Obama might sign the Colombian trade deal after all

[MadImmortalMan]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124010048395232143.html

Yay.

By LAURA MECKLER

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- President Barack Obama discussed a pending free-trade agreement with his Colombian counterpart Saturday and dispatched his trade representative to discuss U.S. concerns over Colombia's treatment of labor leaders.


At the Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain, Mr. Obama asked to be seated next to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, and the pair discussed the deal, U.S. officials said. During his presidential campaign, Mr. Obama had voiced opposition to the pact, citing violence toward labor organizers in Colombia. The deal, which would allow free trade between the two nations, is awaiting ratification in the U.S. Senate and has already been approved by Colombia's congress.

Since taking office, Mr. Obama has struck a more-positive tone on free trade than he often did during the campaign. He and aides have spoken out against protectionism, and in Mexico last week he declined to raise the question of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite a pledge to do so last year.

In October, then-Sen. Obama expressed deep concerns over the Colombian pact. "The history in Colombia right now is that labor leaders have been targeted for assassination on a fairly consistent basis and there have not been prosecutions," he said during a presidential debate.

Saturday's lunch conversation with Mr. Uribe was "fruitful," said Denis McDonough, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council.


Mr. Obama sent U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to meet with Mr. Uribe Friday and with the Colombian finance minister Saturday to discuss the pending agreement.

Luis Guillermo Plata, Colombia's trade, industry and tourism minister, said the U.S. doesn't plan to renegotiate the entire treaty but rather examine certain points that raise concerns, according to the Colombian government news service.

U.S. officials also were optimistic about a pending agreement with Panama. They said the recent jailing of a Panamanian leader convicted of murdering an American improves the prospects for that pact. Minor labor issues seem resolvable, an administration official said.

[Valmy]

It is amazing how good some of the Bushitler's policies suddenly look once he is safely out of office.

[Savonarola]

Every time Barack breaks a campaign promise an angel gets his wings.   

[DGuller]

Every time Barack breaks a campaign promise an angel get's his wings.   

The good thing is that the majority of the promises he broke so far have been boneheaded in the first place (except for not hiring lobbyists).

[Berkut]

Every time Barack breaks a campaign promise an angel get's his wings.  

The good thing is that the majority of the promises he broke so far have been boneheaded in the first place (except for not hiring lobbyists).

Funny that those very boneheaded promises are what got him elected though.

[Savonarola]

The good thing is that the majority of the promises he broke so far have been boneheaded in the first place (except for not hiring lobbyists).

Funny that those very boneheaded promises are what got him elected though.

Breaking them is what will get him elected to a second term.

[Berkut]

The good thing is that the majority of the promises he broke so far have been boneheaded in the first place (except for not hiring lobbyists).

Funny that those very boneheaded promises are what got him elected though.

Breaking them is what will get him elected to a second term.

He is slick, gotta give him that.

[Valmy]

Funny that those very boneheaded promises are what got him elected though.

I told you not to take those things very seriously.

You took a chance he would not actually do those moronic things yourself when you voted for him I presume.

[Valmy]

He is slick, gotta give him that.

It is exactly the same sort of thing Clinton did.  Today nobody remembers the campaign promises, just the things he actually did.

[Berkut]

Funny that those very boneheaded promises are what got him elected though.

I told you not to take those things very seriously.

You took a chance he would not actually do those moronic things yourself when you voted for him I presume.

I know, I know.

That doesn't mean I am not still a little dissapointed the guy who actually said he would do the things that Obama is now doing could not be elected.

[Savonarola]

It is exactly the same sort of thing Clinton did.  Today nobody remembers the campaign promises, just the things he actually did.

The President has kept all the promises he intended to keep  -then press secretary George Stephanopoulos

[Neil]

He is slick, gotta give him that.

It is exactly the same sort of thing Clinton did.  Today nobody remembers the campaign promises, just the things he actually did.

What did Clinton actually do, anyways?  Of course I remember the government shutdown and the DMCA, but what did his administration accomplish?

[I Killed Kenny]

what promises?

[Savonarola]

what promises?

He promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide.  People died and then Barack lied. 

[Razgovory]

He is slick, gotta give him that.

It is exactly the same sort of thing Clinton did.  Today nobody remembers the campaign promises, just the things he actually did.

What did Clinton actually do, anyways?  Of course I remember the government shutdown and the DMCA, but what did his administration accomplish?

Killed Serbs.