President Obama continues his mealy mouth, corporatist, panel moderating non-leadership ways.

It's no longer disappointing, but appalling.

Roger Bybee at Working In These Times writes: "Given the barely-breathing condition of the economy and all of Obama's fierce campaign trail rhetoric about the devastation to workers and communities caused by "free trade" deals, working people have the right to expect that Obama would be denouncing the continuing flight of U.S. jobs overseas.

"But Obama is unfortunately staying low-key on this issue even though it's a real opportunity to draw a line showing fundamental distinctions between Democrats and Republicans. In fact, it looks like he's not pushing a "keep jobs in America" message precisely because it would clarify the distinction in the eyes of Corporate America.

"Obama is apparently not much more eager than Republicans to discuss his position on the off-shoring of jobs. During his term, he has given plenty of signs that he has backed away from his fierce campaign-season opposition to NAFTA-style "free trade" deals and is quietly moving toward three new "free trade" agreements........

"Earlier this month, Public Citizen unveiled a study refuting the conventional wisdom among corporate, political and media elites that "free trade" deals increase exports. The organization provided a calculation of the devastation that the free trade agreements caused in the U.S.: 4.9 million jobs lost, and 43,000 factories closed.

"Yet President Obama is still tinkering with the idea of promoting three trade agreements left-over from the George W. Bush administration—with Colombia, Peru and South Korea."