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Apr 14, 2008 5:38 pm US/Eastern
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Dueling Democratic Campaigns Stump In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Manufacturers say the United States is losing jobs to overseas competition at an alarming rate.
Today manufacturers got a chance to ask the two Democratic presidential candidates what they plan to do about it in an event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Manufacturers say they are very unhappy over the fact that America has lost 3 million manufacturing jobs over the last decade or so, including 40,000 factories have been shut down.
At today's Alliance for American Manufacturing event, thousands got to listen to Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama outline their plans for helping America get its manufacturing sector back on course.
KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano reports both candidates basically both had the same message, accusing the Bush Administration of not doing anything to help American jobs.
"When 20 unions and other groups petitioned about China's currency manipulation, the administration rejected it, just a few hours after it was submitted," said Clinton. "That's barely enough time even to read it. Well, how is this for a new approach? When our unions, or our farmers or service workers report unfair trade practices, we're going to listen. We're going to investigate. And yes, we are going to take action."
"The problem is that for all the tough talk of George W. Bush, he is a patsy when is comes to negotiating these agreements," said Obama. "And what we need to do is to just be better bargainers and say look, here is the bottom line, you guys keep on manipulating your currency. We are going to start shutting off access to some of our markets."
Both Clinton and Obama singled out the country of China.
America has a deficit with a number of countries, including countries in Europe, Mexico and Canada.
But in China, there is a $256 billion deficit, and both Obama and Clinton said they would go right at China if either one of them were elected president.
Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain was invited to speak at today's event but he declined the invitation.
Stay with KDKA for more coverage of today's forum.
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