McCain To Tout Free Trade In Latin America

Republican Candidate Will Visit Colombia And Mexico This Week

(AP)  John McCain concedes he still has work to do to persuade voters in America's Rust Belt, where the presidential election could be decided, that his support for free trade will benefit them, not just cost more jobs.

Winding up a campaign swing through Pennsylvania, which has been hard hit by the loss of manufacturing jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting pledged to improve programs for displaced workers and unemployment insurance if elected, but acknowledged that wouldn't be enough.

"I have to convince them the consequences of protectionism and isolationism could be damaging to their future," the Arizona senator said.

"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."

On Tuesday, McCain 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.

[bubbabear200]

McCain and the Republicans still dont get it. We are in this *** because of Free Trade in the first place.
Just maybe McCain should be out looking for a job in January.

[kissamaarse]

Why would McCain bother to talk about "free" trade? He won''t have any say in the matter, especially given that he even stopped voting in the Senate on April 8th, and has missed over 320 votes for the America he so loves.

[incog-nito]

I really hope he more thoroughly explains himself (maybe taxing American born companies that go overseas or something), because this really makes me question him even more than I already am.

Posted by spadeisspade at 12:11 AM : Jul 02, 2008

That "tax" you referred to is called a tariff, something that went away with globalization.

[sistatee-2009]

Is it too late to take McSwine back to the POW camp?

[l8c6]

We need Fair Trade NOT "Free Trade".

Posted by noloyalisti

It''s free trade and free market when the going is good for the global corporate capitalist oligarchs. Restrictions that are in the best interests of the majority of humans is what they call socialism. Should something not work in their interests it''s "defending the interests of america" Global right wing capitalists are parasites on humanity calling themselves american when it''s convenient, calling themselves christian when it''s convenient. They are mortal and will die. It is in their inner best interest to not believe in justice because the ultimate justice will not be friendly to them.

[l8c6]

Ha, Mr. protect our borders? What a steaming crock of sh*it. No, these hoe politicos are about defending the interests of global capitalist pimps who profit like big fat daddy cotton plantation pigs of days gone by. Swinging on the porch, keeping the whipping boys just happy enough to beat the slaves into submission so fat daddy can bring growth to his private estate.

The american revolution was about uniting a people under one constitution empowering the people to defend against kings, dictators and oligarchs. Politico hoes who have lost sight of this and support global capitalists who gladly deal with dictators unless those dictators don''t tow their line are what is stomping on the aspirations of the american revolution. These politico hoes can wear all the red, white and blue they want and call themselves true blue americans but when they deal with 3rd world dictators who tow their business line at the expense of american citizens that renders them nothing less than big fat hoes who will spread their legs for any golden d*ick. Cheney and his great "american" corporation has moved to Dubai. These are global capitalist, they do not give one rip about american citizens. American citizens have been dumped by these traitors. What else could one expect from these pigs considering how they have treated their wives. Oh, they went after Bill Clinton but these right wings azzholes dump their wives when they have cancer or aren''t pretty enough. It''s their character.

[spadeisspade]

"Betrayal of trust"? Whose trust? Big business? It really seems like that, which SUCKS; I have put my trust in McCain to reach across party lines to get *** done, not to ensure that yet another business will find it more profitable to operate overseas and then ship their goods back for free. I really hope he more thoroughly explains himself (maybe taxing American born companies that go overseas or something), because this really makes me question him even more than I already am.

[cyberus-2009]

If anyone has any question about where McCains loyalties lie this should make it clear .. business first citizens second

[incog-nito]

America, get ready to have more jobs shipped to Latin American in addition to Asia and India.

[randynason]

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

I guess that''s why McCain keeps visiting the retirement homes, to build up his "base." -heh-
I haven''t met one single person who thinks trust is a special talent that McCain actually projects. He wishes...

[noloyalisti]

Haven''t these right wing wackos and other corporatists given up on this lie yet. It is free trade for the rich corporations to exploit, while the workers suffer. We need Fair Trade NOT "Free Trade".

[floydzepp2]

McCain To Tout Sending Even More Jobs Outside Of America
------------

Vote RINOpublican. Vote Failure. Vote Death To America!

[kansas1946]

Yes, this free trade goes over like a lead balloon in the northern states. Keep it up John. Obama couldn''t ask for better advertising than you running around in PA and MI promoting free-trade. Nothing is "free."

[formrusmcsgt]

John McCain concedes he still has work to do to persuade voters in America''s Rust Belt, where the presidential election could be decided, that his support for free trade will benefit them, not just cost more jobs.
____

Why isn''t he promoting "fair" trade instead of "free" trade?

[Stratmaster7]

We need a balanced budget and declining deficit. This will mean less exposure when negotiating free trade agreements. It is hard to tell your pusher (foreign lenders) you want better trade agreements when they can pull the plug on your fix (dollars from those foreign lenders)

[zerato-2009]

In three years Reagon .....................
EVERY American benefitted.

Oscarez, I seriously doubt you''''ve had a single success that matches the quaility of what you call Reagan''''s failure. ROFL

Posted by vranger

National debt when Reagan took office 900 Billion. Debt when Reagan left office 4.5 trillion, He mortgaged the future and we are still paying it off

[seis-6-six]

BajaJohn1 ,
I know NAFTA is skewed, and its never fair to the small guy on either country,
NAFTA is not a bad thing, its the lawyers who write the fine print who dont take us into consideration.

[ricknuber]

"If free trade was not a good idea then the fifty states would tax the hell out of each others goods. It obviously works. Look at how prosperous we are."
Posted by cbscrash07 at 11:50 AM : Jul 01, 2008

This might have been the least intelligent post of the day.

Comparing trade between states to international trade is comparing apples to oranges. US states share common federal labor and environmental laws enacted to protect American citizens. China, South America and other "free trade" partners have different, or in some cases, no laws of this sort at all.

The unfairness in inherently obvious to all but the most ignorant (or greedy) of Americans. NAFTA only benefit the corporations who take advantage of these agreements to phase out the American worker and outsource all manufacturing and new product development.

The world is laughing at us, the former world leader in innovation and production. Firms like Wal Mart have sold us out for their countless pieces of silver, all the while strengthening the military might of our enemies.

[vranger]

Oscarez references Reagan''s "failed presidency".

Carter, who Obama is cloning himself into, left 17% mortage rates, a 14% prime rate, 11% inflation, and 9% unemployment.

In three years Reagon trimmed that to 8% mortgage rates, a 5% prime, virtually no inflation, and 4% unemployment. Elements of his economic success still effect our economy in positive ways, 20 years after he last year in office.

EVERY American benefitted.

Oscarez, I seriously doubt you''ve had a single success that matches the quaility of what you call Reagan''s failure. ROFL

[pensacola88]

The Free Trade isn''t exactly free. If we purchase something and send it to Mexico, the declaration of origin has to be declared on the customs forms. If it came from China and is being sent to Mexico, be prepared to pay a 533% tax on every item that came from China. Few things are produced in the USA, but even American cars are taxed heavily. It helps Mexico export easier to the USA, but companies like Chrysler, who had Mexico produce their PT Cruisers, simply raised their profitability and didn''t pass the tax savings down to the consumers who bought them.

In many ways, Free Trade is a form of corporate welfare and guarantees profitability. Even stockholders have difficulty collecting on the benefits of Free Trade Agreements.