Posted on 03/30/2006 6:00:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.
"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."
The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.
Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.
But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States — about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.
Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.
The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.
Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.
"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."
But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.
"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."
Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."
The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.
After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.
There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.
The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.
"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."
In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.
"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."
But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."
___
On the Net:
U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
The reporter was referring to "people hunting immigrants on the border". The name Minutemen never entered the conversation. But you go ahead and soak up the slop that the MSN feed you.
I could be wrong .. but think they were part of the storm trooper crowd
I think the minuteman leaders eventually kicked them out .. or at least I hope so
To answer your question, Bush supports the House Bill which doesn't include amnesty, and which the Senate does not favor.
Do you have a personality problem?
Do you really think YOU are ALL Vietnam Vets?
She asked you to stop spamming. She didn't say a thing about the Vietnam Vets.
Yeah? What side am I on?
And I would only ask YOU that becuase I respect you.
The folks trying to explain away Bush's "vigilante" comment are trying to do so in about 10 different ways, all of them Clintonian to the core. So far we have:
1) He never called them vigilantes
2) He was referring to some other group of folks on the border as vigilantes
3) He was just condemning vigilantism in general in America
4) It was Vicente Fox that called them vigilantes
5) But he was just calling the Minutemen vigilantes because they ARE vigilantes
I know there are more, but that's off the top of my head.
"What, no support from Viet Nam Vets?"
OK, I'm game, name one Viet Nam Vet who supports this "plan"
To answer your question, Bush supports the House Bill which doesn't include amnesty, and which the Senate does not favor.
Could you plese provide a cite for that? thanks
It didn't help matters that President Fox had repeatedly referred to the Minutemen as vigilantes in the previous weeks. This was even before the Minutemen even started patrolling.
It also doesn't help matters that Condeleeza Rice pretty much mirrored the same words as Bush a few days earlier when specifically asked about the Minutemen.
What makes it even more damning is that the administration has never denied the claim even though they were specifically asked about it. The response was "we've made our position clear".
It would help your case if you followed along, or tried to keep up with the thread. It's been long established the Times took the president's comments out of context.
I'll take credit for that.
;-)
I'm sure that if the Minutemen were hunting illegals they would have bagged some.
No.
My talking points that I just made up now? I'm curious to know what website has been stealing my work.
And Bush innocently assumed the reporter was talking about the Island of Doctor Moreau movie. Thanks for clearing that up!
What's your opinion of the storm troopers?
I'm not your slave. If you've been paying attention for the last 6 years, you wouldn't need to be cited.
;-)
You know what? You play the military card to shroud your own agenda.
YOU are NOT the only military here.
It's shameful how you invoke the military and our veterans to try to paint others into a corner.
NOT ME, buddy.
My family are all military. Veterans.
My husband is a graduate of USNA and a VETERAN of both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
How dare you post behind the military.
Thank you for your service, but you are hardly the only poster here who has served or who has family who have served or are serving.
Don't post to me anymore.
I'm sick to death of your crappy game.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.