Everyone knows President Obama is seeking to pass the TPP in the "lame duck" session of Congress following the general election. Now major progressive organizations from environmental groups to labor unions (specifically, Communications Workers of America, CREDO, Democracy for America, 350 Action, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, Friends of the Earth Action, Public Citizen) have sent Clinton a letter demanding she come out and publicly oppose Obama's efforts to pass the TPP before the next President (in all likelihood Clinton) assume office.

Dear Sec. Clinton: Help us Stop the TPP

As organizations active in the fight to protect American jobs, our environment, our labor rights, and our democracy from corporate control, we urge you to make a clear, public, and unequivocal statement opposing any vote on the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the post-election, “lame-duck” session of Congress.

We welcome your past remarks opposing the TPP. In particular, we were greatly encouraged by your words in a recent major economic address, declaring, “I oppose it now, I’ll oppose it after the election, and I’ll oppose it as president.” [...]

[T]he president has made it clear he intends to pursue a vote on the TPP during the lame-duck session. The White House recently submitted a Statement of Administrative Action that begins the countdown to a vote on the TPP in November or December. Administration officials, including cabinet secretaries, are currently fanning out across the country to pressure members of Congress to vote for the TPP after the election is over. Republican leaders have signaled they are open to negotiations that would lead to a TPP vote in the lame-duck session.

At the same time, the American public and their elected representatives in both parties are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the TPP puts corporations ahead of human needs on jobs and wages, human rights, access to medicine, climate change and more. In the face of such opposition, allowing a lame-duck vote would be a tacit admission that corporate interests matter more than the will of the people, relying on members of Congress who will be less accountable to voters. Regardless of the outcome, a vote itself would send an unmistakable signal that the game is rigged in favor of elites and against everyday Americans.

... We urge you to immediately make a clear and strong public statement against holding a vote on the TPP during the “lame duck” session of the 114th Congress.

As we all know, Hillary Clinton made a dramatic reversal last October when she suddenly announced she’d had a change of heart and now openly opposed the TPP, in large part thanks to the Sanders' campaign.

The Trans Pacific Partnership, which includes the US and 11 other nations, is the largest regional trade agreement in history. But as of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it. I don't believe it's going to meet the high bar I have set for creating jobs and advancing national security. I am also worried about currency manipulation not being part of the agreement, and that pharmaceutical companies may have gotten more benefits from the deal than their patients.

Source: PBS.org on 2015 presidential hopefuls , Oct 7, 2015

At present, no one can predict whether Obama will succeed in passing the TPP before Hillary can take office, but if he does that still doesn't get Clinton off the hook. Why? Because the TPP has an opt out provision, Article 30.6:

Article 30.6: Withdrawal

1. Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement by providing written notice of withdrawal to the Depositary. A withdrawing Party shall simultaneously notify the other Parties of its withdrawal through the overall contact points designated under Article 27.5 (Contact Points).

2. A withdrawal shall take effect six months after a Party provides written notice to the Depositary under paragraph 1, unless the Parties agree on a different period. If a Party withdraws, this Agreement shall remain in force for the remaining Parties.

NAFTA has a similar provision, and back in 2008, in a debate moderated by Tim Russert, she specifically said that as President that she would opt out of NAFTA if necessary to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate "core labor and environmental standards" in need be:

MR. RUSSERT: But let me button this up. Absent the change that you’re suggesting, you are willing to opt out of NAFTA in six months?

SEN. CLINTON: I’m confident that as president, when I say we will opt out unless we renegotiate, we will be able to renegotiate.

Article 30.6 of the TPP is nearly identical to the NAFTA opt out provisions. Clinton is on record as saying the President has the unilateral authority under trade agreements with such opt out provisions to notify the other signatories that the US is withdrawing from them. Thus, she has already effectively acknowledged that she can opt out of the TPP, even if Obama gets it passed before she becomes President. You can find Clinton's statements "opposing the TPP" at this link.

Now is the time to demand that Hillary take the Pledge to Opt Out of the TPP should it pass in the lame duck session of Congress. After all, it doesn't meet "the high bar" she "set for creating jobs and advancing national security." On August 11th, she flatly stated that:

“I will stop any trade deal that kills jobs or holds down wages, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I oppose it now, I’ll oppose it after the election, and I’ll oppose it as president.”

Well, Hillary, if you are being honest, the best way you can oppose the TPP now, and after the election is over, is to pledge to the American People, that even if Obama passes the TPP during the lame duck session of Congress, you will use your authority as President to withdraw the United States from a trade agreement that you yourself have said is a bad deal for American workers - the TPP.

Here's my latest video from Steven D Talks which calls for all of us to take action demanding Hillary take the Pledge to Opt out of the TPP if Obama passes it in the Lame Duck session of Congress:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ7FYRmV3Ro&feature=youtu.be]

Take care everyone,

Steven D