Did Obama go backchannel to Canadian government officials?
The first report says he did, telling them his NAFTA stand was merely campaign rhetoric. Obama’s campaign team has denied it, as have the Canadians.
So who should we believe?
First, tell me what motive exists for him to have done that. November is a long ways off, so if he really felt a need to reassure Canadian government officials, there’d be plenty of time to do so. Doing so before the Ohio and Pennsylvania primaries - where NAFTA’s a sensitive issue - makes no sense at all.
Second, the Canadian officials who allege he did this are members of the Conservative Party. Do they have a motive to lie? Sure, game the primary process, keep the Dems divided instead of going after McCain.
Third, everyone supposedly involved denies it.
The timing of this is just way too suspicious. We’ve seen Obama make no clumsy amateurish gaffe like this and there’s no understandable motive for him to do so now. Jeopardize the Ohio vote for no rationale?
Sorry, this claim doesn’t pass the smell test.
