McCain Presses Colombia On Human Rights

GOP Candidate Also Praises Colombian President Uribe's Efforts To Stabilize Country, Stop Drug Trafficking

(AP)  John McCain said Tuesday he had pressed Colombia President Alvaro Uribe to improve his government's record on human rights but praised his efforts to stabilize the country and reduce the flow of drugs into the United States.

"I've been a supporter of human rights for my entire life and career," McCain said after a nearly two-hour meeting with Uribe at the president's seaside mansion here. "We have discussed this issue with President Uribe and will continue to urge progress in that direction. I believe progress is being made and that more progress needs to be made."

It was the first meeting for the GOP presidential hopeful on a three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico.

McCain is a strong supporter of a proposed free trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia and he planned to promote it and other hemispheric trade deals during the visit. His Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, opposes the Colombian agreement, which has stalled in the House amid concerns about continuing intimidation and violence against labor leaders in the country. Thirty-one trade unionists have been murdered in Colombia so far this year, eight fewer than last year, according to the Medellin-based Escuela Nacional Sindical, a labor research institute.

Speaking to reporters, Uribe said he and McCain had discussed Obama and what Uribe described as "positive" comments by the Illinois senator about Colombia. It was unclear what Uribe was referring to.

Pressed to elaborate, McCain said he and Uribe hadn't discussed the presidential campaign but agreed on the importance of bipartisanship in dealing with international matters.

"The only discussion I had concerning the presidential campaign is that I believe any partisanship ends at the water's edge. I won't speak of the presidential campaign," McCain said.

McCain praised Plan Colombia, a program the U.S. government launched 10 years ago to reduce cocaine production in the country. Because of Plan Colombia and other efforts, the price of an ounce of cocaine on U.S. streets had risen substantially, McCain said.

"Drugs is a big, big problem in America. The continued flow of drugs from Columbia through Mexico into the United States is still one of our major challenges for all Americans," McCain told ABC's "Good Morning America" Wednesday in an interview from Cartagena.

The Arizona senator flew south after a campaign swing through Indiana and Pennsylvania, accompanied by his wife, Cindy, and two colleagues and top supporters of his presidential effort, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut.

On Wednesday, he planned meetings with other government officials and business leaders, and a tour of a Naval base before departing for Mexico City in the evening.

Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane en route to Colombia, McCain said fighting illegal drugs would be as much a focus of the visit to Latin America as promoting free trade agreements, which are widely unpopular in several general election battleground states that could determine the outcome between him and Obama.

"We want to talk about drugs to a large degree. We'll talk about drugs, talk about free trade, talk about relations with our countries, talk about a lot of the issues we have," McCain said.

McCain is a strong supporter of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been blamed for draining manufacturing jobs away from industrial states like Ohio and Michigan. Obama has vowed to renegotiate NAFTA if elected to include enforceable labor and environmental provisions.

Earlier Tuesday, Obama's campaign organized a call with labor leaders to criticize McCain's trip.

"He's hopping on a plane and going to Colombia and Mexico to talk about how much our trade agreements are going to help those countries, rather than talking about what we can do to help this country," said United Auto Workers Vice President Terry Thurman.

McCain has acknowledged his support for NAFTA is a hard sell in industrial states reeling from the loss of jobs. But he insisted the voters there know the U.S. economy is changing and that retraining for the new economy will be beneficial to the country and to their families over time.

"I'm confident that the American people - a majority of them understand we are in a period of transition," McCain said. "And meaningful re-education and training programs will give our workers another opportunity to be part of the information revolution we're in today."

NAFTA and other free trade deals were a flash point in Obama's primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

McCain's trip to Latin America followed a visit last month to Ottawa, Canada, where he also promoted free trade.

In Mexico City, McCain also 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 about a pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally.

He batted away questions about whether the trip was designed to curry favor with Hispanic voters, an increasingly influential voting bloc in some states.

"I try to reach out to all voters," he said. "I try to reach out to mothers whose children have succumbed to addiction to this terrible drug. I am reaching out to all Americans who believe our relationships in this hemisphere are important."

[ianlou]

What in the Helll is McSame doing, practicing his foreign diplomacy shtick in Colombia?!

We don''t care whats going on south of the border!!
We just want to have a border!

[mcvet]

I can see right now what McSame intends to do in this election. Go from nation to nation talking about EVERYTHING... just don''t talk about the Good Old USA and what''s going on HERE. Course he and his pals in the Republican Party CAN''T talk about the Good Old USA and what''s going on here because it''s a MESS the likes of which we have never seen. When you were in charge and that MESS was created it''s kinda hard to talk about... especially when you propose to continue the SAME Policies!! Yeah John maybe you should just STAY over there... THEY are most certainly doing better than we are here!! SIEG HEIL McSame!!

[mcvet]

Oh, geez. Hey, McCain. You''''re an American. Your gigantic problems are at home in America. Are you trying to become the American version of Nicolas Sarkozy (French president), who since his election has stuck his nose into seemingly ever country except France?

Posted by anon00 at 09:07 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abu

No he''s making plans to do what Republican''s do best... EXPORT MORE American Jobs... Big profits in that for the Rich and CEO''s who pay the freight for the Republican''s you know!! Sieg Heil Bush

[faith_in_o]

The photo shows McCain rolling a Columbian joint and asking if anyone wants a hit.

[pensacola88]

This is very crazy for John McCain to press Colombia for human rights when a Texan from Pasadena just shot two Colombians to death while robbing his neighbor''s home. Human life is precious, but Texans can exhibit fear during a crime and legally shoot anyone. In Texas, they often arrest people found to be illegally there, and prosecute them and execute them, without ever giving the aliens access to their homeland embassey for adequate legal representation. Human rights are great, but John McCain needs to go to Texas and preach the same thing. Ignorant Texas are spreading the outrageous attitude about legally throwing human life away for simple criteria.

[walt1944-2009]

In an effort to demonstrate that he is qualified to be Great Emperor, no matter what Gen Wesley Clark says, "Bagdad John McBush" McCain has gone to Columbia to "press" Columbia''s president on human rights.

It is also rumored that "The Great Pretender" McCain might also be trying to influence Columbia''s president Uribe to support HIM in the US elections and thus "INFLUENCE" any Columbians living in the USSA, legal or not, to vote for McCain. McCain would be using for leverage the CFTA that has been stalled by the evil, cowardly Whimpo-crats in Congress.

McCain has promised Uribe that if he is elected/appointed Great Emperor, he would "muscle" CFTA thru Congress, no matter what the people of the USSA want, and throw in a Hannah Montana concert as well!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!

[jack3213]

NAFTA and other free trade deals were a flash point in Obama''s primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

McCain''s trip to Latin America followed a visit last month to Ottawa, Canada, where he also promoted free trade.

OBAMA IS NOT FOR FREE TRADE- IF IT WASN''T FOR FREE TRADE OUR ECONOMY WOULD SINK EVEN DEEPER INTO S---.
WE NEED BOTH JOBS AT HOME AND TO EXPORT ABROAD. WAKE UP.

[vortex1001]

McCain should ask his butt buddy Uribe exactly how much he got paid to cover up the fact that his cousin is a dirty stinking murderous terrorist

[von_marko]

Oil is making millionaires in North Dakota . State and industry officials say North Dakota is on pace to set a state oil-production record this year.

When oilmen wanted to drill there last year, Stohler, 83, doubted oil would be found two miles underground on his property. He even joked about it

In less than a year, Stohler and his wife, Lorene, 82, have become millionaires from the production of one well on their land near Dunn Center, a mile or so from the sod home where Oscar grew up. A second well has begun producing on their property and another is being drilled

all aimed at the Bakken shale formation, a rich deposit that the U.S. Geological Survey calls the largest continuous oil accumulation it has ever assessed.

OBAMA FIX FOR HIGH GAS PRICES:
1. NO deep sea drilling
2. No reduction in the federal gas tax (20 cents per gallon)
3. No Arctic drilling
4. No Rocky Mountain drilling

Analyst estimate that the proven reserves in the Rocky Mountains, Deep Sea US Territory, North Dakota and Alaska are GREATER than ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES COMBINED!!

OBAMA solution?? Ala Akbar - NO drilling!

[vortex1001]

Obvious McSlime went to Colombia to discuss more frequent drug supplies for his drug addict wife

[wardoglrs]

I hope the voters wake up to Obama and McCain fast these two are Morons

[sgtrds-e4]

This moron says that "partisanship ends at the water''s edge" when this is so obviously part of his presidential campaign. What a hypocrite! Also who in the hell is he to talk to anyone about human rights when he voted in favor of torture here in America! He needs to retire his wrinkly senile backside to Sun City!

[von_marko]

John Kerry February 23, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East

Al Gore September 23, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."

Bill Clinton February 17, 1998
"We have to defend our future from these predators of the 21st Century.... They will be all the more lethal if we allow them to build arsenals of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. We simply cannot allow that to happen. There is no more clear example of this threat than Saddam Hussein."

Ted Kennedy September 27, 2002 "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."

Chuck Schumer October 10, 2002
"It is Hussein''s vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and future potential support for terrorist acts and organizations that make him a danger to the people of the united states."

[skyk-2009]

This guy is proving to be just another Republican. IF he truly believes his Party was wrong. If he believes we need to change direction, then HE needs to be HERE telling us just where and how he intends to lead us. When I hear Obama speak I hear a clear vision of where he wants to go. You can either agree or disagree but the vision is very clear! When I hear McCain speak all I hear is deception... attempts to get away from discussing the hard tough questions. I see a box of Bandaid''s NOT change at all.

[skyk-2009]

Analyst estimate that the proven reserves in the Rocky Mountains, Deep Sea US Territory, North Dakota and Alaska are GREATER than ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES COMBINED!!

OBAMA solution?? Ala Akbar - NO drilling!

Posted by von_marko at 10:34 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abus

You know YOU and the Republican Party told us 30 year ago that YOU had the solution to our dependence on Middle Eastern Oil... here we are 30 years later and you are saying the same old things. Drilling MORE holes in the earth for something that IS going to run out is NOT going to make us energy independent and that''s just a fact.

[skyk-2009]

I hope the voters wake up to Obama and McCain fast these two are Morons

Posted by WarDogLRS at 10:37 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abuse

Well now we have TWO choices there my friend. ONE obviously wants to continue the same policies that we have had now for a long time. One wants to continue to export our jobs and do NOTHING to change the course of the nation. THE other does NOT! Not much choice that I see. Obama is the ONLY logical choice PERIOD.

[rgrxx175]

does mccain have alzheimer''s?

[culturechang]

A little presumptious on McCain''s part dont you think? Does he think he is already the president? In what capacity is he visiting Columbia?

[rbofla]

since winning the war on drugs has been so successful I clearly see why McCain is there - for more war. I would love for him to speak at length on the economy for once, giving specifics to how he will pay for his tax cuts for the rich, etc.

Then if he could speak about our crumbling infrastructure, and how he''ll pay for it''s repair while fighting in Iraq. I''ve heard the word leevee so much I think it''s a popular kids name.

Next maybe he could address how we will send more troops to Afghanistan now that more troops are dying there than in Iraq. Maybe he could tell me something like, ''no, having the surge in Iraq is not short changing our efforts in Afghanistan'' or some other form of bold face lie to make me feel better.

After that if he could say how he will enforce trade laws with china while we keep borrowing from them to pay for the war in Iraq.

He might even feel ballsy and speak on what he will do with all the nuclear waste we will generate by building hundreds of nuclear reactors instead of improving our green power technologies.

That''s what I want to hear about. Not about who''s partiotic, not who served in the military and how, not abot Colombia taking our money while coccaine is just as popular as bottled water.

[skyk-2009]

That''''s what I want to hear about. Not about who''''s partiotic, not who served in the military and how, not abot Colombia taking our money while coccaine is just as popular as bottled water.

Posted by RBofLA at 11:25 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abuse

That is the point I was trying to make!! WE have a nation about as screwed up as it can get. The PEOPLE responsible for that problem is the REPUBLICAN''s. Now either McCain IS one of them or he isn''t. IF he is he needs to be HERE telling us all how he intends to KEEP our good paying jobs right here in the good old USA, not exporting MORE of them too!

[culturechang]

McCain should firstly worry about human rights abuses at the hands of the US govt. We have poeple in jail for years for nonviolent offenses and poeple in prison without charges filed.

[vortex1001]

Analyst estimate that the proven reserves in the Rocky Mountains, Deep Sea US Territory, North Dakota and Alaska are GREATER than ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES COMBINED!!"

I notice they don''t mention the COST of accessing those reserves

Any idea why they''re only acessing the ND oil now ??? It''s because it was not cost effective to access it before *******

[culturechang]

Both parties have had a hand in *** things up. I dont expect any better govt from either Obama or McCain than we have been getting.

However, McCain visiting in Columbia on human rights as only a Presidential candidate is over the top. He is not the president yet. Its not the place for a Senator to do executive duties and meet with foriegn leaders. Jimmy Carter is overstepping his bounds too.

As McCain supports the Iraq war, he should examine human rights abuse at the hands of the US govt. We have prisoners in Guantanomo Bay that even the Supreme Court (made up of justices predominantly appointed by Republicans) has said thier constitutional rights that have been neglected for at least 5 years.

We have female contractors being raped without even an investigation by the DOJ because its been stonewalled by the administration.

I seem to recall a biblical story about not attempting to remove a speck from your nieghbor''s eye while you have a log in your own eye.

We need a whole new venue in Washington and no more of this kind of obtuse politics.

[ioweign]

You have got to be kidding. More liberal rhetoric. If you don''''t like it here, pack your stuff and leave. It''''s not Rebublicans *** everything up, it''''s the democratic belief that the federal government has some sort of weird obligation to support everybody in this country that does not want to work. We have 4 and 5th geneartion welfare recipients here, and we just keep shelling out the dollars to em. Absolutely ridiculous.

Posted by codymac4 at 12:03 PM : Jul 02, 2008

So why create the 12 billion dollar Iraqi Welfare State then...

[wardoglrs]

The voters are to blame no leader just walk in and took it you the voter is the problem. So go ahead and shoot yourself in the foot AGAIN. And in 2011 shoot your other foot. 2015 shoot your leg.
And keep shooting until there''s nothing left

[ioweign]

So why create the 12 billion dollar Iraqi Welfare State then...

Posted by IOWEIGN at 12:13 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Ask the employees of Halliburton/Brown and Root if they have a problem with it

Posted by codymac4 at 12:17 PM : Jul 02, 2008


Typical - no accountability - the porch light is on but no one is home...

[DCropp]

McCain allows a major sponsor of a US designated terrorist organization to hold a fund raiser for him.

Funny, Senator McCain has no problems taking money from terrorist sponsors and wants us to believe he cares about human rights.

[andylance1]

Colombia is our best friend in Latin America and Obama, Pelosi and Reid refuse to vote for a trade agreement between our two nations. This is a perfect example of Obama''s inexperience on foreign policy issues.

The present government in Colombia has stopped terrorism and the streets of Medellin are safer than Washington, D.C. or Chicago.

[kissamaarse]

Interesting. More from the Double-Talk Express. McCain is the guy who was against torture before he was for it, which is peculiar given his long ago status as a POW. But as a supporter to torture, he has no where to come from on Human Rights.

[randynason]

Why doesn''t McCain start at home and pressure this administration, the White House and the Pentagon about observing human rights? The pot calling the kettle black is a little too cliche and old hat for accountability, these days. Get with the program, old-schooled politician!

[mbcsmith]

Now do you understand the difference?






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Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH at 01:03 PM : Jul 02, 2008


Yes, we sure do. In your little socialist world, the U.S. government should provide free education, health care, food, housing and retirement to everyone. Who pays for it? Why, the government of course.

[rgrxx175]

mccain just want free trade with the colombian drug lords

[mbcsmith]

Interesting. More from the Double-Talk Express. McCain is the guy who was against torture before he was for it, which is peculiar given his long ago status as a POW. But as a supporter to torture, he has no where to come from on Human Rights.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by kissamaarse at 12:36 PM : Jul 02, 2008


LOL...LOL again, LIBS are sssooooo funny. Hey, hasn''t your muslim hero Hussein surrendered to his brother in arms Bin Laden yet?

[briannorwood]

And what exactly is the so-called "pressure" that grandpa McCain, Senator from Arizona put on the Colombians? What power does he have that would make the Colombian give a rats azzz about him?

None, I suspect.

[gkc99]

Is this what Cindy McCain wants?

Perhaps some kind of cocaine connection there to go with the booze fortune?

She bought and paid for John McCain, the serial adulterer.

So she probably gets what she wants from John.

And our courageous, crusading, Right Wing Owned press just can''t seem to bring itself to bother to look into the moneybags behind the McCain throne.

[nolle61]

Don''t let you hate for John McCain or the moral Republican part cloud you judgement or make you look like a fool.

Columbia is not the same country as it was 10 or 20 years ago. It is flourishing financially and the people there are very happy.

Columbia has the guts to do whatever they have to do to rid their country of the terrorist threat. The United Liberal States of America must treat terrorists with dignity and respect.

No torture like water boarding is allowed here, even if it means saving thousands of American lives.

In Columbia, they will water torture or anything else if it means saving one human life.

Where have we gone wrong? I believe it has a lot to do with the bleeding-heart liberals who don''t want to offend anyone.

Amazing!

[gkc99]

here''s an example of John McCain''s "commitment" to human rights in Colombia:
The co-host of a recent top-dollar fundraiser for Sen. John McCain oversaw the payment of roughly $1.7 million to a Colombian paramilitary group that is today designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Carl H. Lindner Jr., the billionaire Cincinnati businessman, was CEO of Chiquita Brands International from 1984 to 2001, and remained on the company''s board of directors until May 2002. Beginning under his tenure, Chiquita executives paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (known by the Spanish acronym AUC), which is described by George Washington University''s National Security Archive as an %u2018illegal right-wing anti-guerrilla group tied to many of the country''s most notorious civilian massacres.%u2019%u201D

[gkc99]

John McCain, friend of, and recipient of money from, financiers of international terrorism.

Kind of reminds how Ronald Reagan secretly supplied high tech weapons to the Ayatollah of Iran.

The Neocon Fascists are the real terrorist and traitors to the USA.

[cold777]

LOL...LOL again, LIBS are sssooooo funny. Hey, hasn''''t your muslim hero Hussein surrendered to his brother in arms Bin Laden yet?


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Posted by mbcsmith
==============================================
Give me a T! T!
Give me an O! O!
Give me an E! E!
Give me a T! T!
Give me an A! A!
Give me a P! P!
Give me a P! P!
Give me an E! E!
Give me an R! R!

What does that spell? TOE-TAPPER!!!!!!

[nolle61]

gkc 99:

Right Wing Press? The press is anything but Right Wing!

Of course, I will admit that Bill O''Reilly consistantly kills the competition (ie: MSNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN and ABC news networks) every night with a more than three (3) to one (1) lead.

Someone is definitely watching the news and they are watching where they can find the truth rather than following along with the news agencies that double for Barack Obamas campaign headquarters.

Fair and Balanced FOX News Network!!

John McCain 2008

[noloyalisti]

Nollie 61 really us a clueless person. Do people like this do this on purpose just to get a rise or are they truly this ignorant?

First, the media is owned by GOP supporting right wing corporations who are also profiting from the occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Remember all the mainstream media cheerleading for the illegal neo con men invasion? Then to say Fox, the Greasy Old Pervert party mouthpiece is fair and balanced. Keep opening your trap for all of us to see, yeah.

[nolle61]

John McCain 2008

Change We Can Afford!

Don''t mess it up, America!!

Barack Hussein Obama means $10.00 + per gallon at the pump, late term abortions, less money in your paycheck, government run healthcare and welfare and punishment for succeeding.

We need a leader not a bigger terrorist threat. Who do you think the Taliban would prefer to have as president? Barack Hussein Obama!!

Don''t let them win!!

[jersupporter]

Is this what Cindy McCain wants?

Perhaps some kind of cocaine connection there to go with the booze fortune?

She bought and paid for John McCain, the serial adulterer.

So she probably gets what she wants from John.

And our courageous, crusading, Right Wing Owned press just can''''t seem to bring itself to bother to look into the moneybags behind the McCain throne. Posted by gkc99
------------------------
Typical Obama Supporter - first name calling - then will play the race card - then will become an Elitist in nature. Truly Pathetic.

[Mccarthyaw]

McCain for human rights? What about his support for the veto of the waterboarding ban?

[cold777]

Typical Obama Supporter - first name calling - then will play the race card - then will become an Elitist in nature. Truly Pathetic.



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Posted by JERSupporter
====================================================
Isn''t it funny how Obama and his supporters are called elitists when John Mccain owns seven houses and is married to a multi-millionaire?

[jersupporter]

Typical Obama Supporter - first name calling - then will play the race card - then will become an Elitist in nature. Truly Pathetic.
------------
Posted by JERSupporter
============
Isn''''t it funny how Obama and his supporters are called elitists when John Mccain owns seven houses and is married to a multi-millionaire? Posted by cold777
---------------
so money and elitism go hand and hand? Seriously, please explain that? LOL

[cold777]

so money and elitism go hand and hand? Seriously, please explain that? LOL



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by JERSupporter
======================================================
Kindly tell me why Mccain acts like he''s "average folk" and Obama is a rich brat?

[nolle61]

You liberals need to settle down and realize that Barack Hussein Obama, noted and self-proclaimed Muslim (liberals like Barack Hussein have a short memory for political expediency), will never become president of the country.

There are more intelligent people out there (mostly Conservatives) than you give this country credit for. It is an insult to think that we the people would put a Muslim in the highest office after what they have done to us.

Wheter you like it or not, it may be best for you Dem Libs to just stay home and save you gas in November.

Say it with me...President John McCain 2008

Now go kill a baby or remove the ten commandments from a court house...

[jersupporter]

Great job John McCain - he is already looking like a president who will lead this country.

[cold777]

You liberals need to settle down and realize that Barack Hussein Obama, noted and self-proclaimed Muslim (liberals like Barack Hussein have a short memory for political expediency), will never become president of the country.

There are more intelligent people out there (mostly Conservatives) than you give this country credit for. It is an insult to think that we the people would put a Muslim in the highest office after what they have done to us.

Wheter you like it or not, it may be best for you Dem Libs to just stay home and save you gas in November.

Say it with me...President John McCain 2008

Now go kill a baby or remove the ten commandments from a court house...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nolle61

------------------------------------------------------


Give me a T! Crowd: T!
Give me an O! Crowd: O!
Give me an E! Crowd: E!
Give me a T! Crowd: T!
Give me an A! Crowd: A!
Give me a P! Crowd: P!
Give me a P! Crowd: P!
Give me an E! Crowd: E!
Give me an R! Crowd: R!

What does that spell? TOE-TAPPER!!!!!!