Clinton's pointed criticism of organized labor represents a new tack in the President's uphill campaign on behalf of NAFTA, which would remove trade barriers between the United States, Mexico and Canada over the next 15 years.
In focusing on the unions, whose political strength in presidential races has been declining along with their membership, Clinton is turning on a constituency that was among the most important in his successful political alliance a year ago.
But with only 10 days left until the House votes on legislation that would implement NAFTA, supporters are "30 votes short of having explicit, express commitments" from the 218 members needed to win, Clinton conceded.
With Republicans generally favoring the pact but lacking sufficient numbers to put it over the top, the White House is turning its attention to members of the President's own party, who have been more reluctant to support the deal.
Clinton attributed NAFTA's problems primarily to "the vociferous, organized opposition of most of the unions telling these (House) members in private they'll never give them any money again, they'll get them opponents in the primary, you know, the real roughshod muscle-bound tactics."
The President's criticism of the labor unions, which have mounted an aggressive campaign to defeat NAFTA, was so pointed that he later remarked that counselor David Gergen had expressed fears off-camera that Clinton was courting negative news headlines.
"Those guys are my friends," Clinton said, apparently trying to patch things up with the unions even before the interview program ended. "I just don't agree with them on NAFTA."
Thomas Donahue, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, called Clinton's remarks Sunday a "cheap shot" and part of a "desperate effort to capture votes and win passage" of NAFTA.
The President also criticized the business community for failing to rally employees and "rank-and-file people" to express their support of NAFTA.
Supporters argue that by increasing commerce among the three nations, the agreement would promote jobs in the United States as manufacturers and service firms increase their business dealings with Mexico.
Critics, including such major unions as the auto workers, Teamsters, machinists and garment workers, fear that U.S. laborers will suffer through loss of jobs or lower wages as they are forced to compete with Mexican workers.
Clinton held out the possibility, under questioning, that he would pull the United States out of the agreement if it was creating a net loss of U.S. jobs, dragging down wages or creating undue hardship in one sector of the economy.
"If I thought the treaty were bad for the American economy, of course I would do that," he said. "We can get out in six months if it's bad for us, and we can stop anything horrible and unforeseen."
He said that approval of NAFTA would put "enormous pressure" on competitors in Asia and Europe to conclude global trade talks that proponents say offer the greatest opportunity to stimulating the world economy. Similarly, he said, his hand will be weakened if the House rejects NAFTA in a vote set for Nov. 17, just before his meeting with Asian leaders in Seattle.
Clinton has said repeatedly that rejection of the trade agreement would send a signal around the world that the United States is no longer interested in opening its borders to increased commerce. That, in turn, would invite Japan to strike up a partnership with Mexico that would otherwise be available to the United States, he contends.
Clinton, who last week challenged NAFTA opponent Ross Perot to debate Vice President Al Gore in a prime-time confrontation scheduled for Tuesday, has attempted to provide high-level political cover for House members who vote for NAFTA.
Asked whether he is concerned that his decision to send Gore into a debate with Perot would "re-create a monster" by calling attention to the Texas billionaire and his anti-NAFTA crusade, Clinton said: "Ross Perot's got enough money to elevate himself. He can buy his way on national television and buy his own exposure and have very little accountability."
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