MILWAUKEE – Today, the Feingold Campaign released a new television ad, entitled “Creative Destruction.” The ad compares Senator Feingold’s strong, record of opposing unfair trade deals that have shipped Wisconsin jobs to other countries with Ron Johnson’s stated support for unfair trade deals and his belief that job loss is “creative destruction.”
Senator Feingold has consistently opposed trade agreements supported by both parties, and by both President Clinton and President Bush. Feingold stood up to both parties in Washington and voted against NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT, Fast Track Authority, and Most Favored Nation trading status for China, which have all contributed to job loss in Wisconsin.
“Creative Destruction” features two Wisconsin businesses, the Evenflo Company and Mirro Corporation, both of which closed their doors and shipped Wisconsin jobs to other countries. In January 2003, Evenflo announced it would close its doors in Suring and ship 200 Wisconsin jobs to Mexico. Wisconsin jobs lost to unfair trade deals at Mirro, in Manitowoc, are also highlighted in “Creative Destruction.” In 2003, Mirro announced that it was closing its cookware plants, after 118 years. The manufacturing operation moved to other locations, including plants overseas, causing the loss of 882 Wisconsin jobs. [Associated Press, 2/13/2003; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/6/2003]
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson has said that the unfair trade deals supported by both parties in Washington have been “successful” for Wisconsin’s economy: “But the fact of the matter is NAFTA and CAFTA have actually been successful for our economy.” [Joy Cardin Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, 7/26/10]
According to Department of Labor figures, unfair trade deals have led directly to at least 64,000 Wisconsin workers losing their jobs. According to a 2007 Economic Policy Institute report, unfair trade deals led to a trade deficit that contributed to Wisconsin losing 141,100 jobs. Nationally, 5.6 million jobs were lost or displaced by the trade deficit. The Economic Policy Institute also reported that 59,100 Wisconsin jobs were lost due to trade with China between 2001 and 2007 alone.
The “Creative Destruction” ad highlights Johnson’s own words on the unfair trade deals when he was asked about them on July 26 at a WisPolitics.com luncheon held at the Madison Club.
When Johnson was specifically asked by the media if he supported NAFTA, Most Favored Nation trading status for China and the Korean trade deal currently before the U.S. Senate, Johnson stated his support, “I’m definitely supportive.” [WisPolitics Luncheon, 7/26/2010]
In a follow-up question from the media, Johnson has even called the trade deals that have led to job loss in Wisconsin “creative destruction.”
WisPolitics Moderator: “You’re supportive of these free trade agreements? Because some manufacturers here, they blame those free trade agreements somewhat for hurting their business. I don’t know which companies but I’ve heard that from executives in Wisconsin because the manufacturing job loss has been so great here in this state.”
Ron Johnson: “Well in a free market capitalist system there are always winners and losers. It’s creative destruction. That just happens. It’s unfortunate. But let’s face it, if it weren’t for that we’d still have buggy whip companies.” [WisPolitics Luncheon, 7/26/2010]
Feingold supports fair trade with other countries and has introduced the Minimum Trade Standards Resolution to help fix failed trade policies by setting forth principles that future trade agreements must meet. He has also introduced legislation to allow the United States to renegotiate current trade agreements. And he is an original cosponsor of the TRADE Act – legislation that would allow the United States to review and renegotiate trade agreements, as well as set forth the principles on which future trade agreements should be negotiated.
“Creative Destruction” Television Ad Script:
Ron Johnson: “In a free market capitalist system, there’s always winners and losers. It’s creative destruction.”
Senator Feingold: “This is what my opponent calls creative destruction. In 2003, the Evenflo Company closed its doors and moved all its jobs to Mexico. Unfair trade agreements like NAFTA were directly responsible for these lost jobs. But Ron Johnson favors those deals.”
Ron Johnson: “NAFTA and CAFTA have actually been successful for our economy.”
Senator Feingold: “I’m Russ Feingold and I approved this message because you deserve a senator who will fight to create and protect Wisconsin jobs”
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Senator Russ Feingold’s campaign website.
