Thread: Front-runner signals he'll return Mexico to tradition foreig

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 969306.htm

Posted on Sun, Feb. 26, 2006

Front-runner signals he'll return Mexico to tradition foreign policy

By Kevin G. Hall
Knight Ridder Newspapers

MEXICO CITY - Tens of thousands of Mexicans filled an ancient square in this capital Sunday to hear leftist presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledge to distance himself from U.S. policies.

While not naming the United States or the Bush administration, Lopez Obrador, a fiery former mayor of Mexico City, made it clear that he would return Mexico to its traditional foreign policy of non-intervention in the affairs of its neighbors.

Conservative President Vicente Fox broke that tradition after taking office in 2000 when he joined the United States in condemning the lack of fundamental liberties in Cuba and elsewhere. Like U.S. foreign policy, Mexico's under Fox sought to promote human rights and civil liberties abroad.

That'll change, Lopez Obrador signaled to a crowd estimated between 70,000 and 120,000. Having led public opinion polls for two years, Lopez Obrador is on track to become Mexico's first president elected from a left-wing party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).

"We're not going to meddle in the internal life of other peoples and other governments, because we don't want them meddling in ours," Lopez Obrador told a sea of supporters in the Zocalo, the city square that Spanish conquistadors built atop Aztec ruins.

That was a slap at the close relations between Fox and President Bush, and Lopez Obrador added that "the next president of Mexico is not going to be the puppet of any foreign government."

The phrase was a dig at Fox, whom Cuban dictator Fidel Castro famously called a "bootlicker" for mirroring the U.S. rights policy.

Many Mexicans reject closer foreign policy alignment with Washington, and howled earlier this month when a Sheraton hotel in Mexico City tossed out a visiting Cuban government delegation. The hotel was trying to uphold the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba at the apparent expense of Mexican anti-discrimination laws.

Just last year, it appeared Lopez Obrador might be banned from running for president because of a municipal land dispute with the courts and the Fox government. Now, if he wins on July 2, it will bring to the U.S. doorstep a string of leftist victories across Latin America. Elected left-leaning governments now rule Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela and Chile.

The Bush administration has avoided comment on Mexico's electoral debate, but Lopez Obrador Sunday homed in on the thorny bilateral relationship. He vowed to turn Mexico's 45 consulates in the United States into "prosecutorial offices" that defend the rights of migrant workers. U.S. anti-immigration efforts, including construction of a wall at the Mexico border, have added to the defiant Lopez Obrador's appeal here.

Although he rejects being labeled a populist, Lopez Obrador on Sunday sounded like an old-style Latin American strongman. He pledged to lower electric, gas and gasoline prices and vowed to end taxes on food and medicine. He said he'd keep foreigners from investing in the energy sector, yet said he'd make the sector "the gearshift for economic development."

The presidential front-runner also said he won't raise taxes, so it's unclear how he'll pay for his promises. He did say he'd slash the pensions of ex-presidents and cut salaries of cabinet secretaries. Mexico's finance minister earns more than the U.S. treasury secretary, he said.

WOW!! This guy sounds like a breath of fresh air!

The Sheraton evicted a Cuban delegation trying to uphold the US Trade Embargo against Cuba?

Little Cuba, 90 miles from Florida, and we're kicking their people out of a hotel in MEXICO?

IS THIS ADMINISTRATION FRIGGIN' NUTS?

We let every Chinese product ever made enter the US.

We let China operate numerous of our ports.

We let China buy IBM's PC Business.

We would have let China buy UNOCAL, except the shareholders had the good sense to sell it to Exxon for less money.

We let the Chinese with money to handout sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom of the American White House.

BUT WE won't let a Cuban delegation sleep in a Sheraton in Mexico?

This Administration disgusts me so much, it gives me indigestion and heart burn at the same time.



Oh, and did I fail to mention, we let the UAE, home of the terrorists and the funding for 9/11 buy a company and take over control of ports.

Is there not a Terrorist Organization or Communist Government this WackiArabadent won't kiss butt with, EXCEPT LITTLE CUBA who has never done anything to us except 40 years ago got caught up with the Russians?

Hey, we're even friends with the Russians now aren't we? Oh yeah, WackiArabadent has looked into the eyes of Putin and seen his soul.

Oh God, will this Quelles Horreur never end?

Lopez Obrador, a fiery former mayor of Mexico City, made it clear that he would return Mexico to its traditional foreign policy of non-intervention in the affairs of its neighbors.

Sounds like an excellent plan to me. And shred up those trade agreements in the bargain.

"Conservative" Vicente Fox???? How'd he get to be conservative. Maybe dictatorial and smarmy but "conservative?"

While not naming the United States or the Bush administration, Lopez Obrador, a fiery former mayor of Mexico City, made it clear that he would return Mexico to its traditional foreign policy of non-intervention in the affairs of its neighbors.

"We're not going to meddle in the internal life of other peoples and other governments, because we don't want them meddling in ours,"

He vowed to turn Mexico's 45 consulates in the United States into "prosecutorial offices" that defend the rights of migrant workers. U.S. anti-immigration efforts, including construction of a wall at the Mexico border, have added to the defiant Lopez Obrador's appeal here.

Oh, so he won't meddle in the internal life of other countries. He plans on defending the rights of illegal aliens in the U.S. He plans on defeating any attempt to build a secure fence to keep out the millions of his illegal alien invaders.

If that ain't meddling in U.S. sovereignty rights, laws and legislation, I don't know what is. Maybe he should concentrate on fixing his own corrupt government, then maybe we might be saved from the hordes of his law breaking, community blighting, barrio creating, wage depressing, job stealing, crime infesting, educational system destroying, hospital bankrupting, welfare cheating, prison packing, grafitti spreading, anchor baby spewing amigos.

[quote:1w98tq5o]He vowed to turn Mexico's 45 consulates in the United States into "prosecutorial offices" that defend the rights of migrant workers. U.S. anti-immigration efforts, including construction of a wall at the Mexico border, have added to the defiant Lopez Obrador's appeal here.

[/quote:1w98tq5o]

reptile09--so glad you caught THIS!!

What a sneak he is....sounding like he's pulling back to his own business all the while stickin' his nose in our sovereign business the whole time.

With the Mexicans, you have to read every single WORD and watch their every MOVE!

Good Catch reptile09!!

This is what happens when you try to do two things at once as I was today...reading and posting and trying to do some work.

Geezzz....I can't do that again.

You can't take your eyes off these people for a second or they'll sneak something in....pun intended.

Originally Posted by Judy

This is what happens when you try to do two things at once as I was today...reading and posting and trying to do some work.

Geezzz....I can't do that again.

Looks more like three things to me. :P

You're right Brian!! No wonder I missed that paragraph!

Unfortunately many politicians are hoping we become too preoccupied to pay attention to what they are doing and saying. That applies to both Mexican and American. You can't trust any of them. You have to watch them very closely every moment.

With the Mexicans, you have to read every single WORD and watch their every MOVE!

Looks like he's been taking notes from politicians here.