Timothy Roemer: “I rise in favor of normal trade status with the Chinese. Back in 1919, then-President of the United States Woodrow…”

“I rise in favor of normal trade status with the Chinese. Back in 1919, then-President of the United States Woodrow Wilson said this, and I quote, We set this Nation up to make men free and we did not confine our conception and purpose to America. Now I say that for two reasons. One, because in 1920, the United States, after 140 years, extended the right to vote to women; 140 years. We did the right thing. We are still having problems in this Nation at times doing the right thing. Yet Members of Congress parade down here and they want to see China do the right thing in 1 year, in 6 months, in 2 weeks. I think what Woodrow Wilson said in that quote was not only recognizing that we stand up for human rights in this country, but we should insist on it in other countries. And that is what constructive engagement is doing slowly, day by day. And if we go back to when we recognized China, they can now vote for somebody that is not a Communist and not be thrown in jail. There is tangible progress.”