Social Sciences Talk

AnAmericanCitizen · Guest

"And the most precious commodity I have with the American people is that they trust
me." (John McCain)

I suppose he thinks if he says it enough, people will believe it. John McCain is
politician. Anyone that believes much of what he says is deluding themselves...AAC

McCain to talk free trade in Latin America

Jul 1, 6:23 AM (ET)

By BETH FOUHY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - John McCain has changed his mind about the president's tax cuts
and drilling for oil off the U.S. coast, but the Republican presidential hopeful says
his advocacy of free trade is unyielding.

McCain said he knows he has work to do to convince voters in states losing jobs to
Mexico and other countries, such as Pennsylvania where he campaigned Monday, that
free-trade agreements will benefit them and their families over time.

"I have to convince them the consequences of protectionism and isolationism could be
damaging to their future," the Arizona senator said, pledging to improve programs for
displaced workers and unemployment insurance if elected.

"I understand it's very tough. But for me to give up my advocacy of free trade would
be a betrayal of trust," he said. "And the most precious commodity I have with the
American people is that they trust me."

McCain once opposed President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, but now wants them to
be made permanent. He was a supporter of the federal ban on offshore oil drilling,
but recently said the moratorium should be lifted and states allowed to decide for
themselves whether to begin drilling.

McCain on Tuesday was beginning a three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico, to bookend
a trip earlier this month to Ottawa, where he talked up cross-border cooperation with
Canada on economic issues, especially trade.

He is a strong supporter of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, among the
U.S., Canada and Mexico.

When McCain went to Canada, Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama suggested he
went to promote the agreement rather than stay home and defend his views in places
like Ohio and other states where NAFTA is blamed for shifting millions of
manufacturing jobs to other countries.

Obama is a critic of NAFTA and other free trade deals, and the issue was a flash
point in his primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton. As president, he has
said he would push for enforceable labor and environmental standards in the agreement
and might threaten to withdraw completely.

McCain insisted the trip to Latin America was not intended to be political and said
he would not criticize Obama directly while abroad. He made a similar pledge when he
visited Canada but took a swipe at the Democrat nonetheless, suggesting without using
Obama's name that the Illinois senator's opposition to NAFTA was "nothing more than
retreating behind protectionist walls."

McCain was to arrive in Cartagena, Colombia, on Tuesday and meet with President
Alvaro Uribe and several cabinet ministers. McCain also is a strong supporter of a
proposed free-trade agreement with Colombia that is stalled in Congress. The House
blocked a vote over issues that include violence against labor activists in the
country.

McCain said Uribe had rescued Colombia from becoming a "failed state" and only
indirectly criticized the government's human rights record. While he said he anyone
perpetuating human rights abuses in the country should be arrested and tried, he
insisted the country's struggle with the issue was no justification for blocking the
proposed agreement.

In Mexico City, he planned to address illegal immigration - an emotional issue both
for Hispanic voters and many conservatives.

McCain co-sponsored Senate legislation that would have allowed illegal immigrants to
stay in the U.S., work and apply to become legal residents after learning English,
paying fines and back taxes, and clearing a background check. The measure failed last
year and McCain since has talked primarily about the importance of boosting border
security, and less so about a pathway to citizenship for those in the country
illegally.

In a speech last Saturday to elected Latino officials, McCain pledged that the issue
will be "my top priority yesterday, today and tomorrow."

Besides immigration, McCain said he would congratulate the leaders both Mexico and
Canada for their efforts to wipe out drug cartels, but that he also would press them
to step up their efforts.

"I think it's important our friends and neighbors understand our commitment to them.
What happens in Colombia and Mexico is very important to the future of America," he
said.

Jerry Okamura · Guest

"AnAmericanCitizen" <NoAmnesty@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:qm3l64t13thol6sq7vc3l8n0eh5n9s68ce@4ax.com...

Robert not Roberto · Guest

"Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:gPwak.11557$F97.3893@newsfe18.lga...

AnAmericanCitizen · Guest

On Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:53:31 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: