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.
And Andrew Stein !
My argument is and has been the whole time that NAFTA has cost and CAFTA will cost the US, and NC in particular, manufacturing jobs. I provided the sources that shows NAFTA has cost NC manufacturing jobs. I'm sorry you can't accept that.
Thank you. Someone knows what's going on.
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.
No, its a sincere prayer. Since when as praying for someone, regardless of who they are, been a bad thing?
He was a Marxist and he was against those who have anything. It's for the poor/ the children; don't ya know.
He said that the HAVES have power over the HAVE NOTS, so being a bit removed ( meaning an elitist ) from the HAVE NOTS, but telling them that you're really for them and that their opinions count ( in other words, LIE THROUGH YOUR TEETH, BUT MAKE THEM FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING ), will give you the needed power over them.
You really should read the book. Hillary was a very good student of his and follows his methods to a T!
Is Howard a STATE official of is he in THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , in D.C. ?
You really should learn how to write a cogent post. :-)
That too. But sometimes ridicule is valid; especially when someone posts ridiculous tripe. :-)
I meant 5 of NC's 7 U.S. House members. I did state it correctly earlier. Sorry, its late and I'm kind of upset at the personal attacks :)
I will NOT accept lefty garbage as refutation or proof!
I thought that you were leaving. Change your mind? LOL
That too. But sometimes ridicule is valid; especially when someone posts ridiculous tripe. :-)
It's ridiculous when someone tries to argue that the US, and especially NC hasn't lost manufacturing jobs since NAFTA's passage when the facts are there in 3 different sources. :)
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. There were no personal attacks; just the statement of facts. I called a FAR LEFTY site a FAR LEFTY SITE, and you get your feelings hurt? Good grief; grow up!
You posted garbage, written/condoned by the likes of Malveaux, and Reich, and Stein and you proved NOTHING!
I will NOT accept lefty garbage as refutation or proof!
Did you read this article? No lefty here.
http://www.ncruralcenter.org/news/ncreconomysummer.pdf
By the way, did you even read the good Pat Buchanan article I posted?
LOL! Oh, I spotted Reich. Excellent post. You done us proud.
I wasn't talking to you in regard to personal name calling directed at me. I was talking to Todd you has called me ignorant and a liar.
I bet that without GOOGLING, you don't have the slightest idea who those people even are.
Do you gave a degree in economics? Have you even had one class in the subject?
Why are you so willing to believe the opinions of far lefties...because they say what you want to believe?
So, you're a Patsie? ROTFLOL
Well, you ARE ignorant; that's no lie.
I just graduated from Wake Forest University this year with a degree in Political Science. Yes, I've taken economics and I believe CAFTA will kill NC's manufacturing sector just like NAFTA has done. Yes, I know who those people are.
This isn't a lefty site and it backs up what I've been arguing, NAFTA cost NC manufacturing jobs. CAFTA will too. That's why 5 of NC's 7 US House members voted against it. I guess Pat Buchanan is a far lefty too.
http://www.ncruralcenter.org/news/ncreconomysummer.pdf
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.