Bush presses for CAFTA as DeLay predicts win

Reuters ^ | Jul 27, 2005

[Happy2BMe]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush urged Republican hold outs on Wednesday to back a controversial free trade agreement with Central America, and party leaders predicted he would win but only after a tough fight for votes.

"The president reminded us that we come here not only to represent our district but to represent the nation," House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters after a Capitol Hill meeting between Bush and House Republicans, many of whom have opposed it on the grounds that it will hurt industries in their regions. "It will be a tough vote but we'll pass CAFTA tonight," the Texas Republican said. "We will honor our commitments to the south, we will protect our national security and will do it all with very few Democrats."

The long-awaited vote would end months of uncertainty about the fate of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, which lowers trade barriers between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

The White House has a harder time rounding up votes for CAFTA than for any other recent trade pact because of stiff opposition from many Republicans in textile and sugar-producing states who fear it will cause job losses.

In addition, most Democrats oppose CAFTA on the grounds that its labor provisions are not tough enough for a region with a poor record on workers' rights. The White House says the labor provisions are stronger than any previous trade agreement and consistent with guidelines Congress set in 2002.

Bush appealed to House Republicans to put aside any "parochial interests" they might have about CAFTA and look at the broader benefits of the pact to the United States and the six other countries, DeLay said.

"It is good for our national security in supporting these fledging democracies at our back door. It is good in our effort against illegal immigration. It is good for our economy," DeLay said.

DeLay said Republicans would gavel the CAFTA vote to a close "when we get 218," the number of votes needed for approval. Republican leaders have angered Democrats in the past by holding votes open until they finally pressure enough party members to vote the way the leadership wants.

CHINA TRADE VOTE

Several Republicans from the textile states of South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia are expected to support CAFTA after reaching a deal with Republican leaders and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to address specific concerns.

However, many Republicans from North Carolina -- which has experienced heavy textile job losses -- have remained opposed.

The Bush administration also has made promises aimed at reducing sugar industry opposition to the pact, but many Republicans from sugar-producing states such as Louisiana, Florida, Montana and Idaho continue to have concerns.

The vote on CAFTA will be proceeded by a vote on Republican bill aimed at addressing a number of trade issues with China. House leaders expect to pick up the support of some Republicans in industrial states like Pennsylvania with that bill.

Only six Democrats have publicly announced their support for CAFTA. Portman told Reuters he remained hopeful that many more would vote for it in the end, but declined to give any estimate.

Portman said he had just come from a meeting with three undecided Democrats and they had refused to tell him on they planned to vote on CAFTA.

[U.H. Conservative]

America did not build walls because we had two oceans protecting us. As you have said, times have changed and those oceans do not afford us that protection any longer.

[U.H. Conservative]

Personal attacks. The sign of the weak argument.

[eleni121]

Personal attacks. The sign of the weak argument

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Not at all. It's the anti free trade types who exhibit signs of nativism in their arguments.

[U.H. Conservative]

1. Your original charge was anti-Catholocism, not nativism. If you are going to defame those who disagree with you, at least keep your slanders straight.

2. I am anti-free trade. I also, however, count the Church as a valuable institution in society. Like any institution run by humans, it is not perfect and should be criticized when necessary in order to help it keep to the standards to which it aspires. When done in a spirit of Christian fellowship and love, those criticisms are hardly anti-Catholic.

[eleni121]

I am anti-free trade

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So is Hillary Clinton.

_______________________________________
Your original charge was anti-Catholocism, not nativism.

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No difference. Anti Catholicism and anti immigrant has been part and parcel throughout most of of nativism's sordid history in the US. That is not to say pro free trade people approve of illegal immigration. Reforms are urgently needed (especially now that we are at war).

[U.H. Conservative]

na·tiv·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nt-vzm)
n.
A sociopolitical policy, especially in the United States in the 19th century, favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Hey, in the dictionary definition of nativism, I don't see the term "anti-Catholic" anywhere. While some nativists were anti-Catholic, the terms are not synonymous. It would be kind of like me saying that because free trade supporters like Bernard Schwartz of Loral illegally sold technology to China, that all free traders are traitors.

Your use of overly broad generalizations weakens your argument. And since you say, apparently with a straight face, that the corruption of Mexico is comparable to that in New York, your arguments can't stand any weakening.

[eleni121]

The dictionary definition is cute.

The rest of it is just plain silly.

As for the what nativism has represented over the years - a distinct anti Catholic stench permeates.

[U.H. Conservative]

Fine. "As for the what [free trade] has represented over the years - a distinct [treasonous] stench permeates."

At least I'm being sarcastic. The sad thing is that you're not.