McCain: Unapologetic NAFTA Supporter

Republican Tells National Council of La Raza He Rejects "False Virtues Of Isolationism"

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain in one of his strongest endorsements of free trade called himself "an unapologetic supporter of NAFTA," an agreement that many Americans feel has cost them jobs.

"I reject the false virtues of economic isolationism," McCain told the National Council of La Raza, a major Hispanic organization. "Any confident, competent country and its government should embrace competition," he said. "It makes us stronger."

The Arizona senator has often defended free trade, but his speech Monday was among his most detailed and full-throated commentaries.

"Lowering barriers to trade creates more and better jobs, and higher wages," he said. "It makes goods more affordable for low- and middle-income consumers."

Citing his recent visit to Colombia and Mexico, McCain said he understands "how vitally important it is to the prosperity and security of our country to strengthen our trade, investment and diplomatic ties to other countries in our hemisphere." He said he fully supports the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement.

Congress approved the NAFTA agreement with Mexico and Canada in 1993 and the agreement with six Central American nations in 2005, but has blocked the agreement with Colombia.

"I believe a hemispheric free trade agreement is a worthy and necessary goal whose time has come," he said of a proposal he unveiled during the campaign.

Acknowledging that some Americans do lose jobs "to foreign competition," McCain said he has proposed "a comprehensive reform of our unemployment insurance and worker retraining programs."

"And for workers of a certain age who have lost a job that won't come back," he said, "if they move rapidly to a new job we'll help make up the difference in wages between their old job and the new one."

McCain's Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, has been much cooler to free trade agreements and wants to revisit some aspects of NAFTA.

McCain said he has earned the trust of Hispanic voters by championing an immigration reform bill that nearly killed his presidential bid. Obama, he said, failed to take a similar stand on the politically explosive issue of illegal immigration.

Obama has criticized McCain for turning against his own immigration bill.

Reminding the group that Congress failed twice in the past three years to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, McCain said he did not want to try a third time until the government can "prove we have the resources to secure our borders and use them."

McCain said the two failed bills, which he supported, would have dealt "practically and humanely" with illegal immigrants "without excusing the fact they came here illegally or granting them privileges before those who have been waiting their turn outside the country."

Critics of the 2006 bill he backed, however, said it would have granted just such privileges to some illegal immigrants. It would have allowed those who have been in the country five years or more to remain, continue working and eventually become legal permanent residents and citizens after paying at least $3,250 in fines and fees and back taxes and learning English.

Obama told the La Raza gathering Sunday that he supports up to a 50-percent tax credit for small businesses providing health insurance to their employees, a program he hopes has special appeal to Hispanics and other minority groups struggling for a toehold in the U.S. economy.

[mikeant50]

John McCain was for illegal immigration reform before he was against illegal immigration reform, and now he for it again or is he against it. I can''t tell.

[anecdote1]

"McCain: I''ve Earned Hispanics'' Trust"

Good, Maybe he''ll move to Mexico.

[singingrick]

I trust McCain to continue to lead the country in the exact same direction as Bush has.

[briannorwood]

Yeah, sure John. I guess if you forget about your flip-flop on immigration, you have proven to be a real straight-talker.

Riiiiiiiiiight!

[brittanicus-2009]

Neither political party has anything new to offer, relating to illegal immigration. The Dem''s and even McCain are pandering to seditious entities like La Raza, that are certainly anti-sovereignty. Legal Hispanic are just as frustrated because they just want to assimilate, live their lives and stay out of the illegal immigration issue. Both Obama and McCain would bring us a new AMNESTY. Already with have over 315 million people in this country, but within twenty years we could add another 125 million? earthtimes states. Were are we going to get the extra energy, as our population escalates to a 435 million? We have congestion now, growing pollution and a major issue with oil? The signal our political parties are sending to the poor of the world, that if you can smuggle yourself across the border, then American taxpayers will support your needs. Demand the leading Democrats sponsor the Federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) because after the election, AMNESTY is a sure thing. Uncensored facts can be found at NUMBERSUSA. Decide for yourself?

[broadwayphi]

No. You have not. My friend.

[six-six-seis]

mmmmm no,
He has not.......

[Gary Kempf]

McCain: I''ve Earned Hispanics'' Trust

Do these Hispanics speak and understand English? Because if they do, they would Trust you to be ill tempered, lying moron that the rest of us know you to be......

[Syndicate]

I can''t beleive McCain went to address a racist organization such as La Raza. Perhaps he can talk to the Aryan nation next week. I expect such things from Obama, but not McCain.

[ramos937]

) John McCain says he has earned the trust of Hispanic voters by championing an immigration reform bill that nearly killed his presidential bid.
------------------------------------

What Hispanics remember is McCain''s disavowing his own efforts during the primaries and the GOP vindicative measures againist Hispanics. Payback time is 11/2008.

[trbundro1277]

"McCain: I''''ve Earned Hispanics'''' Trust"
Good, Maybe he''''ll move to Mexico.
Posted by anecdote1 at 12:28 PM : Jul 14, 2008
I wish he would move to Mexico! Since he cares more about mexicans than us regular white and black americans! I hate Amnesty Mccain!

[trbundro1277]

"I took my lumps for it without complaint. My campaign was written off as a lost cause. I did so not just because I believed it was the right thing to do for Hispanic Americans. It was the right thing to do for all Americans," McCain said in the prepared remarks.
*** How is giving 12 million lawbreakers the right thing to do for all Americans? So it is fair to me a hard working American making 8 bucks an hour to have 12 million more people in this country trying to take my job away from me???? HOw is that fair????

[trbundro1277]

Mccain may have earned the hispanics trust, but he lost my trust in doing so! I hate Mccain. I''m an american that WILL NOT vote for Amnesty Mccain Ever!

[noloyalisti]

How can anyone trust McBush, he is a Republican. Many of the corporate Dems are also untrustworthy but they are not blatantly and arrogantly so outspoken against the people''s best interests.

[sgtrds10-4]

One of the very few things I agree with McCain on is comprehensive immigration reform that includes a clear path to citizenship for the undocumented workers here in America.

[greeneyes222]

McCain may be unapologetic about supporting NAFTA, but he''s also turning his back on the will of the people.

There aren''t enough Hispanics in this country to offset the votes he just lost.

[chrisl45]

Like all good presidents, John McCain is developing a comprehensive national economic plan. He is working to support our service on a global front. He has the experience, energy, and will power to get us where we want to be. Stay in there John, good job. I woun''t forget all the sarifices you and your fellow veterans have made for in Vietnam and every where else!

[pvperson]

"And for workers of a certain age who have lost a job that won''t come back," he said, "if they move rapidly to a new job we''ll help make up the difference in wages between their old job and the new one."

In what country?

[deacon20081]

NAFTA is the first step toward the American Union design. An Amero for your thoughts Mr McSame? How long before California is renamed Calmexico and Texas Texaco, and then there is Florcuba....
Get informed google TheNewAmerican.com

[raoul12-2009]

McCain graduated from the US Naval Academy 894th in a class of 899. He wrecked five jets before they finally got rid of him. Obviously he is not the brightest bulb on the tree. He was shot down by an out-of-date Soviet missile by men with no experience in anti-aircraft warfare because he did not follow the rules of evasion taught at the Academy. Let''s just say the man has only one oar in the water. He refers to all Asians as %u201CGooks.%u201D

[olderthnadam]

NAFTA was a failure. But not for the reasons most people think. It was a failure because the jobs we lost went to China instead of Mexico where they could have done us some good. If a quarter of the jobs we lost to China had gone to Mexico we wouldn''t have had such a problem with illegal immigration. Ross Perot was right about the sucking sound, he just had his directions wrong. It didn''t come from the south but from the east, the far east. NAFTA was just a distraction. A case of the left hand drawing all the attention so no one noticed what the right hand was doing. Some of the jobs we lost to China may end up in Mexico yet due to rising shipping costs, a product of high oil prices. If energy costs remain high I suspect a lot of things will be produced closer to home.

[broadwayphi]

I guess we''re a nation of whiners, my friend.

Whining about lost jobs, pensions, health insurance...neighborhoods, families, respect.

What a bunch of sissies.

Have a beer. (Heiress.)

My friend.

[kennedy7955]

Since when are making good trade agreements and rejecting bad one''s isolationist? What a load of McBush.

[six-six-seis]

Bring on the Amero........

[aeasus]

I just don''t understand how the RNC really thinks he''s electable.

[aeasus]

"Lowering barriers to trade creates more and better jobs, and higher wages," he said.

What country is he talking about? Mexican wages,Chinese?

[lawyertom1]

Free trade is in everyone''s interest. The problem is that we do not have free trade. For example, the U.S. and the EU provide billions of dollars in subsidies to its farmers [a total waste considering that most of those subsidies go to 20% of farm operations that do not need assistance], which makes it very difficult for LDC farmers to compete and provide goods to the US and EU. Subsidies need to stop. Barriers to free trade need to come down. By providing a market we can help improve the lives of those living in LDC''s; as their income level increases, their sensitivity to their home environmental issues (for example) increases substantially. The problem is that we have both hidden and explicit barriers everywhere.

[incog-nito]

Yes, it will create better wages, for the people in OTHER COUNTRIES earning a fraction of U.S. workers'' wages. It will LOWER Americans'' wages until decades from now where everything reaches an equilibrium. This is a simple economic fact.

[whitemale08]

John McCain has just threw the American working stiff under the bus.

Thanks John McCain for supporting your hedge fund buddies like Mr. Graham who called us whiners.

Thanks John McCain that helped construct the blueprint along with your Keating Five pals to torpedo America''s economy.

Thanks John McCain for believing we can afford to stay in Iraq for 100 years when it was announced just yesterday that our economy has entered another Great Depression.

Thanks John McCain for everything you do for America.

[whitemale08]

"free trade" is like the "clean air act" or "Federal Reserve" act.

They have nothing to do with what their names describes.

These are sham agreements pure and simple.

And that "giant sucking sound" that Ross Perot talked about back in the 90''s; he was absolutely right.

How dare John McCain come out before the American public and tout this garbage!!!

How dare he?

[nssherlock1]

I would like to hear John talk about the ''false virtues'' of unsafe Mexican 18-wheelers rolling down the Interstates.

[l00ker]

Hispanics aren''t the majority that the American jews media describes them to be, because half of the hispanics in this country are illegal. And when they show up at the polls and provide proof of their American citizenship and their legitimate ability to vote, then those majority numbers will look a smaller than the ones currently tossed about. Another jews media ploy, in order to play one group off of the others, and then yet supporting that group in order to hide amongst it, and inter marry within it.

[kofiananimus]

I wish democrats could be unapologetic. Republicans will stand strong behind absolute B.S., but the democrats won''t even stick up for the constitution when they know it is the right thing to do.

[omega39-2009]

The simple reality is that every job that leaves our shores takes away from our GDP and adds to our trade deficit. As our trade deficit gets bigger our dollar gets weaker and we end up with $4/gal gas and $5 a loaf bread. We then struggle to pay for these commodities on the low wages of the service jobs that they can''t figure out how to offshore. Anyone that has seen where we have been, where we are now and where we are heading, and that advocates a continuation of this garbage is clearly unfit to be president.

[Torilin]

omega39
Very Well put indeed. I didn''t study economy as well as I should but inflation puts economy into recession and that much is always clear to me.

[Torilin]

I wish democrats could be unapologetic. Republicans will stand strong behind absolute B.S., but the democrats won''''t even stick up for the constitution when they know it is the right thing to do.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted by kofiananimus
Unapologetic when you are promoting some crappy policy that lowers our standards of living is a crime!
He knows he can''t appologize enough for the nation to forgive the GOP so John isn''t going to bother to try!

[stn_sage]

kofiananimus:

I wish democrats could be unapologetic. Republicans will stand strong behind absolute B.S., but the democrats won''''t even stick up for the constitution when they know it is the right thing to do.

Posted by kofiananimus at 07:44 PM : Jul 14, 2008
-----------------------
My response: Excellent point! And I would add, as a result, the public suffers! There''s no one there to stop criminal, illegal things from being done in the name of the citizens of the USA! Ultimately, WE, the public, will suffer for what Bush and company does!

[davidlar2]

Some of the comments here are a joke. Americans think they can have no skills, no education and have a fundamental right to a higher salary and standard of living than people who live in countries with stronger economic fundamentals (balanced budgets, less corruption) and who have better skills and education. And somehow this higher standard of living for unskilled Americans is sustainable without free trade?

[raoul12-2009]

McCain graduated from the US Naval Academy 894th in a class of 899. He wrecked five jets before they finally got rid of him. Obviously he is not the brightest bulb on the tree. He was shot down by an out-of-date Soviet missile by men with no experience in anti-aircraft warfare because he did not follow the rules of evasion taught at the Academy. Let''''s just say the man has only one oar in the water. He refers to all Asians as %u201CGooks.%u201D

[stn_sage]

McCain asserts, lowering barriers to trade creates more and better jobs, and higher wages.

He''s dead wrong about that! That sucking sound we hear is LOST jobs to other countries where wages are ridiculously low. And the in flux of illegal aliens in this country has driven wages down, down, and down!

And, if he knows this and pretends not to, he''s a liar! And, if he doesn''t know this he should and he''s just plain incompetent! Either, he''s just plain WRONG!

[raoul12-2009]

IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY;

IF YOU LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR;

IF YOU LIKED HIS VOTE AGAINST A GI BILL FOR IRAQ VETS;

IF LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES;

IF LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH;

IF YOU CAN''T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN;

IF YOU LIKE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT;

IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN;

IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST MATERNITY LEAVE FOR WOMEN;

IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF ROE V. WADE;

IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT SEND JOBS AND TECHNOLOGY OVERSEAS;

IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT PRACTICES TORTURE;

IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPIES ON ITS OWN CITIZEN;

IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU''LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.

[incog-nito]

davidlar2: Think again Einstein. There''s always trade between nations, not necessarily free trade. Tariffs are applied when necessary to prevent illegal "dumping" by other countries designed to decimate domestic industries. This has been around since the beginning of U.S. history, and the U.S. has suffered none the worst. What we are experiencing now is "legal" dumping, because it''s the "American" companies themselves who are doing it.

I could go on and on, but it''s doubtful that you''ll get it.

[raoul12-2009]

Sen. McCain said today: %u201CI am going to campaign in all thirteen colonies. My campaign will employ all the latest technology: the telegraph; the carrier pigeon as well as the pony express. John Adams showed me how to use all this new-fangled stuff - we were best buds.%u201D

[davidlar2]

The general sentiment here is that we are a country of losers and need to protect ourselves from Mexicans doing things cheaper and Germans doing things better. And somehow if we do things at Mexican quality and German prices, we will sustain a higher standard of living than both Mexico and Germany. What a joke?

I know, America: love it or leave. But if you leave it, you still have to pay taxes to subsidize the system you left...

Everyone knows that trade is bad. While why stop at not trading with other countries. Let''s stop trading with other individuals and then we''ll have a really high standard of living as subsistance farmers....

[omega39-2009]

McCain asserts, lowering barriers to trade creates more and better jobs, and higher wages.

He''''s dead wrong about that!

Posted by stn_sage

We found that out when it was revealed that NIKE was paying it''s Vietnamese sweatshop labor $59 a month and still trying to soak the American consumer for $150 dollars for a pair of Air Jordans. Free trade, as it is being instituted (labor arbitrage), is nothing more than a money-grab by the CEOs and investors at the expense of the middle class.

[davidlar2]

incog-nito:I like the respect shown on this site.

I guess arbitrary tariff levels set by politicians creates an efficient economic system without distortions??? Explain that you piece of ***!

[davidlar2]

Dumping means someone doing something cheaper than you are willing to do it.... And you don''t like competition....

[stn_sage]

davidlar2:

Americans think they can have no skills, no education and have a fundamental right to a higher salary and standard of living than people who live in countries with stronger economic fundamentals...
Posted by davidlar2 at 08:07 PM : Jul 14, 2008
-----------------------
My response: I would point out the following to you, David!

1. This situation doesn''t pertain only to lower wage, unskilled jobs! It also includes skilled work!

2. Administrations under both parties have from time to time, brought thousands of foreign emigres into the USA, the results being loss of good-paying jobs to Americans graduating from college each year in computer science, engineering, languages, etcetera!

In sum, it''s been a systematic attempt to undercut Americans'' ability to earn a living by politicians of both parties in Washington, D.C.!

My solution is simple: vote the incompetent, incumbents out of office in November! Most republicans and some of the Democrats, too! Especially, Nancy Pelosi of CA, Schumer of New York, Feinstein of CA,
Graham of SC, McConnell of Kentucky, Bonier of Ind., and assorted others! These people are USELESS! Worse than that they''re destroying America. Kick them out!

[txgrouch2006]

OK, that''s it. McCain is a total idiot.

I''m voting for Obama.

[txgrouch2006]

Chuck Schumer: born 1950 - A BABY BOOMER
Pelosi and Feinsteain represent California - ALL Californians think they''re Baby Boomers.

There''s nothing we can do about California. But we CAN get rid of ALL members of congress born 1946-1957. VOTE THEM OUT!