Thread: President Urges U.S. Hispanics to Back CAFTA

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President Urges U.S. Hispanics to Back CAFTA
April 21, 2005
Jeffrey Sparshott

The Bush administration is asking U.S. Hispanics to support a Central America Free Trade Agreement, an appeal that has won some backing but alienated others in the fast-growing community.

"To create jobs and to strengthen democracy in our hemisphere, the Congress needs to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement," President Bush said yesterday to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Bush's appeal, a brief mention in a speech focused on energy policy, was made shortly after Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez outlined the administration's case for the pact at the gathering.

CAFTA would lower tariffs and cement investor rights for U.S. companies selling to or operating in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua -- Spanish-speaking nations that by 2000 had sent more than 2.2 million immigrants to the United States, according to census figures.

CAFTA is also known as DR-CAFTA, after the inclusion of the Dominican Republic last year.

The administration is stepping up efforts on Capitol Hill and in the business community to win support for the pact, which appears to have insufficient backing to pass Congress.

Hispanics made up more than 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2002, according to the Census Bureau, and are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the country. They are seen as a potentially powerful lobby on behalf of CAFTA, which the administration touts as a boon for U.S. businesses, a step toward economic prosperity in Central America and a way to strengthen young democracies in the region.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Gutierrez's message on CAFTA was welcomed by Hispanic businessmen.

"Over the coming days and weeks, we will be actively working to encourage Congress to adopt this important trade pact," said David Lizarraga, chairman of the chamber, which says it represents about 1.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses.

Mr. Lizarraga set an ambitious goal. Most members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and others in the Hispanic community are either against or appear to be leaning against CAFTA.

"There are great concerns about how it will affect the Latino community," said Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, California Democrat and chairman of the 21-member caucus. Mrs. Napolitano said she would vote against CAFTA.

The administration likely will need at least 20 House Democratic votes to pass the pact, which faces some opposition among Republicans worried about provisions related to sugar and textiles.

Democrats often cite labor-related concerns. Rep. Xavier Becerra, California Democrat and a member of the caucus, has said CAFTA does too little to protect worker rights, such as the right to organize and collectively bargain. That would leave Central Americans vulnerable to exploitation and drive down wages.

Mrs. Napolitano's and Mr. Becerra's concerns are echoed elsewhere in the Hispanic community.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a civil rights group, yesterday cited the North American Free Trade Agreement, the pact with Mexico and Canada that passed Congress in 1993, as a poor precedent to CAFTA.

NAFTA has not led to the development, improved environment or greater prosperity for workers that was promised, said Gabriela Lemus, LULAC's director.

IMHO

This is where a major portion of the fight is! If CAFTA gets through in any way, shape or form {think NAFTA} we may never be able to turn this thing around!!

They'll be chip, chip, chipping away at it until a majority caves just as NAFTA.

"To create jobs and to strengthen democracy in our hemisphere, the Congress needs to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement," President Bush said yesterday to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Creating jobs? What the hell does Jorge Bush know about creating jobs? He's lost like a couple million of them already since his inception to the throne. He should just say Americans need not apply.

CAFTA would lower tariffs and cement investor rights for U.S. companies selling to or operating in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua -- Spanish-speaking nations that by 2000 had sent more than 2.2 million immigrants to the United States, according to census figures.

Wrong. The tariffs will be low for companies dumping their crap on our shores, but I can guarantee you that just like NAFTA and China, it will cost an arm an a leg for anyone trying to sell goods on the shores of Central American countries unless the seller is some multibillionaire. This is patterned after NAFTA so look it up if you don't believe me.

Democrats often cite labor-related concerns. Rep. Xavier Becerra, California Democrat and a member of the caucus, has said CAFTA does too little to protect worker rights, such as the right to organize and collectively bargain. That would leave Central Americans vulnerable to exploitation and drive down wages.

As much as I hate this guy, he's right on this issue. These trade pacts hurt the other countries workers just as bad as it hurts ours. The only ones who profit are the greedy cheap labor whores who will do anything possible to gain a buck. If they had their way they would hire workers for pennies if they could get away with it. That's why they want CAFTA. They want even cheaper labor then they already get from Mexico and China.

NAFTA has not led to the development, improved environment or greater prosperity for workers that was promised, said Gabriela Lemus, LULAC's director.

Exactly. The citizens of these Central American countries are already fretting this agreement. They've seen how it negatively impacts Mexico and they want no part of it. They are already revolting over it.

These big business whores and their slave politicos think that we are so dumb and naive that they can just sneak this by us and that we're too dumb to find out. Don't let it happen. Call congress and tell them how strongly you oppose this agreement and that you won't stand for any congressman who sides with Bush's selling out to corporate interest.

"Creating jobs? What the hell does Jorge Bush know about creating jobs? He's lost like a couple million of them already since his inception to the throne. He should just say Americans need not apply."

He means more jobs for Latinos. He doesn't seem to care about American jobs much.

Bush is ruining America. He should be tried for treason.

Bush is ruining America. He should be tried for treason.

He would if we had a real Congress.

Hey guys, we know the negatives

What we need is a plan of action to stop it. All the venting {although good for settling the blood pressure, lol} isn't going to solve this biggy.

We need to cut their legs off before they cut ours.

just my thoughts

The President is not representing the American People pushing CAFTA to Hispanics. Why would American Hispanics favor CAFTA any more than any other American? The President is not doing his job for America.