• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Pandering?

Econ101

Well-known member
I don't know lot about NE Senators, but does this look like election year pandering? It seems the U.S. could solve this problem on its own if the USDA was working for the industry instead of certain packers.

Is Nelson in a beltway bubble on this issue?

Maybe others know a little more about Nelson's stance on the issue.

We have to be able to sort out the statesmen from the politicians. Sometimes it is hard.

Nelson Sets June 1 Deadline For Japanese To Life Beef Embargo



Nebraska State Paper

May 02, 2006



The United States should take action against Japan if that country doesn’t open up to imports of American beef by June 1, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson said Tuesday.



Japan has banned American beef because, it says, the U.S. hasn’t been careful enough in meeting Japanese standards for guarding against Mad Cow disease.



Nelson told reporters he would urge Senate colleagues to retaliate if the Japanese didn’t respond. Last year, Nelson proposed barring the import of Japan’s Kobe beef.



The Nebraska Democrat has often argued that Japan’s government has consistently dragged its feet on resolving the issues about American beef, and that the situation has caused U.S. producers billions of dollars.



The most recent Japanese embargo began in January. It resulted from a shipment of beef that contained spinal bones – something the Department of Agriculture agreed would not happen.



The initial embargo, which began some two years earlier, was also related on fears of Mad Cow after a single infected bovine was found in the United States. It had entered the country through Canada.



Nelson commented during a weekly teleconference call from his Washington office.





nebraska.statepaper.com
 

theHiredMansWife

Well-known member
I'm not sure what you're getting at...


He's been vocally outspoken against the Japanese embargo since they put it in place. This is pretty much in line for what I'd expect from him.
confused-smiley-013.gif

He's also long been pro-ag (he was one of the rumored replacements for Venemen, remember?) and is a fairly conservative Democrat.

So far as statesman vs. politician... Eh. Beats me.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I think that's just Ben trying to do his job. He's a moderate Democrat - votes "Republican" half the time. He drives the Democrat leadership crazy because they can never count on him to toe the line.

Kind of a wierd deal - Nelson has a higher approval rating among Republicans in Nebraska than our Republican Senator, Chuck Hagel and Chuck has a higher rating from Democrats than Ben does. As an Independant that detests the power of the parties, I kind of like that.
 
Top