Obama's nudge-and-wink on free trade

According to Canada's CTV, Barack Obama is telling his supporters one story about his position on free trade, and Canadian government officials quite another.

On Wednesday, CTV reported that a senior member of Obama's campaign called the Canadian government within the last month -- saying that when Senator Obama talks about opting out of the free trade deal, the Canadian government shouldn't worry. The operative said it was just campaign rhetoric not to be taken seriously.

The Obama campaign told CTV late Thursday night that no message was passed to the Canadian government that suggests that Obama does not mean what he says about opting out of NAFTA if it is not renegotiated.

However, the Obama camp did not respond to repeated questions from CTV on reports that a conversation on this matter was held between Obama's senior economic adviser -- Austan Goolsbee -- and the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago.

In one sense, that's reassuring -- that Obama doesn't mean the populist economic idiocy he's spewing to American voters. But it's also an interesting peek into the duplicity of the candidate for "hope" and "change." Politicians are ... well ... politicians.

Oh, and don't think Hillary is any different.

The CTV exclusive also reported that sources said the Clinton campaign has made indirect contact with the Canadian government, trying to reassure Ottawa of their support despite Clinton's words. The Clinton camp denied the claim.

Do you think John McCain is secretly telling foreign leaders that he'll really yank our troops from Iraq if he's elected? That would be an interesting surprise too.

See Steve Chapman on populist silliness on free trade.