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
Sorry. Not playing.
Spin.
President Fox had repeatedly referred to the Minutemen as vigilantes in the weeks before. He also referred to them as hunting the illegals.
If Bush was misunderstood then why hasn't the administration corrected the record?
Parroting does not imply originality.
Red Herring II.
punish crime summarily
... failing to adhere to due process under the rule of law, and imposing a penalty, affecting, for example, a "kangaroo court" - "a doer of justice."
To date, the Minutemen have performed their civic duties well, as monitors on the southern border, and better than what usually can be expected, given that situation.
Thank you.
"Sorry. Not playing."
Thanks for an early concession!
LOL..Last time I heard, North Carolina was a State not a barrio (neighborhood) we were talking about neighborhood watches weren't we? Can you see the whole state from your house? For a state watch, I would suggest a least a rifle!
You certainly are.
Well, it is a good one!
Well, Junior, let's hear your take on Storm Front.
Well, I'm assuming you're with the President on this issue, that we should let him do his strategerizing or playing poker or whatever because we should never underestimate him and he has a plan of some sort that'll make him smell like roses and recapture Congress for the Republicans.
I don't know Howlin, it's pretty clear what your objectives are. That said, we'll just agree to disagree.
That is how I remember it. It wasn't a shining moment for this administration. I guess the best way to clarify things would be to post video links of the administration's comments.
I think if the comments were deliberately meant for the Minutemen, it could have been out of worry about escalating violence on the border.
Right. It's spin what the Times did.
Maybe you should try living with where the illegals live you'd probably carry two guns...
I told you where I live. We have a LOT of illegals here.
Why should the administration correct something that the President didn't say?
It's not a concession; it's just a memory of having this same discussion with you and remembering that no matter what I say, you say, "Why do you hate Vietnam Vets?"
California had an opportunity to have an initiative to start a California State Border Police but it fell short of a sufficient number of signatures to make the ballot.
It would have been an official state entity with full arrest and detention capabilities. It received little to zilch support from the Gub and many of the state elected officials.
I suspect that they might also have been considered vigilantes as well or legally challenged by the feds if such an initiative had passed.
We have a sad state of affairs in this state and nation... and what makes it worse is we have a split government trying to resolve crucial issues in an election year to top it off.
Not good for anyone in the long run, imo, except those whose have broken our laws and crossed our borders for all these years unimpeded for the most part.
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.