Posted on 03/30/2006 6:00:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.
"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."
The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.
Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.
But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.
Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.
The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.
Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.
"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."
But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.
"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."
Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."
The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.
After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.
There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.
The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.
"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."
In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.
"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."
But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."
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On the Net:
U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
Well I have to agree with you on that.!!!
:)Easy Does It:)
Agreed - it will at least stop the influx of new illegals.
You know, I'm thinking that it might actually be a good strategy to paint the illegals in a sympathetic light and push the idea that wealthy white businessmen are using them for slave labor.
That would quell any charges of racism and would put pressure on the businesses to pay the illegals a much higher wage and even provide benefits. This would, of course, price themselves out of the market.
I'm almost thinking that we need to convince Jesse Jackson to get involved and push the idea that illegal immigration is bad for poor black families. I know the idea of working with Jesse is sickening but he is a political whore and would help again against the charges of racism.
You be the judge: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/109-1/hr4437sap-h.pdf
Gag me with a spoon.
Just wait until you see the next protest/march and you see Mexico's flag flying. THAT will probably be the end of your promise. It would for me. I want to get my guns and shoot holes in those flags. LOL!
How the hell did you reach that conclusion? I've never said such a thing.
yes
Even if he were running against Hillary!
Voting for McCain over anyone would do more harm than good. It would be like voting for Gerald Ford in 1976 and just continuing the cycle of enabling Republicans to govern as Democrat-Lite.
Yikes. Yeah, I agree, that's going way over the top, to put it mildly.
I was never under any illusions about Bush. I knew he was no conservative from the start. I voted for him, and would do it again, because he was the lesser of two evils. That doesn't mean I have to sit back and take it when he does things to harm America.
I agree. That's what happened here in CA with Arnold. What a disaster.
Questioning someone's qualifications and competence does not constitute a "personal accusation."
Coulter and Frum should be proud of their role in derailing that incompetent crony. They have nothing to retract.
Coulter referred to Miers as a "cleaning lady" and referred to her education as "second rate."
These are personal accusations, not objective judgments.
Oh come on. You can't be that dense. Surely Coulter isn't the only satirist you've read. Ever heard of "tounge in cheek?"
and referred to her education as "second rate."
That was accurate.
Ask any Viet Nam Era Vet
what they think of the "plan" to reward
illegal "guest workers"
with a "path" to citizenship.
It was Viet Nam Era Vet's who saved America
from having to say "president hanoi kerry"
Karl Rove nailed it exactly
Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345603/posts
Coulter doesn't do tongue-in-cheek. Her specialty is venomous personal attacks, and she means every single thing she says.
To call her a "satirist" is to insult genuine satirists, like our own Chris Davis.
You support the judicial activism that forces states to educate illegal alien children? What a surprise.
This is clearly a cheap debate trick intended to influence lurkers or people who don't spend the time to see the outcome of this discussion into thinking that Bush supports this bill as written.
THE BUSH PLAN DOES NOT SUPPORT HR4437 AS WRITTEN.
HR4437 has no guest worker program..... BUSH PLAN HAS ONE
HR4437 Builds a wall................... BUSH PLAN HAS NONE
You state to me: You be the judge:. These differences between HR4437 and the "Bush Plan" are in this file. there are others. If you read it you had to know that.
See these posts for the rest of the discussion:
See post 1438 here
See post 1448 here
See post 1452 here
See post 1481 here
:)Easy Does It:)
WOO HOOOO! Thanks to All!
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