Posted on 10/01/2007 5:14:15 AM PDT by Brilliant
America's only socialist senator traveled to Costa Rica last week, but it wasn't to work on strengthening ties between our two nations. Vermont's Bernie Sanders went to San José with Rep. Mike Michaud (D., Maine) to aid the local opposition to the U.S-Central American Free Trade Agreement, which has not yet been ratified by that country.
The congressional visit was strategically timed. As one of seven signatories to Cafta, and the only one that hasn't made it official, Costa Rica has only until Feb. 29 to adopt ...the pact. But first it must be ratified... The Costa Rican Congress has been gridlocked... so on Sunday there will be a national referendum asking the electorate to decide directly.
Messrs. Sanders and Michaud were invited by the leader of the country's anti-Cafta movement, Ottón Solís. Their role was to boost the "No" campaign by declaring that the rejection of Cafta will not affect the preferential access to U.S. markets for a variety of Costa Rican products that now exists under the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Reps. Charlie Rangel (D., N.Y.) and Sandy Levin (D., Mich.) sent a similar message... Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi sent a letter last week to the Costa Rican ambassador in Washington telling him the same. The idea is to undermine the reciprocity argument that might help get Cafta approved.
It is odd that U.S. legislators are going out of the way to discourage the opening of markets for U.S. exporters. But egging on Costa Ricans to defeat Cafta also runs contrary to U.S. political interests. Cafta is an essential tool for strengthening democratic capitalism in Central America. If it is killed in Costa Rica, it will be a victory for Venezuela's Hugo Chávez, who is trying to drive a wedge between Latin America and the U.S...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
So it looks like the Dems want to give preference to Costa Rican goods. Why is that better than CAFTA?
The Costa Rican vote is Oct. 7th. It would be interesting to see whether these senators violated any laws.
It's rather interesting: one could argue that the Dems are playing to the protectionists in both countries.
They are trying to kill CAFTA while not actually voting to kill it. They want Costa Rica to kill it.
But if the price is that we must give Costa Rica preferential access to American markets, then what have they accomplished?
Yes.
But if the price is that we must give Costa Rica preferential access to American markets, then what have they accomplished?
That's what is funny about their dance. Costa Rica already gets preferential treatment under the CBI. So it's a pretty strong argument that these Dems are operating against the interests of American manufacturers/producers.
FOH, or “friends of Hugo”, are doing everything in their collective effort to cripple America in the trade agreements. Levin, Saunders, Reid and Pelosi are all of the same mind-set. Their master, George Soros, has ordered that they must cause as much interference and trouble as possible to help their friend, Hugo Chavez and the Communist Party, weaken the United States. Their actions and words show the world that they are all on the same page and will be at the beck and call of the Move On Soros crowd. Follow the money in this case and follow the communist movement in Central and South America.
Wake up America, smell the rot coming from these America-haters and the terrible corruption they foist on all of us. We are in a battle of survival with Bin Laden and the leftist Democrats, they support one another and we stand alone. God Bless America and pray for our brave men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
ping of interest
I wonder if there are any other areas where you agree with Bernie?
Economists understand that trade is a win-win situation. Only Democrats are dumb enough to feel that trade is a lose-lose situation.
Sorry, still not going to play along with your name calling nonargument. Plus, they aren’t paying you to name call. Go stump for the deflated dollar or something. Or outsource a job or two.
You’re the one who agrees with Bernie Sanders. Not me. Go stump for more socialism or something.
Have a nice day.
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