From The Road
July 2, 2008 9:12 AM

Obama Camp Hits McCain on Colombia Trip

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(CHICAGO) John McCain hasn't been in Colombia for 24 hours yet, but the Obama campaign is already taking jabs at his visit. At issue is the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which McCain supports and Barack Obama opposes. McCain has called Obama's opposition to the agreement protectionist and believes that it could boast the U.S. economy.

This morning, the Obama campaign argued that McCain's trip highlights his support for Bush's economic polices. In an email to reporters, spokesman Tommy Vietor wrote, "Senator McCain's trip to Mexico and Colombia just underscores his insistence on continuing George Bush's failed economic policies that have left nearly 2.5 million more workers unemployed—including unfair trade deals that have been written by lobbyists."

Vietor also noted a New York Times report which says that McCain advisor, Charlie Black, earned $1.8 million for lobbying on behalf of the leading oil and gas exporter in Colombia. "This is more of the Washington politics that has left American working families struggling to compete in a global economy by putting the lobbyists and special interests first," Vietor said.

Obama heads to Colorado Springs today where he will give a speech on national service. His planned trip to Europe and the Middle East is slated for later this month.

Add a Comment
by seantubbs July 2, 2008 8:38 PM EDT
Yeah, jack3213, McCain does know what he stands for. Pandering to the super-rich and the corporations while watching our country fall off a cliff. Also, if you actually watch any of Wright''s sermons, you would notice that he doesn''t actually hate the USA, he hates certain policies and decisions, and rightfully so, I might add.
Reply to this comment
by christinawes July 2, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
John McCain''s trade policies with Colombia are already working - as he noted in television interviews this morning, the price of Colombian cocaine is up, a sure sign of a strengthening trade-based economic relationship with this important swing state. Go McCain!

http://www.womenforjohnmccain.com/
Reply to this comment
by derrick3999 July 2, 2008 5:50 PM EDT
No one actually addresses what this agreement encompasses. It reduces or eliminates taxes on American exports, this helps American companies specially small and mid-sized companies. What''s Obama''s economic plan, he''s against free trade, against lowering the corporate tax rate. I guess he thinks we can just borrow more money from the Japanese and Chinese to pay for his programs without addressing any of these economic issues. The coverage of this presidential run is incredibly bias by the way
Reply to this comment
by caliguy55 July 2, 2008 5:33 PM EDT
These are John McCain''s own words spoken on msnbc.com:

%u201CI didn%u2019t really love America until I was deprived of her company.%u201D

See the video for yourself at:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/

Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.
Reply to this comment
by rowdywicca July 2, 2008 4:38 PM EDT
Obama only supports or doesn''t support ANYTHING! It''s called being an empty suit!

Just elect ME! Don''t look at my record, my actions, my whack job associations...DON''T DARE QUESTION ME! Just elect ME and I''ll CHANGE SOMETHING! I don''t know what yet, but I''ll find SOMETHING to CHANGE!
Reply to this comment
by jack3213 July 2, 2008 4:22 PM EDT
When someone understands what side of the coin Obama is on- for any issue -can you tell him, yourself I''m too busy actually supporting someone who does know what he stands for. McCain.

ps RGR- U R pretty deft.


Reply to this comment
by rgrxx175 July 2, 2008 4:06 PM EDT
mccain wants free trade with the Colombian drug lords, im voting for this guy...
Reply to this comment
by jack3213 July 2, 2008 3:11 PM EDT
If McCain had spent one day in a Church where the sermon was hatred of the USA, he would not be a candidate.

Obama spends 20 YEARS in such a church and people don''t care or want to forget.

What a bunch of zero-heads.



Reply to this comment
.

Follow From The Road

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...