Mexico's Fox Regrets Race Comment

cbs ^ | 5-16-05

[LouAvul]

President Vicente Fox reversed course Monday night and apologized for saying that Mexicans in the United States do the work that blacks won't.

Fox repeatedly refused to back away from his Friday comment, saying his remark had been misinterpreted. But later, in telephone conversations with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton the president said he "regretted" the statement.

"The president regretted any hurt feelings his statements may have caused," the Foreign Relations Department said in a press statement. "He expressed the great respect he and his administration has for the African-American community in the United States."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City had raised the issue with the Mexican government. "That's a very insensitive and inappropriate way to phrase this and we would hope that (the Mexicans) would clarify the remarks if they have a chance," Boucher said.

Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said Mexican and foreign news media have misinterpreted the remark as a racial slur. He said the president was speaking in defense of Mexican migrants as they come under attack by the new U.S. immigration measures that include a wall along the U.S.-California border.

[Gelato]

Mexicans can and often do end up with more take home pay for the same job than Americans. Illegal Mexican workers do not have to pay income taxes. They can be hired by employers for less money than American workers since the employers do not have to add on the extra taxes and insurance. As a result they can take home more pay than American workers. Then to top it off, by living here illegally their social services are paid by the American worker who has been misplaced.

You raise some very good points.

[rdcorso]

Our fearless political leaders are spending billions on illegal immigration.They just passed legislation that will spend a billion dollars to entice every single Mexican with a health problem to come to America for free health care.The cost of this stupidity will be several billion dollars when the time comes to pay for it and we will be stuck with the bill.It's so sickening to watch these spineless losers give away American tax dollars while they bitch and moan about social security going bankrupt.The American people have a bunch of worthless suits representing them and I know that I'm getting tired of it.

[Gelato]

I should add to my comment that there are reports of some higher-paying jobs going to illegal aliens. This is NOT because these jobs are not wanted by Americans, but because the employer benefits from the illegal work.

[etcb]

All those jobs got done before the latest wave of 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants came here after the Reagan Amnesty.

I agree with you that this is primarily an issue of wage rates, not demeaning work. Just as a matter of curiosity, I would like someone from one of the states that does not have a large population of illegals to comment on who does the low level jobs there.

Here in Texas, I see them in all types of jobs, including construction, factories and others that were once relatively high paying positions. Possibly these type jobs don't exist in all parts of the country or are just not being filled.

[seastay]

thanks , thats because ice cream and gelato are not the same thing!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yes, I agree with what you say. But the perception America gives off is what he sees. Thank whoever; the media, the dems, the govt and welfare, organizations with media face time like NAACP/Rainbow push, etc.

[Gelato]

Yes, I agree with what you say. But the perception America gives off is what he sees. Thank whoever; the media, the dems, the govt and welfare, organizations with media face time like NAACP/Rainbow push, etc.

It's true. I wonder how many American blacks Fox has even had contact with--other than the phone calls today from Jesse and Al.

[stylin19a]

um....the headline lies.....
where does it say he regrets the comment ?

[Gelato]

Stop, you're making me hungry. ;-)

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Thank you for that astute comment...right on!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

No way Jose!!!
The blacks are mostly---mostly---Democrates & Liberals.....they will just excuse Fox.

[SealSeven]

The real outrage should be coming from his own countrymen.
Obviously, he thinks little of blacks but, even less about his own people since he put them one notch below blacks.

[tertiary01]

I might even start feeling sorry for Fox after those two grifters get through shaking him down.

[Original Kamaaina]

Drive down Chapman Blvd in Orange, CA, around noon, and you'll see crowds of obvious illegals lounging around, some waiting for a pickup truck to collect them, others just lounging around. What you don't see are fields of crops needing picking, or orchards needing pruning. The illegals are doing the work that Americans will and do handle, if paid like they once were. Hats off to the illegals who work in agriculture, but they are only a small percentage--and their multiplying kids, wives, girlfriends, grannies are definitely not out there in the fields and orchards.

[Polybius]

Back in the 80's , I recall then Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan saying that the reason the Japanese were clobbering the USA in trade was because American quality / workmanship were down because there were too many blacks in the work force . Paraphrasing , of course , but that was the jist of what he said . Anybody else remember that ?

Yep. I remember that.

"The level of knowledge in the United States is lower than in Japan due to the considerable number of blacks, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans."............ Nakasone Yasuhiko, September 22, 1986

[justkillingtime]

I agree...that was the best post I've read all day!

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ok, thank you. Guess the truth hurts.