AAM held a candidate forum in Pittsburgh on Monday that focused on the serious, ongoing consequences of the U.S. trade deficit with China.  Unfortunately, much of the media coverage has been focused on perceived crowd response to Senator Clinton's speech. 

  AAM Executive Director Scott Paul, who directed the event and oversaw audience questions for each candidate, released the following statement today:

“The candidates responded candidly and directly regarding the serious policy issues they will face when one of them becomes the Democratic nominee.  As we move from our event on Monday to tomorrow’s debate in Philadelphia, we hope that the candidates will continue to discuss their positions on issues like China’s cheating on trade laws. “It is unfortunate that media coverage of AAM’s forum has focused on determining whether Sen. Hillary Clinton received “boos” for remarks she made regarding her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama.  AAM hopes that in the future the press will provide voters with intelligent and meaningful coverage of the issues and stop reporting to the lowest common denominator.  “The crowd reacted strongly throughout both candidates’ remarks, voicing agreement or disagreement, cheering and applauding in response to both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.   Many of those in the audience remain genuinely undecided, and were grateful to have the opportunity to hear both candidates address their concerns about China’s unfair trade practices. “Unfortunately, we have not seen coverage of the detailed and diverse policy positions discussed on Monday, including Sen. Clinton’s statement that she intends to designate China as a currency manipulator or Sen. Obama’s that he would use sanctions to insist that China stop its cheating.  These candidates have not previously offered such strong policy prescriptions on trade with China. “Issues like trade are integral to the worries most Americans currently have about the U.S. economy.  And, just as Americans are looking to the candidates to voice their opinion, they are looking to the press to provide a means for that voice to be heard.”