Posted on 07/27/2005 9:14:44 PM PDT by RWR8189
WASHINGTON - The House narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday, a personal triumph for President Bush, who campaigned aggressively for the accord he said would foster prosperity and democracy in the hemisphere.
The 217-215 vote just after midnight adds six Latin American countries to the growing lists of nations with free trade agreements with the United States and averts what could have been a major political embarrassment for the Bush administration.
It was an uphill effort to win a majority, with Bush traveling to Capitol Hill earlier in the day to appeal to wavering Republicans to support a deal he said was critical to U.S. national security.
Lobbying continued right up to the vote, with Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez tracking undecided lawmakers.
The United States signed the accord, known as CAFTA, a year ago with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and the Senate approved it last month. It now goes to the president for his signature.
To capture a majority, supporters had to overcome what some have called free trade fatigue, a growing sentiment that free trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada have contributed to a loss of well-paying American jobs and the soaring trade deficit.
Democrats, who were overwhelmingly against CAFTA, also argued that its labor rights provisions were weak and would result in exploitation of workers in Central America.
But supporters pointed out that CAFTA would over time eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that impede U.S. sales to the region, correcting the current situation in which 80 percent of Central American goods enter the United States duty-free but Americans must pay heavy tariffs.
The agreement would also strengthen intellectual property protections and make it easier for Americans to invest in the region.
"This is a test of American leadership in a changing world," said Rep. Kevin Brady (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, a leading proponent of the agreement. "We cannot claim to be fighting for American jobs and yet turn our backs on 44 million new customers in Central America.
I'm not arguing about the composition of NC's economy. I'm arguing about how CAFTA will cost the US manufacturing jobs, with NC being hit very hard just like NAFTA has over the last decade.
Anyways, why are you so classless and rude?
Making up "facts" means you are the classless one.
Those sources prove I didn't make up facts about NAFTA and free trade costing NC and the US jobs.
ROTFLOL! Haven't lost a step!
You insult because you can't intelligently debate
It's not a debate when you won't back up your silly assertion.
Its not silly to assert that NAFTA and free trade has cost NC jobs. Those sources prove that.
I agree with you. I love WalMart. I don't work there, but hey, maybe one day I will! The people who work there seem pretty happy to me.
The majority of NC's economy relies on manufactoring, Chicago's does not. My friends and neighbors will feel many more negative effects than yours will. Those candy manufactoring jobs could have been saved by some protective sugar tariffs. Sugar farmers would have appreciated them too.
691 posted on 07/29/2005 6:18:15 PM CDT by My GOP [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 689 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Either you know this is not true and you lied or you don't know it's untrue and you're ignorant. I guess it is possible that it's true, but you refuse to link to your source.
I'm arguing about how CAFTA will cost the US manufacturing jobs, with NC being hit very hard just like NAFTA has over the last decade.
Sorry, I'm not going to respond to any additional points until we determine if you're ignorant or not. Until we determine if you're a liar or not.
I just looked at your links. The first one is some sort of SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, which sort of talks about ONE COUNTY in North Carolina...NOT THE ENTIRE STATE!
The second link looks like some kind of FAR LEFTY, so called "economics review", with every single article ANTI-BUSH!
If that's the best you can come up with, then you really need to rethink it all. You'd probably be much happier over on DU, you'd really like there; no matter what your nic says.
Oh, so when you find sources you don't like you call them DU and Lefty. Yeah, that's a great. Name calling to discredit facts. Got to love it. I guess 5 of NC's 7 Republicans are really Democrats. I guess anyone that doesn't agree with you 100% of the time is a far left Democrat right? Where's the civility and decency at on here?
Its not an additional point, its my original point.
So much for your superior knowledge. LOL!!!
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Sorry, not letting you get away with making stuff up in post #691.
Excellent post!
FOTFLOL -- Julianne Malveaux....
One county does NOT a an entire state make. You claimed that you were talking about the entire state of North Carolina. Your so-called proof talks about ONE county.
I'm not familiar with NC politics, what are there really only SEVEN Republicans in the whole state? You did say, "I guess that 5 out of NC's 7 Republicans are really Democrats.", pet; which is a wee bit peculiar; to say the least. :-)
Oh, and BTW, Saul Alinski's methods don't include "name calling" . I suggest that you read his "RULES FOR RADICALS", before you invoke his name again. Some if us actually DO know what the man taught Hillary; you don't.
Here's another source on how ALL of NC has lost manufacturing jobs.
http://www.ncruralcenter.org/news/ncreconomysummer.pdf
Good night all. As for you Todd, I'm going to pray for you tonight because anyone that has Jesus in his heart like I do wouldn't resort to immature name calling and insults and just plain mean spiritedness. I'm glad my Mom and Dad taught me manners and how to be civil, even when disagreeing.
Don't forget this one.
Robert B. Reich
Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University; former
Secretary of Labor
I think the poster is a fraud with the usual troll patriotic/GOP cover nic.
Hmmm, I don't remember Jesus making stuff up. Provide a source and I'll apologize for calling you a liar. If you have no source then you are a liar.
I'm not familiar with NC politics, what are there really only SEVEN Republicans in the whole state? You did say, "I guess that 5 out of NC's 7 Republicans are really Democrats.", pet; which is a wee bit peculiar; to say the least. :-)
No, both my Senators are Republicans too, Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr. Here's what my conservative Republican Congressman, Howard Coble said about CAFTA.
http://coble.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=31390
NAFTA has and CAFTA will cost NC manufacturing jobs. Unfortunately you don't care, just as long as you can save another $1 next time you buy a shirt. Good night once and for all.
Religion is the last grasp of a scoundrel and anyone who says that they're going to pray for the person/s who have absolutely routed them in a debate, is a coward and a fraud and out of his or her depth.
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