Posted on 02/11/2008 9:07:11 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Monday decried anti-immigrant perceptions in the United States and argued that Mexican immigrants complement American workers.
On his first trip to the U.S. as Mexico's president, Calderon said he is working to combat anti-Americanism in Mexico and to improve job prospects there to reduce migration. He said he hopes that Americans resist anti-Mexican sentiments.
"The worst thing that happened in this country is this anti-Mexican or anti-immigrant perception of people. We need to contain this," Calderon said after a speech at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
"I need to change in Mexico the perception that the Americans are the enemy, and it is important to change the perception that the Mexicans are the enemy," he said. "We are neighbors, we are friends and we must be allies."
The combination of American wealth and Mexican labor is an irresistible economic force, Calderon said.
"You have two economies. One economy is intensive in capital, which is the American economy. One economy is intensive in labor, which is the Mexican economy," he said. "We are two complementary economies, and that phenomenon is impossible to stop."
Calderon's trip has been billed as a high-stakes effort to shape the immigration debate during the U.S. presidential race, though Calderon is not meeting with any of the candidates or with President Bush during the trip. He said he will not endorse a candidate but will work with whomever is elected.
Immigration remains a key issue in nominating contests, particularly among Republicans, amid calls for toughened border security and a border fence.
"The American economy is suffering, but if you take the point of view that the solution for this situation, a lack of competitiveness of the American economy, is closing the border, you are making a very big mistake," Calderon said.
During his speech, Calderon said that he had worked hard to combat drug gangs in Mexico but that the effort would be long, costly and difficult. He also pointed a finger at the U.S., saying the drug trade in Mexico is contingent on the demand for illegal drugs north of the border.
"Drugs are not just our problem. We are the neighbor of the largest consumer in the world," he said.
Earlier Monday, Calderon and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed climate change, counter-narcotics efforts and U.N. anti-poverty goals during a private meeting in New York. Calderon also will visit Chicago, Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif.
Why aren't there THOUSANDS of Americans demonstrating in EVERY city he speaks in?!
I am sure they do help the economy... of Mexico.
Intrestingly, nobody has ever produced a vetted cost-benefit analysis. Of course, we know why.
Mexican president decries anti-immigrant perceptions in US, says migrants help economy
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BWAAAAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAAA
Calderone just doesn’t want these people back. Mexicos economy is going to go into the toilet and the slums will grow. Add that the people who go back to mexico now have their expectations raised and will be lothe to ac cept “less”.
Mexico also needs to get a handle on their criminal element. The criminals are going to crash their tourist business.
They will sit on their fat tacos and do nothing.
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
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Deport Calderon!
So don't send 'em here! Just keep 'em home and help your own damn economy! That'll make everybody happy!
A$$h*le
This reminds me of the whiny La Raza dame on Lou Dobbs last week. A very palpable undertone of desperation.
Mark my words. The “Si, Se Puede” rallies represented the high-water mark of that thar particular Confederacy.
“The worst thing that happened in this country is this anti-Mexican or anti-immigrant perception of people.”
A smart man takes two guesses and is still wrong. It’s an ANTI-ILLEGAL-ALIEN perception that he needs to worry about.
Sensible people just don't believe this.
Bite me, Filipe!
Until corrupt Mexican politicians' feet are held to the fire, there will be no improvement in Mexico. And that's your job, Calderon.
If Mexican President believes what he says then he should welcome those same "migrants" re-migrate back to Mexico to help their own economy as much as they are "helping" the American economy!!!!
Better yet, why doesn't he purport that Mexico import some poor, uneducated Guatamalan migrants, some from Panama, some from all South American countries to help Mexican economy?
Knew Salinas was a crook.
Had low expectations of Zedillo, he was still slightly dissapointing.
Had great expectations of Fox, he failed miserably.
Had great expectations for Calderon...
-- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835)
they did speak up, loud and clear, after McCain came up with his bill. It wasn’t much of a national issue before.
Excellent quote. BTTT
If Mexico values their workers so much , and also believes there should be no border between the US and Mexico, then why does the government of Mexico require its citizens to pay a tax on furniture and other goods they wish to bring into their country should they decide to immigrate back to Mexico and contribute to their own economy?
Why aren’t these “hard workers” working hard in Mexico? Answer: They have a primitive economy, fashioned to benefit the few, with disregard for the many. They depend upon the U.S. to fill the gap. They need the fence to force them from dependency into reality. Maybe then they will stop being a turd world country and begin to matter. They have the resources and manpower. The fence could make it happen. To hell with this Calderon dunce.
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