The Hindu Business Line : `Democrat Kerry not against outsourcing'

THE soon-to-be official nominee of the Democratic Party Senator, Mr John Kerry, is an internationalist who has voted for free trade agreements, for free trade with China; and on the issue of outsourcing only stressing that the US should have a policy of giving tax incentives to American companies that do research and development, says the Permanent Chair of the Democratic National Convention, Governor Mr Bill Richardson.

At the Washington Foreign Press Centre this correspondent asked Mr Richardson, a key leader of the party, that if the Democrats were really more sensitive to Asia, Africa and Latin America why then the strident note on such issues as trade and outsourcing bordering on protectionism; and more specifically where Senator Kerry was on the subject of outsourcing.

"Senator Kerry voted for the free trade agreement, voted for free trade with China. He is an internationalist. I think what Senator Kerry is saying on outsourcing is that it's important that America have a policy where we give tax incentives for our companies that do research and development," Mr Richardson maintained.

"We recognise that outsource (outsourcing) is a reality but at the same time we want to keep our jobs and industries more at home here too," the Governor of New Mexico said going on to make the point again that Mr Kerry is an internationalist and that India should welcome him as an American President.

Subsequently, Mr Richardson was asked by another Indian journalist that sometime ago Mr Kerry had used the expression "Benedict Arnold CEO's" suggesting that those involved in outsourcing may actually be traitors; and in this context whether the Massachussetts politician believed in globalisation.

" ...look at his voting record on trade, on international issues, respect for the United Nations. He supported international trade treaties, free trade agreements. His reference there was...to some of the CEOs of Enron and others that I believe were...misusing stocks and other funds. That was his reference," Mr Richardson said.

But the context of Mr Kerry using "Benedict Arnold CEOs" was seen at the time as a reference not to any misuse of stocks and funds of some of the CEOs of the failed energy giant Enron, but to the problem of outsourcing.

After the victory in the Wisconsin primaries this February, Mr Kerry had this to say on outsourcing: "We will repeal the tax loopholes and benefits that reward Benedict Arnold CEOs and companies for shipping American jobs overseas. Instead we will provide new incentives for good companies that create and keep good jobs here in America."

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