Back in December 2003, when Melissa Bean would do anything to get labor support (or, anyone’s support for that matter), she filled out a questionnaire for the Illinois State AFL-CIO. Every candidate has to fill out one of these documents before being considered worthy of endorsement, particularly, in her case because she was a first-time candidate for the Congressional seat. I’ve been given a copy of that document and it does raise the question: did Bean lie when she answered the questions about trade?

There are three questions on Globalization/Trade.

Question Number 1: “Will you support or oppose efforts to ensure that global trade and international economic development promote workers’ rights, good jobs and workers’ well being?” Melissa’s answer: support.

Question Number 2: do you support or oppose the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), based on the NAFTA model that has created import surges that cost jobs and does not require enforcement of internationally recognized workers’ rights? Melissa’s answer: Oppose.

Question Number 3: Would you support or oppose any further rounds of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements that do not make substantial progress on incorporating internationally recognized workers’ rights or fully protect U.S. trade remedy laws? Melissa weighs in again: Oppose.

So, she gave three “correct” answers in so far as labor is concerned.

How, then, to understand her vote in favor of CAFTA? She might try to make the weasel argument: well, you didn’t ask about CAFTA. But, that is truly nonsense because CAFTA is a NAFTA-type model per question #2 and it certainly does not, per question #1, promote “good jobs and workers’ well being,” either here or in Central America or the Dominican Republic.

So, there are only two conclusions: she lied or she flipped and broke her promise. It’s obviously hard to prove she lied, unless someone can come forward to prove that she had completely different positions prior to signing the questionnaire in December 2003.

But, her vote shows she broke a promise she made in writing, which included the pledge, “I certify that the answers provided in this questionnaire accurately reflect my positions on the issues and, if elected, I pledge to uphold these views.” [I added the emphasis]

Primary opponent, please?

By the way, if anyone else out there has questionnaires or other evidence of broken promises by the CAFTA 15, send it along.