right there. so what if korea gets more of onama’s attention? japan get it too. your people can now rest at ease, slim. here’s my titles for this thread:
‘i get the feeling obama doesn’t like japan and south korea’
man, that word ‘japan’ is just getting in the way!
korea has been the far better ally to the us. i have 5,000 reasons why.
how has japan been a better ally? by sending more troops to iraq and afghanistan, or by simply doing what they always do, that is, shut their mouths as they sniff uncle sam’s butt? japan is a well trained chihuahua.
I do not know if Korea will bear the scrutiny very well either. Sympathy will only go so far.
Not exactly. Japan tests more rigorously than the US, but Korea’s testing is so inadequate that the OIE has delayed its application for risk assessment while waiting for more complete data.
All Obama has to do is mention China and Vietnam as well, and he’ll have a solid voting block of East Asians voting against him. I think these trade issues are legit concerns, but Asian American voters are like a bunch of high-strung chihuahuas - they tend to see everything as a race-based conspiracy against them, including the Cox Commission hearings on Chinese influence-peddling. Maybe this time, their paranoia will work for Republicans instead of Democrats. I like that Obama seems to have this special talent for alienating all kinds of constituencies (not to mention attracting to himself all manner of corrupt office-seekers).
That was a very high strung post, Zhang Fei.
pawi: what are the 5000 reasons?
This is old news.
Obama is bad for Korea, bad for America, bad for the World.
Fools insist he’s LYING to get trade union votes.
Since when have you assumed a candidate is LYING, and assume what’s not there will be his policy.
F O O L S !
I get the feeling Obama wants to win Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
mbk — pawikirogi is referring to the 5000 Korean soldiers who died fighting in Vietnam in order to earn US$3 billion-plus in foreign currency for Korea’s industrialization efforts. Korea was the second-largest contributor of troops on the ground, several multiples greater than the small contributions of Australia and New Zealand.
Over 300,000 Koreans were sent to Vietnam by their Pres. Park Chung Hee between 1964 and 1972, who pocketed the difference between the wage subsidy offered by the United States and the pittance paid soldiers by the Republic of Korea, spending most of it on Korea’s industrialization but of course diverting some of it to his family and friends. Five thousand Korean soldiers lost their lives while 11,000 were wounded.
Of course, Korean soldiers were in many cases glad — or at least not upset — to go to Vietnam, because even though their government was stealing much of the wage furnished by the United States and intended for them to be paid as if they were American soldiers, even the small sliver left to them was greater than what they could earn in Korea at that time. It was profitable to fight in Vietnam.
In pawi’s world, sending mercenaries to fight in America’s war 44-36 years ago so that you could earn money to put Yankee autoworkers out of work in 2008 equals “friendship”.
global village, what a fool !
so, it’s now okay to LIE, if it’s the means to get someone like that in the white house?
making up new rules as they come, eh?
what is this, the LOST 8 YEARS, or something?
Bill Clinton’s slashing off of the US military across the globe did save money.
Obama wants to do the same.
However, how did Clinton’s Presidency end?
With an increase in the dire need to spend on military, PLUS several attacks on American bases and American soil itself.
USS Cole, Base in Africa, Base in Saudi Arabia, involvement in Bosnia, eventual attack on New York City, etc.
Vote for Obama, watch another US city get attacked.
Obama’s withdrawal will be brief.
as wjk predicted, he’s going to have to go back in due to necessity.
I wonder if Libs will support him as fanatically as they do now.
ladies and gentleman, i give you the expat at his finest:
‘mbk — pawikirogi is referring to the 5000 Korean soldiers who died fighting in Vietnam in order to earn US$3 billion-plus in foreign currency for Korea’s industrialization efforts. Korea was the second-largest contributor of troops on the ground, several multiples greater than the small contributions of Australia and New Zealand.
Over 300,000 Koreans were sent to Vietnam by their Pres. Park Chung Hee between 1964 and 1972, who pocketed the difference between the wage subsidy offered by the United States and the pittance paid soldiers by the Republic of Korea, spending most of it on Korea’s industrialization but of course diverting some of it to his family and friends. Five thousand Korean soldiers lost their lives while 11,000 were wounded.
Of course, Korean soldiers were in many cases glad — or at least not upset — to go to Vietnam, because even though their government was stealing much of the wage furnished by the United States and intended for them to be paid as if they were American soldiers, even the small sliver left to them was greater than what they could earn in Korea at that time. It was profitable to fight in Vietnam.’
spitting on soldiers is never nice. tsk, tsk, tsk…..
‘but of course diverting some of it to his family and friends.’
a lie. by a lawyer, no doubt.
Obama’s got my vote.
Right. I forgot. Everybody can talk about Korean history except The Expat. It’s true if a Korean says it, a lie if I say it.
Fuck you, pawikirogi. Next time I’m in Monterey I’d like to come over to your dry-cleaning shop to tell you directly. Are you on the PG side or Salinas?
I thought I detected some sort of coherence in pawi at some point in the past, but it seems to have vanished. I move for a permaban of his IP range.
I would, too. He’s the worst piece of shit in the Hole. The bad news is we’ll lose a number of good people also posting from the Nitelog service in the Monterey Bay area — a lot of military linguists and Naval officers at Postgrad.
The good news is, after pawikirogi’s banned, I get to move up to worst piece of shit in the Hole.
@16
So, a stint as mercenary fighters about 40 years ago makes Korea a better ally than Japan?
A few questions for you then:
1. About a year ago, I think there was a post about how much money, contracts, and other kickbacks the US had to give to get their Korean allies’ support in Vietnam. So, how much money and other kickbacks did the US give the Aussies and the New Zealanders to fight?
2. Would you prefer if Japan’s constitution had allowed them to fight in other countries?
fast-forward to this century:
3. How much money (it’s in the billions of dollars I believe) did Japan give to the US in connection with their fighting in the Mideast?
4. How is the toilet installing doing for those ballsy Korean soldiers putting it on the line in the Mideast?
Like Condi said, Japan and Australia are allies. Korea is just a partner.
spitting on soldiers is never nice. tsk, tsk, tsk…..
It’s nice to know pawikirogi reveres all the Japanese soldiers who fought during World War II and before. By the way, I believe the article was more anti Korean soldier, perhaps anti Park Chung Hee.
CMM: How much money (it’s in the billions of dollars I believe) did Japan give to the US in connection with their fighting in the Mideast?
$10b for Desert Storm.
correction: not anti Korean soldier, perhaps more anti Park Chung Hee.
if pawi hasn’t been banned by now, why would anyone think it’s gonna happen?
he’s upped his trolling immensely from about the second his temporary ban was lifted.
Robert must appreciate, on some level, the job that pawi does to stir things up here.
When taking pictures at the beef protests last Friday night I was given a bunch of Konglish, pro-Obama literature. It seemed to me that the protestors there just assumed he opposed the FTA for the same reasons they did.
Or maybe they just didn’t bother to think about it…
I appreciate a good flamewar as much as the next guy, but pawi’s trolling isn’t the real quality trolling that starts good flamewars. Maybe if he worked on his flamebaiting technique he would be more tolerable.
#15 - So I’m a fool because I think Obama is doing his best to win a few key states? Please enlighten me as to what Obama’s election campaign rhetoric about trade has to do with terrorism. (Perhaps this was what you attempted to do, but it simply doesn’t make the least bit of sense.)
I was never trying to relate the two.
Must I write like, A….
B,…..
C,…..
to say something?
Kindergarten teachers may love that.
I like Obama regardless of his policies with respect to Korea.
Obama, light of my life, fire of my vote. My sin, my soul. Oh-bah-ma: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teet. Oh. Bah. Ma. He was Barry, plain Barry in the morning, standing 5 feet ten in one sock. He was Husein in slacks. He was Barrack at school and on the dotted line. But in my vote he was always ~ Obama.
Interestingly, Bill Emmott has contributed to today’s Asahi News paper titled “The benefit of Asia being ignored in the US presidential campaign“. It’s a pity that I can’t share it with you(it’ll be published tomorrow’s IHT/Asahi though). This is the guy who predicted the collapse of Japanese economy in 90’s.
He says it is good thing for both Asia and the US not discussing the Asian policy during the campaign because it should be dealt with cool headed manner without campaign rhetoric. He suggests that although the next president should ditch many of Bush’s policy but the current overall Asian policy should be maintained.
# 21
“after pawikirogi’s banned, I get to move up to worst piece of shit in the Hole.”
Why don’t we all put you there now? It’s done, you’re there!
Obama’s got my vote.
so easy, lawyer.
It seems as though Japan offers some sort of pittance of relief for Pawi whenever it is mentioned along side Korea for criticisms by western expats. For example, if an the western media or society were to criticize Korea for being a very corrupt society where cheating and paying off (chongi) bribes is more respected than hard work, Pawi would blow a gasket. However, as long as Japan is mentioned alongside Korea, even if a westerner were to show how Korea is the worst polluting nation in the world with the highest rate of domestic violence, etc…Pawi wouldn’t a rat’s ass about any of the criticism because for him, the joy of contributing to negative image of Japan is 100 time more important to him than fixing the image of Korea.
Nah, you’re a lawyer, you’ve got immunity…
Obama can say what ever he wants to say about “How open the Japanese market or not”, but he better stay away from beef argument, at least for a while.
It’s sort of odd to hear about Korea is better of an ally for America argument. Because what’s stopping us to do so is basically because of the constitution written by American’s 60 years ago. And Korea ALWAYS against any attempt of updating that.
I also think Japan is less guilty since we ain’t attempting no FTA with the U.S at least in the near future.
But that’s just me.
Oh, for what to do without such sterling companionship. Naval officers at postgrad, what illuminating intellectual resource they would provide. More rednecks in uniform to help batten down the argument for the Yankee encampment on the peninsula.
And can we leave off this talk about banning people? The banning of commentators on this blog has, despite Roberts naive efforts, only encouraged the input of the poorly educated English teachers and US service personnel with limited comprehension of Korea.
And I seriously doubt Brandon Carr would be lead contender to replace Pawi here. His input is often better than Pawi’s, just his politics stink like different shit.
If you are a Korean and haven’t served in the Korean military or your own country’s military just shut up.
You have no business talking about the sacrifices of those who gave their lives, those who served or those serving now.
You most certainly have no right to defend Korea, a country you never sacrificed anything for. For you to even mention 5,000 deaths is a disgrace if you yourself are one of those Korean-Chameleon, draft dodging cowards.
You are cowardly draft dodgers plain and simple. I have more respect for those idiot protesters who served than those I mentioned above.
How many Korean-Americans volunteered to go to Vietnam?
How many allied soldiers gave Korea its freedom twice?
Korea is a pissant country that is now the joke of Asia. It’s barely a middle power. Koreans need to realize this. You can’t play in the big leagues, so don’t expect big league treatment.
I hope Obama wins and gives this country what it deserves.
Obama’s comments mean nothing more than this: it’s campaign season.
Republican candidates in campaigns routinely discover a sudden passion for 1) old time religion, and 2) guns for everyone! Guns! Guns! Guns! With this they rouse their base, who are deluded into thinking that Republican candidate truly cares about old time religion and Guns! For! Everyone! Once in office these two groups of suckers can be safely ignored. Karl Rove understands this in his marrow.
Democratic candidates such as Obama need to make similiar offerings at the altar of The Base. I would call them 1) Hey Union Leaders, Those Goddamn Foreigners Are Taking Our Jobs and I’m Going To Do Something about It!, and 2) Health Care in This Country is a Mess and I have a Vague Idea how to Make It Better. Bill Clinton understood this in his marrow.
Clinton campaigned the first time on vague promises to ‘get tough’ on foreign imports, and once elected not only did nothing particularly tough, but ended up signing NAFTA.
Same with Obama’s talk on the KORAM FTA. A lot of hot air to make sure labor unions make their campaign contributions and do their part to get Dem voters to the polls. Once he’s in, he’ll forget all about it and do whatever the Depts of State and Treasury tell him to do.
I’m not sure that’s the way negotiating better terms for the FTA would go down with kyopos. Most of the ones that I know are more than happy to get better trade terms with Korea as they’re the ones doing a lot of the exporting there. Funny thing is, they’re ruled more by reason than emotion so they know that a strong arm approach may be in their best long-term interest. That being said, I stand by my prediction that at the year and a half mark of Obama’s term we’ll see a return to a free-trade stance. Unfortunately for both the U.S. and Korea, the KORUS FTA will have failed and other more important countries will be providing real trade terms (e.g., tax free zones) thus pre-empting Korea’s ability to have much importance anymore. If there is any traction on reducing troops and financial blood loss to Korea it could really be an interesting time.
In any event, it’s time for me to get back on my pet project-overturning the anchor baby policies in the U.S. Timing is everything, and this is a great opportunity to lobby our representatives on this issue. What a great opportunity to stop pregnant Korean women from coming to the U.S. just to get citizenship for their baby. That free lunch has run its course.
“Often” better than pawikirogi? Talk about damning with faint praise.
#30 - “Must I write like, A….
B,…..
C,…..
to say something?”
No, but if it would make your writing even a little more intelligible, it might be worth trying.
“Kindergarten teachers may love that.”
Don’t know what that is supposed to mean either. Par for the course.
Johnson:”Obama’s comments mean nothing more than this: it’s campaign season.”
I disagree.
From what I’ve observed of US policy toward Korea, it appears to be to damper any hint of anti-Americanism and wait it out. The US may be paying a hefty price for a footprint in Korea, but why do anything to endanger a strategic presence in Northeast Asia.
To my knowledge, even protectionist populist Democratic campaign rhetoric has shied away from South Korea. The Democrats could score the same political points by just disparaging NAFTA, so why rock the boat about Korea, one of the dirty little secrets of geopolitica politics? Obama’s statements may be attributed to naivete or to integrity, but it is not campaign politics as usual.
How political the message is and how far the anti FTA/pro-beef export stance will go is another question, of course, but you’ve got to at least credit Obama for being one of the few who knows anything about the FTA to begin with, and for having the guts to speak out against Korean and Japanese trade policies.
I don’t know why some are knocking Brendon Carr; while his wit can be pretty damn acerbic, he consistently adds some of the most insightful and well-researched comments and posts on this blog. I don’t always agree with him, but I imagine he’s among the top South Korea experts alive. Koreans themselves would do very well to listen to him as he’s not caught up in their groupthink. He’s an old friend of mine so I admit bias, but I can also personally attest to his brilliance, his glee at speaking truth to power and his personal integrity.
I don’t know why some are knocking Brendon Carr
Not me. He’s one of my favorite commenters at TMH (along with the blog’s proprietor, of course).
The only one who’s knocking him with faint praise is a Pawi mini-me with stale jokes about English teachers and GIs.
Ah yes, Pawi… That’s cool then. Every king needs his fool.
‘Every king needs his fool.’
still blogging about korean sex?
“I imagine he’s among the top South Korea experts alive.”
and
“His brilliance, his glee at speaking truth to power and his personal integrity.”
Whatever happened to the don’t ask, don’t tell policy?
Lol! What? OMG that was worth it Pawi, really cracked me up.
I know swlee, it does sound like some brown-nosing or something. He’s an old buddy of mine, and yes, I have seen him naked in the shower. But the soap never dropped, hehe…
Finally, an inbred cornfed imperialist Yankee fighting dog with a sense of humor.
Welcome to the hole.
Johnson, the Democrats do not like the US Constitution as it is.
They want to amend it.
It’s really funny, because most of the self proclaimed Constitution scholars are liberals, and they’re the ones who’re out there to amend it.
‘Finally, an inbred cornfed imperialist Yankee fighting dog with a sense of humor’
Whew.. SWLee pulling out all the stops!
BTW to JohnT–sorry bud but civilians have every right to have and share thoughts on military actions and the soldiers who carry them out. And we better or bad things can happen.
LOL on Korean troops installing toilets. I’ve heard that a lot of ‘em hate it that they’ve been given the pussy jobs in the desert.. so it may be a case of the lions being sidelined by the lambs that run the Korean gov’t. Anyone got insight on this?
How’s that funny? Are you saying we should be stuck with just the main body of the Constitution, sans amendments? Do you have animosity towards the 13th Amendment standing in the way of you owning slaves?
# 41 - probably an accurate analysis.
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