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."
___
On the Net:
U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
I don't think so. We'll see. I hope George isn't losing it.
That is a promise I could never make with my wife. Of course, she knows I think the man is a traitor and a quisling so I fell that she would never ask for the impossible.
LOL ........ too much lunch.
;-)
Did he play the audio of a press conference?
Does McCain really think he can be president. What a joke. I would NEVER vote for him.
As the fat southern sheriff used to say, "Boy, you in a heap of trouble".
That's our nation, in a heap of trouble.
This is B.S. plain and simple..Mexico has no middle class...the rich in Mexico can buy anything they want from anywhere...and the Mexican "middle class" that was predicted to boom with the prior trading agreements is not developing. Mexico is a corrupt oligarchy that uses America as a pressure relief valve ( a dumping grounds for their peon class) enabling the ruling class to maintain their death grip on power and wealth. In the meantime the illegal population in the United States from Mexico continues to grow and grow...
"Balkanazation American style" is no longer around the corner , it's on the horizon.
Please tell us how you really feel about President Bush.
Too bad your spouse cut you off right when I was pointing out how ALL immigration is a NET BENEFIT to the United States of America: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1606095/posts?page=41#41
Reagan also trusted the Marines would be relatively safe from attack when they went into Beirut.
He got bit more than once on that trust thingy.
Yeah - a little over the top, don't you think? How many of these people against Bush actually voted for him, I wonder?
Perhaps the only thing worse than Bush's policies on immigration is his rhetoric. If you didn't know better, one would think some of the things he says are coming from a leftwing Democrat.
The best example is his coining of a new, nauseating platitude -- "family values don't stop at the Rio Grande."
He has also referred to illegal aliens as citizens.
He constantly speaks of 'jobs that Americans won't do', and never gives even the slightest voice to the possibility that immigration-driven wage suppression may have something to do with that.
And some of his recent comments really struck me. It was when he called for a civil debate on immigration reform, and then proceeded to define the parameters of such a debate like a liberal would do. He said that we should not question the impact of immigration on the economy, or worry about its impact on the national identity. So in one fell swoop, Bush declared debate over the economics of immigration -- which is very contested, with studies coming down both ways -- to be off limits! And while I know commenting on the effects of immigration on the national identity leave one open to hysterical charges of racism, the fact remains that our nation has no history of or experience with unending mass immigration. So I think it is very legitimate to wonder and worry about what this potentiall unending wave will do to the national fabric, but again, like a liberal, Bush declares such consideration to be beyond the pale for polite discussion.
It must be nice to engage in a debate set and constrained by one's own self-serving rules.
better for who?
Mark Levin read some context regarding Cesar Chavez tonight - about how in the 60s, he was angry that illegal immigration into California was preventing his UFW from improving wage and living conditions for agricultural workers there. even Chavez understood the negative effects on the socio-economic structure by having an unlimited supply of labor that will work for ever lower wages - while business owners pass the costs of sustaining those persons (health care, education, etc) to the taxpayers at large.
having illegal labor and guest workers isn't "capitalism" - its socialism, its socialism for businesses, who get to concentrate wealth for themselves while passing their costs to the general taxpayers, who are essentially subsidizing the low wages they pay.
Me neither.
Not much difference, really. One day we'll find represenatives who represent ot revolt.
When you are sold down the river by republicans you are apparently supposed to just shut up and take it!
I certainly knew what it meant. So .............does this then put G.W. firmly in the lousy deathwish, socialist camp of his 'one world order' father?
I hear you.
President Bush "And so I'd like to tell the American people we are a nation of law, but that doesn't preclude us from being a welcoming nation. I think a system which forces people underground and into the shadows of our society, which causes people to have to sneak across our border and risk their life, is a system that needs to be changed. "
OK, so we are the problem.. we cause people to sneak across the border. LOOK.. The system that is broke is the system in Mexico!!
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