Obama faces left-right opposition on trade, military force

In this Sept. 4, 2012 file photo, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif. speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Reps. Barbara Lee and John Fleming are highly dubious at best about President Barack Obama’s requests for enhanced powers to make trade deals and to deploy the U.S. military. AP

WASHINGTON — Some of the House’s staunchest liberals and most hard-core conservatives are teaming up to oppose President Barack Obama’s requests for enhanced powers to make trade deals and to deploy the military.

This unusual left-right coalition will force Obama and his allies to build centrist majorities in a Congress whose ideological middle has nearly vanished.

Many liberals say trade deals hurt American workers.

And they are wary of authorizing military actions that might lead to protracted wars. Some feel Republican President George W. Bush misled Congress and the nation when he won approval to invade Iraq in 2003.

Republicans generally are pro-trade and pro-military. But some House conservatives say Obama can’t be trusted with enhanced powers because he abused authority on matters such as deferring deportation of immigrants living here illegally.