WikiLeaks: Hillary Clinton Discussed Pro-TPP Talking Points For ‘Sophisticated’ Audiences

Hillary Clinton seemed to be looking for ways to continue supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal if her campaign could make the right argument, according to emails released by WikiLeaks.

In June 2015, Hillary Clinton emailed a Washington Post op-ed published by former treasury secretary (under Bill Clinton) Larry Summers that focused on rescuing the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.

“Damning w faint praise but good arguments,” she wrote to her top campaign staff including John Podesta.

Podesta replied that Summers was essentially ignoring economic equity, environment, and middle-class worker protection by treating them as “throw away” issues.

“I don’t think people will rally for IMF restructuring,” he noted pessimistically.

“Agree,” Clinton replied. “But for more sophisticated audiences or interviews, his points are useful add-ons.”

As Breitbart News previously reported, the WikiLeaks emails show that Clinton’s evolution on TPP was politically motivated, as top members of her staff worked tirelessly to explain why she had to oppose the deal.

When it was clear that the campaign would finally move to oppose the deal, the campaign’s Labor Outreach Director Nikki Budzinski emailed to signal her delight.

“I’m very glad HRC has gotten to the oppose position, this will be very helpful with mobilization on the ground and support within labor during and after this primary,” she wrote.

But Budzinski warned that it might be better for Clinton to wait until the full text of the deal was released, so it didn’t look like she was merely positioning herself politically.

It was clear, however, that the campaign could not wait any longer.

“We can’t survive hemming and hawing for 3 weeks,” Podesta wrote on Tuesday, October 6.

On October 7, Clinton announced her decision to oppose TPP after labor leaders signaled that it was a decisive condition for their endorsement.

“America’s working people are very pleased that Senator Clinton is opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” said Trumka in a statement after Clinton’s announcement. “Her decision is a critical turning point, and will be invaluable in our effort to defeat TPP.”