June 18, 2008 5:28PM 

# He’s a Politician after All 

By [Juan Carlos Hidalgo](https://www.cato.org/people/juan-carlos-hidalgo) 

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This might be a shocker to many, but Barack Obama has admitted that he’s a politician after all. After calling NAFTA “a big mistake” and “devastating” just 2 months ago, the presumptive Democratic nominee now thinks that the trade agreement [is not that bad](http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/18/magazines/fortune/easton_obama.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008061810).

He justifies this U‑turn saying that “Politicians are always guilty of \[overheated and amplified rhetoric\], and I don’t exempt myself.” This is coming from someone who, on the campaign trail, has attacked those who would say anything to get elected.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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