Poll:Latin America has dismal view of bush

Reuters ^ | 10-28-03 | N/A

[JustPiper]

MIAMI (Reuters) - Latin Americans have a dismal opinion of President Bush (news - web sites) after he ignored world opinion to wage war in Iraq (news - web sites), and against a backdrop of mistrust over U.S. aims in pushing for regional free trade, a poll published on Tuesday showed.

The University of Miami School of Business/Zogby International poll of Latin American elites found that only 12 percent of those questioned rated President Bush's performance on Latin America as positive.

In Brazil, Latin America's largest country, 98 percent gave the U.S. leader a negative mark.

In Mexico, where President Vicente Fox (news - web sites) has been frustrated in his quest to improve the lot of 3 million to 5 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States, just 5 percent gave Bush positive grades.

The poor view of Bush was mirrored by unease about who stands to gain from a 34-nation Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which would bring down trade barriers from Alaska to Patagonia and create a market of nearly 800 million people.

Just over half of the 537 Latin American community leaders questioned in six countries between Aug. 20-Oct. 2 believed the United States would benefit the most.

In Brazil, which has been trying to establish itself as a South American counterbalance to U.S. economic might ahead of the next FTAA summit in Miami Nov. 17-21, almost three-quarters regarded the United States as the prime beneficiary.

"I think there are questions as to whether the United States is a good trade partner or not, but I think there's also a broader context," said John Zogby, president of pollsters Zogby International.

This is part of the fallout over the war in Iraq. Not only (are we) not a good trade partner but we are also a country that's willing to go it alone on a major venture and not try to win trust with our traditional allies."

Zogby and the University of Miami School of Business interviewed Latin Americans from the government, media, business and academic sectors in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.

[JustPiper]

If we have such negative marks with these countries why do the illegals keep a comin'?

[JustPiper]

Ping!

[John Will]

Guess what Latin America
[img]http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/whocares2.jpg[/img]

[andy58-in-nh]

If they were taller, they could see better.

[livius]

No, it's because Latin America is rapidly turning Communist. And I do not exaggerate when I say this.

It began with the Dem Congress preventing Reagan from supporting anti-insurgency actions in Latin America, and got all the support it needed under 8 years of benign neglect (or downright encouragement) from Bill Clinton.

Now Bush has inherited it, and he dropped the ball on Venezuela. Chavez should simply have been taken out when there was that window of opportunity. Now Chavez is spreading Castro's poison throughout Latin America, which also has as sizeable Muslim population and terrorists of virtually every stripe. I think we are ignoring this at our peril.

[DumpsterDiver]

The University of Miami School of Business/Zogby International poll of Latin American elites found that only 12 percent of those questioned rated President Bush's performance on Latin America as positive.

Now there's a group whose opinions I really care about.

[JustPiper]

Ok I give what is the picture of? -g-

[freeangel]

I must say that I have a rather dismal view of South Americ-asses and their habit of coupes every 10 minutes.

[JustPiper]

True but Zogby is Arab and why not knock us?

[Cuttnhorse]

I live in Latin America and one of the reasons is the overwhelming media coverage of the USA and President Bush is negative...guess what cable/satellite network most Latins whatch for US-news??? Yep, you guessed it, CNN en Espanol.

Plus, the whole continent thinks socialism is the way to go, including most of the press. Small wonder they don't like us...but continue to immigrate.

[Guillermo]

Why do they keep saying "go it alone?"

Does the UK not count? Australia? Spain? Poland?

Actually, what "go it alone" means is "without France."

[JustPiper]

If they were taller, they could see better.

LOL! But Vincente is 6'5"

[Republic Rocker]

We're even! I have a dismal view of thier corrupt and criminal ways....!

[yankeedame]

Latin Americans have a dismal opinion of President Bush...

(Gallic shrug) So?

[Natural Law]

Who gives a rats posterior what Latin America thinks anyway? Everything south of Brownsville is a stinking 3rd world sh*t-hole and everyone there would gladly swap places with us anyday.

[sergeantdave]

And I have a dismal view of South American Marxists.

There. The cosmic Yin and Yang is established. The world is again in balance. Go in peace and leave me alone or I'll stomp your ugly commie face in.

We'd like to see the world sing in perfect harmony...da...da...da...

[JustPiper]

Isn't it Brazil that I heard looks like a US city with Mickey D's, BK etc.? Why do you live in Latin America btw?

[Cuttnhorse]

Latin America actually has a very small muslim population...keep in mind, the continent is 85 to 95% Catholic and I can promise you they think the Islam religion is made up of lunatics. They have no sympathy for the Arab world.

And the continent is not turning commy...left-leaning forms of socialism is prevalant, but the countries with a developing middle class, like Chile for example, have no love affair with either hard-core socialism or communism.

[Pro-Bush]

Not surprised. Brazil is now Socialist, So is Veneziela and Cuba. Cuba. There you go -g-!