Obama waves white flag on Supreme Court nomination, Asian trade deal

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times 

The White House conceded Tuesday that President Obama has lost two of his most important battles, surrendering on a massive free-trade deal and the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland.

Responding to President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership on his first day in office, White House press secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the chances of the pact being approved by Congress “are not very good.” He called it “a significant missed opportunity for the American people.”

“That’s going to put U.S. businesses and U.S. workers at a disadvantage,” Mr. Earnest said of the deal’s demise.

The president pushed the 12-nation agreement as the biggest economic proposal of his second term.

Mr. Earnest also said it’s likely that Mr. Trump’s “deeply disappointing” action will benefit China.

“Right now, even as we speak, China is seeking to advance their own trade agreement with countries in this region,” he said...more