Bush: Choose Democracy

(CBS/AP)  President Bush is urging Latin Americans to reject efforts to reverse democratic progress in the region, to choose representative governments and build constructive ties with other nations.

Mr. Bush's speech in Brasilia, the capital city of Latin America's largest nation, did not mention any leaders by name as heading up an anti-democracy charge. But it was clear his remarks were aimed at Venezuela's leftist leader Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.

"Ensuring social justice for the Americas requires choosing between two competing visions," said Mr. Bush.

One of those choices, he said, "offers a vision of hope. It is founded on representative government, integration into the world community and a faith in the transformative power of freedom in individual lives."

The other, Mr. Bush said, "seeks to roll back the democratic process of the past two decades by playing to fear, pitting neighbor against neighbor and blaming others for their own failures to provide for the people."

Mr. Bush also continued his push for a free-trade zone for the Western Hemisphere, stretching from Alaska to Argentina. The president argues that more trade between the United States, Brazil and other nations in the Western Hemisphere would help create jobs, spread democratic values and lift people out of poverty.

"Our goal is to promote opportunity for people throughout the Americas, whether you live in Minnesota or Brazil. And the best way to do this is by expanding free and fair trade," Mr. Bush said.

He urged Brazil to use its influence to "help make this vision for the Americas a reality."

Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was instrumental in preventing an agreement to restart stalled talks on forming such a trade bloc at a just-ended summit of Latin American leaders.

"He's got to be convinced, just like the people of America must be convinced, that a trade arrangement in our hemisphere is good for jobs, it's good for the quality of life," Mr. Bush said at a joint appearance with Silva after the two leaders met.

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