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."

[kansas1946]

McCain Presses Colombia On Human Rights
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Oh, yeah, whatever. I don''t think he has much credibility on human rights since he has had his nose up Bush''s rear end for the last seven year. Bush the promoter of torture, the killer of civil liberties. Instead of running around in Columbia trying to look like he has already been elected, why isn''t he up here pushing evil Bush on human rights.

[kansas1946]

LOL. Still in the name calling phase I see. What about real issues?
When it comes to issues all we are seeing is John McCain offering up solutions and programs, whil Obama just says Change.
McCain on the environment - Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America. Obama - Change?
McCain on energy - energy plan called the Lexington Project. Obama - Change?
McCain on education - empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. Obama - Change?

The list goes on and on. Throw in Obamas questionable character and the decision is rather easy. But of course, that is only my opinion.



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Posted by JERSupporter at 02:18 PM : Jul 02, 2008
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If that were true, it would be a valid argument, but it isn''t. If you go to Obama''s website, and/or listen to him, he has a plan for all of the issues. Some of them differ sharply from McCain and some of them are close to the same, but he has ideas and plans for the issues.
Now if you disagree with him and agree with McCain on an issue, that is fine.

[kansas1946]

****** News Flash ***************

After rigorously campaigning in Columbia, Canada, and Mexicao, McCain has surged ahead of Obama in those countries. He has also had a bump in the polls in England after his wife Cindy campaigned there.

Obama has focused on the US, and has risen in the polls there. Obama said that he has no immediate plans to campaign in Columbia because McCains lead is still within the margin of error.

[medmom04]

Of COURSE human rights are at the top of Obama''s list! and they should be! they should be at the top of everyone''s list. we have it good here, unless you ask someone of low socioeconomic status. we live in a world where we don''t do enough to protect each other, and more importantly, each other''s children. so scoff at Obama''s priorities, but you should question your own!

[medmom04]

run run run to catch up, McCain. you have decades of make-up work to do.... since when has McCain ever given a *** about human rights? it''s a trademark of republicans to only care about their own pocketbooks, their own fences. McCain grabbing at straws is amusing. what a joke.

[noloyalisti]

That''s funny, McSame and his GOP crime family push support for right wing military dictators in Columbia and communist leaders in China and he is concerned with human rights all of a sudden. Don''t make me laugh.

[jersupporter]

This is at the top of Obamas website. How frightening is this? With all the problems we have - this is his top priority. Pathetic

[jersupporter]

Barack Obama''s Plan
Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement
Obama will reverse the politicization that has occurred in the Bush Administration''s Department of Justice. He will put an end to the ideological litmus tests used to fill positions within the Civil Rights Division.

Combat Employment Discrimination
Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court''s recent ruling that curtails racial minorities'' and women''s ability to challenge pay discrimination. Obama will also pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
Obama will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepherd Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice''s Criminal Section.

[jersupporter]

McCain travels abroad so he does not have to face questions at home about his corrupt campaign staff and his failed domestic platform of being a GW Bush clone. McCain is only be fit to lead at a barbeque pit. Posted by neoconism
---------------------
LOL. Still in the name calling phase I see. What about real issues?
When it comes to issues all we are seeing is John McCain offering up solutions and programs, whil Obama just says Change.
McCain on the environment - Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America. Obama - Change?
McCain on energy - energy plan called the Lexington Project. Obama - Change?
McCain on education - empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. Obama - Change?

The list goes on and on. Throw in Obamas questionable character and the decision is rather easy. But of course, that is only my opinion.

[jntlw-2009]

McCain goes to Columbia to preach Human Rights, but he wouldn''t even vote for his own warriors in Iraq to get a GI bill and he supports torture! More conservative hypocrisy. I have never witnessed so much hypocristy as the last 8 years of evil corrupt conservative facist rule here in America. It is mind boggeling!

[cold777]

Kindly tell me why Mccain acts like he''''''''s "average folk" and Obama is a rich brat? Posted by cold777
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F
irst off - I will answer your question, but still would like to hear how your idea that elitism and money go hand and hand.
Anyway - John McCain has already offered a chance for Barack Obama to have weekly town hall meetings to discuss issues with the American people to ensure we are informed about our choices come November. Obama has already said he would not do that. Why - because he believes that would give McCain and advantage. So that one example shows that McCain is willing to sit down with the American people whereas Obama would rather have debates with high profile media conducting the questions. Does that answer your question? and please feel free to answer mine.



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Posted by JERSupporter
======================================================
Nice comedy routine.....Mccain demanded that obama follow the rules that HE set in place......didn''t bother compromising with Obama i.e. my way or the high way.......do you really think Obama is going to agree to ONLY Mccain''s terms? I don''t think so.....

[jersupporter]

Kindly tell me why Mccain acts like he''''s "average folk" and Obama is a rich brat? Posted by cold777
----------------------------
First off - I will answer your question, but still would like to hear how your idea that elitism and money go hand and hand.
Anyway - John McCain has already offered a chance for Barack Obama to have weekly town hall meetings to discuss issues with the American people to ensure we are informed about our choices come November. Obama has already said he would not do that. Why - because he believes that would give McCain and advantage. So that one example shows that McCain is willing to sit down with the American people whereas Obama would rather have debates with high profile media conducting the questions. Does that answer your question? and please feel free to answer mine.

[cold777]

JERSupporter

Which Southern Confederate Flag waving state are you from? Mississippi, same as John McRedneck?


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Posted by neoconism
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He''s probably from Al-abam-a.

[cold777]

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


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Posted by JERSupporter
======================================================
If your talking about leading southern hillbillies in the South, he WOULD make a great president for them.

[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...


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Posted by nolle61

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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!!!!!!

[jersupporter]

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

[cold777]

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



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

[jersupporter]

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? Posted by cold777
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so money and elitism go hand and hand? Seriously, please explain that? LOL

[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?

[Mccarthyaw]

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