Rep. Polis Runs Away from Activists Bearing Chocolate Birthday Cake

Members of Food & Water Watch, coalition partners with CWA in the campaign to stop Fast Track for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, attended a birthday celebration gala and fundraiser Tuesday night for Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO 2nd District) in Fort Collins, CO.

Although uninvited, the activists thoughtfully came bearing a union-made chocolate cake: "Rep. Polis: Don't Fast Track the TPP," the red icing on the chocolate cake said.

Polis has been turning himself into a pretzel trying to have his cake and eat it too on Fast Track for the TPP. For instance, he organized a town hall meeting last month stacked with four supporters of TPP and one opponent, CWA Economist Ken Peres, who had the crowd behind him.

On Tuesday, the activists procured the cake from King Soopers, whose workers are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers. But Polis, on seeing the activists coming down the driveway, ran away from them and refused to accept the cake. Neither would his staff. So the activists spoke instead to donors and celebrants and they gladly accepted the cake and took it with them into the party.

"I hope he ate it and internalized the message," said Sam Schabacker, FWW's Western Region Director.

The activists made sure to spread the message to Polis' celebrants and donors and many of them were shocked Polis would even consider voting to authorize Fast Track for TPP.