<p>The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a controversial trade deal both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have repeatedly slammed throughout their presidential campaigns. But what about Hillary Clinton, who was influential in pushing the deal just a few years ago as Secretary of State? ;</p>
<p>The Trans-Pacific Partnership, which connects 12 Pacific Rim nations, was signed in ;February 2016 after 7 years of negotiations; it has since become one of President Obama&rsquo;s top priorities during his &ldquo;lame duck&#8221; phase.</p>
<p>The biggest criticism of the trade deal is that it will increase economic inequality (the deal&#8217;s 12 nations already represent 40% of the world economy). Opponents are also concerned with human rights, environmental effects, and sovereignty issues.</p>
<p>Donald Trump views the TPP as a &ldquo;disaster,&#8221; arguing that it was &ldquo;pushed by special interests who want to rape our country.&#8221;</p>
<p>The situation is a little tricky for Clinton, who seems to have changed her mind about the deal she worked so hard to push. During a CNN Democratic debate last year, Hillary said that she had acquired &ldquo;new information&rdquo; which led her to oppose the trade deal. ;&ldquo;I want to make sure that I can look into the eyes of any middle-class American and say, &lsquo;this will help raise your wages.&rsquo; And I concluded I could not,&rdquo; stated Hillary. ;</p>
<p>She reiterated that opinion this Thursday during a speech in Warren, Michigan: ;&ldquo;I oppose it now, I&rsquo;ll oppose it after the election, and I&rsquo;ll oppose it as Presdient.&#8221; ;Is this an honest change of heart (does she even have a heart?) or is Hillary just trying to win over on-the-fence liberals and steal some of her adversary&#8217;s anti-trade thunder? ;</p>
<p>During her speech, Hillary ;also called for:</p>
<p>&bull; Higher taxes to fund infrastructure</p>
<p>&bull; More restrictions to rein in Wall Street</p>
<p>&bull; Phase II of Obamacare</p>
<p>&bull; More government responsibility in managing the economy ;</p>
<p>&bull; An increase in jobs for blue-collar workers ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;There is too much inequality, too little upward mobility. It is just too hard to get ahead today,&rdquo; she said, sounding much like former rival Bernie Sanders. &ldquo;But there are common-sense things that your government could do that would give Americans more opportunities to succeed.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>While I view Clinton&rsquo;s decision to oppose the trade deal as a good thing, her ability to completely flip flop on important issues is suspicious. What are her promises worth now, if she&rsquo;s just going to change her mind in a year or two? ;On top of that, Hillary and her husband have a pro-trade history, and it wouldn&rsquo;t surprise me in the least if she were lying to us now. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;She [Hillary] supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership &ndash; not now but very soon if she wins and we can&rsquo;t let her win,&rdquo; said Trump earlier this week. ;</p>