by Peter Nicholas and Frank James
The White House confirmed today that President Barack Obama will visit Mexico next month on his way to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in mid-April.
Obama's visit to Mexico, his first as president, would come as concerns mount about growing drug violence in northern Mexico along the U.S. border and Mexican concerns about the flow of high-powered weapons from the U.S. into the hands of Mexican drug gangs.
The two nations, major trading partners and signatories to the North American Free Trade Agreement, also have a brewing trade war. The U.S. has refused to allow Mexican long-haul trucks to operate in the U.S. after unions and trucking companies in the U.S. objected. Mexico has retaliated by imposing tariffs a numerous U.S. made products.
This comes amid efforts in both nations to cope with the withering effects of the global economic recession which has hit Mexico particularly hard as remittances from Mexicans in the U.S. have fallen, as have Mexican oil revenues.
Meanwhile, the White House said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, will introduce the president at a town hall meeting in Los Angeles tomorrow. Schwarzenegger's popularity was at about 33 percent in February, according to one poll. So rubbing shoulders with a popular president shouldn't hurt.
Comments
Does that mean CIS will start treating Mexicans like human beings?
That 245i and 212c might be reinstated to afford them some relief?
Or wasn't 66% of the vote enough?
Posted by: ornery | March 18, 2009 4:46 PM
There goes ornery proving once again that the idiots are all around us. Republicans and Madoffs screwed this country not immigrants. Tech jobs have been offshored overseas creating a bigger mess than the folks who make minimum wage or less. Time to deport the Bush's, Madoffs, etc.
Posted by: J. Regnis | March 18, 2009 5:44 PM
People don't deserve anything just because they belong to a certain populace. That's a racist attitude. And are they Americans or Mexicans? Decide which country you belong to.
Posted by: AZ Resident | March 18, 2009 5:58 PM
And Obama,
Don't forget to bring a few suitcases of or borrowed cash to give away because after all, the most important thing is to save the world and to make everybody love us (while they are laughing at us and robbing us and while we are hurting).
We do know that good socialists only know how to throw somebodyelse'es money at a situation but try to remember that a good parasite dosen't kill the host.
Posted by: Tim | March 18, 2009 6:37 PM
People don't deserve anything just because they belong to a certain populace. That's a racist attitude. And are they Americans or Mexicans? Decide which country you belong to.
Posted by: AZ Resident | March 18, 2009 5:58 PM
I'm a human being. That's all tha matters when it comes to being treated with dignity. Nationality doesn't enter into it.
Posted by: Earth Resident | March 18, 2009 6:41 PM
Why go to Mexico?
If he wants to talk about the violence spawned by the drug trade, he could come to Chicago.
If he wants to talk about a tanking Mexican economy, Illinois is the perfect liberal model.
Does he want to talk about raising Mexico's minimum wage? How many ports do they have? How efficient is it to move the work out of the country?
Does he just want to score some blow before he heads to the islands?
Posted by: Greg | March 18, 2009 6:44 PM
Will Obama discuss keeping illegal trafficking of Mexicans from Mexico into the US? Will Obama discuss Mexico paying for medical bills and other costs of illegal Mexicans in the US? Will Obama discuss Mexico helping the US return illegals to Mexico? Will Obama discuss the handing over of Mexicos's oil and other natural resources to the US in exchange for the problems caused by illegals in the US? Will this trip benefit the US or just cost US taxpayers more?
Posted by: Critic | March 18, 2009 7:21 PM
Obama, smuggle me back some mota, a hooker, and a rosary. thank you.
Posted by: Mish Mash | March 18, 2009 7:36 PM
The president said in his speech today that illegals will have to go to the end of the line behind those applying for citizenship from Mexico City. In the time being, they are still in this country illegaly and still taking jobs from Americans. We don't have enough jobs as it is. Send illegals back to wherever they came from and make them apply from there. They can bring their kids with them when, and if, they come back.
Posted by: disgusted | March 18, 2009 8:03 PM
I moved back from California - Mexifornia to Chicago in Nov.
Against the expressed wishes of most Americans - USA and Mexico are merging.
Some make out good - Mexican elites are the richest elites in Latin America. California agribusinesses get endless supplies of cheap labor, Leftist pols like Obama get tens of millions of voters he can "inspire" have them vote for him and "change".
For the rest of Americans - it stinks, we don't want to be a Third World country with extremes of corruption, wealth and poverty.
Posted by: jack ellis | March 18, 2009 8:16 PM
"Obama to visit Mexico...Gov. Schwarzenegger to introduce him at L.A. town hall" So L.A. is part of Mexico now? I knew it was going to happen eventually, I just thought there would be a story about it somewhere?
Posted by: virtualchuck | March 18, 2009 8:42 PM
Feel so so sorry for those who have waited patiently in line to come to this country.
sorry, guys you lose. those who jumped the border are here and take precedence over you.
What a pathetic country we have become. Continually rewarding those who cheat.
Posted by: cheat haven | March 18, 2009 10:57 PM
Maybe Obama is going to present an expedition warrant against Django. Damn! Going to have to relocate again.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | March 19, 2009 2:53 PM
Humanity, this word has vanished from the English vocabulary in the US. Obama wants to bring this word back to light but he did say it would mean sacrifice . Many of you who have negative views of immigration reform and global relations reform have not realized the true standard of living in other countries. Now with the recession, many Americans are experiencing the economic hardships that others in not so developed countries deal with on a daily basis. Take a look inside and find the humanity to see past ourselves and open our minds to realizing that good can come out of his reform. Would everyone who is against new reform still hold this view even if it would benefit our country? or would you still hold your opinion to be true based on racism and stereotypes of immigrants? Humanity, think and reflect about its true definition.
Posted by: Lindsey | April 9, 2009 5:24 PM
Obama to Mexico mid April 2009? A dream-vision of the snake charmer bitten by the grey-white snake! Beware of trampling tall grass. Please take care!!!!!
Posted by: Jasbro | April 10, 2009 7:49 PM