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In Bush Win, House Narrowly Approves CAFTA
Associated Press ^ | July 27, 2005 | JIM ABRAMS

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.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: cafta; gatt; nafta
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To: Toddsterpatriot

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.


741 posted on 07/29/2005 8:01:15 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: Toddsterpatriot

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.


742 posted on 07/29/2005 8:02:14 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: nopardons


ROTFLOL! Haven't lost a step!


743 posted on 07/29/2005 8:02:31 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: Toddsterpatriot

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.


744 posted on 07/29/2005 8:04:03 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: eddie willers

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.


745 posted on 07/29/2005 8:05:11 PM PDT by Hildy ("You miss 100% of the shots you never take." - Wayne Gretzky)
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To: My GOP
I'm not arguing about the composition of NC's economy.

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.

746 posted on 07/29/2005 8:07:47 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: nopardons

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?


747 posted on 07/29/2005 8:09:12 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: Toddsterpatriot

Its not an additional point, its my original point.


748 posted on 07/29/2005 8:11:35 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: My GOP; nopardons
Oh, so when you find sources you don't like you call them DU and Lefty.

So much for your superior knowledge. LOL!!!

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EPI Board of Directors

Nope, not a left-wing site at all. ROFLMAO!!!


749 posted on 07/29/2005 8:17:31 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: My GOP
Its not an additional point, its my original point.

Sorry, not letting you get away with making stuff up in post #691.

750 posted on 07/29/2005 8:18:36 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: Toddsterpatriot


Excellent post!

FOTFLOL -- Julianne Malveaux....


751 posted on 07/29/2005 8:19:19 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: My GOP
When every single article on a site is ANTI the GOP and the president and is a bleeding heart about the terribleness of what this president wants to do about fixing Social Security and weeps over single mothers and how they just aren't getting enough in welfare...YOU BET it's a lefty piece of garbage. And it also has NOTHING whatsoever to do with just "disagreeing with President Bush"!

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.

752 posted on 07/29/2005 8:21:47 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons; Toddsterpatriot

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.


753 posted on 07/29/2005 8:22:19 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: onyx
FOTFLOL -- Julianne Malveaux....

Don't forget this one.

Robert B. Reich
Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University; former
Secretary of Labor

754 posted on 07/29/2005 8:25:09 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
Anyone with more than 3 working brains cells, would know that it's a LEFTY site, just by looking at the titles of the article. But that Board of Directors' list is the clincher!

I think the poster is a fraud with the usual troll patriotic/GOP cover nic.

755 posted on 07/29/2005 8:25:18 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: My GOP
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.

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.

756 posted on 07/29/2005 8:27:18 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: onyx
Don't forget Reich and Trumpka ( the crook!`), etc.! LOL
757 posted on 07/29/2005 8:27:23 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons
Some if us actually DO know what the man taught Hillary

What did he teach, pray tell?
758 posted on 07/29/2005 8:28:47 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: nopardons

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.


759 posted on 07/29/2005 8:28:48 PM PDT by My GOP
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To: My GOP
Your parents didn't teach you any manners at all, nor how to think, do research, or recognize FAR LEFTIES!

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.

760 posted on 07/29/2005 8:30:55 PM PDT by nopardons
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