Ron Kirk: Protectionist or Free Trader?

The debate begins.

From the WSJ:

By naming Mr. Kirk, Mr. Obama nodded to the free-trade wing of the Democratic Party, which is small but has important ties to business. As Dallas's first African-American mayor, between 1995 and 2001, Mr. Kirk promoted Dallas on trips overseas and extolled the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Dean Baker responds:

While Mr. Kirk has been an advocate of reducing barriers that protect less-educated workers, he has no objections to protectionist barriers that protect the most highly paid workers. It is inaccurate to call him a free trader.