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TechnoratiLatin America Experts Urge Obama to Break With Past
NEW YORK - Will Washington's policy towards Latin America be genuinely different from past U.S. administrations if Barack Obama is elected as the next president in November? To some experts on Latin America, the answer is no. Others believe that the U.S. role would be far more positive.
![[Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) reacts at a campaign rally in Harrisonburg, Virginia, October 28, 2008. Obama is campaigning in Pennsylvania and Virginia on Tuesday before the November 4 election. (Jason Reed/Reuters)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/obama1029.jpg "obama1029.jpg")
"I don't think Obama is devoting a lot of energy to focus on Latin America. That may be due to the scope of the current economic crisis," Forrest Hylton, the author of two books, "Evil Hour in Colombia" and "Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Colombia," told IPS. "But I am hopeful, because he is highly rational and pragmatic about many questions."
Hylton, who is also a scholar at New York University, said many of those specialising in research and writing on Latin America have been increasingly concerned about the current U.S. role in the region, and want to see a positive change in Washington's policies.
"Take advantage of an historic opportunity to improve relations with Latin America," Hylton and other Latin America scholars said in a letter sent to Obama Tuesday. "Become a partner, rather than an adversary, concerning changes already underway [in Latin America]."
The letter sent to Obama in anticipation of a Democratic victory next Tuesday, Nov. 4, was signed by nearly 400 academicians engaged in policy research on Latin America, including Eric Hershberg, president of the Latin American Studies Association, the world's largest group of scholars on the region.
"We offer our congratulations on your campaign," they said in the letter. "Just as the people of the United States have begun to debate basic questions regarding the sort of society they want, thanks in part to your own candidacy, but also owing to the magnitude of the current financial crisis -- so too have the people of Latin America."
In their letter, the academics tried to draw a parallel between the candidate's slogan for "hope and change" in the United States with the aspirations of millions of people in Latin America who have won struggles for economic and social justice in their countries.
"The current impetus for change in Latin America is the rejection of the model of economic growth that has been imposed in most countries since the early 1990s, a model that has concentrated wealth, relied unsuccessfully on unrestricted market forces to solve deep social problems and undermine human welfare," the signers of the letter said.
That message more or less resonates with the position stated by Obama in his campaign speeches. He has been consistently attacked by his opponents for his rhetoric on tax increases for the rich and lifting up the so-called middle class. For his position on the economy, the liberal Democrat has been dubbed a "socialist" and "Marxist".
On Latin America, Obama has pledged to immediately roll back key sanctions imposed by President George W. Bush against Cuba over the last several years and called for a "new alliance of the Americas" in which Washington's southern neighbours would no longer be treated "as a junior partner".
He also called for a "substantial increase" in U.S. aid to the region channeled in ways that would reduce what he called the "back-breaking inequality" between rich and poor and promote "bottom-up development" -- although this pledge was made before the current economic crisis in the United States escalated dramatically.
"Instead of engaging the people of the region, we've acted as if we can still dictate terms unilaterally," Obama said in a major speech on Latin America in May.
The group of academics also rejected the current U.S. policy of domination in Latin America, praising the role of new democratic governments there and noting that the contemporary "movements for change" in the region derived their strength from active participation of workers, peasants, women and indigenous communities.
"They are neither puppets, nor blinded by fanaticism and ideology, as caricatured by some mainstream [media] pundits," they told Obama in the letter. "To the contrary, these movements deserve our respect, friendship and respect."
In his speeches, Obama has promised to reshape U.S. foreign policy, including towards Latin American countries with whom the Bush administration has adopted a hostile attitude. He has been repeatedly attacked by the right-wing media here for suggesting that there is nothing wrong with talking with the popular Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Reflecting on the U.S. role in Latin America, Hershberg, the president of LASA, said most people in the region see the United States as "an aggressor, the guarantor of an international economic system that works against them rather than for them -- the very anti-thesis of hope and change."
In the 1970s and 80s, U.S.-backed military regimes in the region committed gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings of democracy activists and mass imprisonments of the leaders of movements for social justice.
Despite its rhetoric on democracy and freedom, the U.S. government remains hostile to countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and others where leaders of social justice movements have come to power with the support of the vast majorities of their citizens.
Most recently, both Bolivia and Venezuela expelled U.S. envoys from their capitals amid accusations that they were plotting with internal opposition groups to overthrow the two popular governments.
The academics said the U.S. must renew its active support for human rights everywhere, including its allies in the region, such as Colombia, Peru and Mexico, noting that, "unfortunately, in the eyes of many Latin Americans, the United States has come to stand for the support of inequitable regimes."
They also called for new steps to ensure academic freedom at home and to lift the ban on the exchange of ideas with scholars in Cuba, amid hopes that Obama might be able to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation in the hemisphere.
To Hylton, all this would not be possible unless there's a strong and effective grassroots movement in the United States to keep a check on the Obama administration.
"A strong progressive labour movement would force Obama to implement our agenda," he said, "but I do not see that is on the horizon."
47 Comments so far
Show AllWill Washington's policy towards Latin America be genuinely different from past U.S. administrations if Barack Obama is elected as the next president in November? To some experts on Latin America, the answer is no.
-ding!
the liberal Democrat has been dubbed a "socialist" and "Marxist".
-liberal my ass! Right of center is more like it.
"an aggressor, the guarantor of an international economic system that works against them rather than for them --
-ever wonder why Obama has called for more troops?
"A strong progressive labour movement would force Obama to implement our agenda," he said, "but I do not see that is on the horizon."
-ding!
I heard the notorious School of the Americas that trains dictators and teaches them how to brutalize their people was "closed" and reopened with a new name but is essentially the same outfit with the same instructors.
Has Obama ever called for its closing? Oh course not. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
"But I am hopeful, because he is highly rational and pragmatic about many questions."
In order to effectively deceive you must frame your lies in half truths.
Example of Obama deceptions:
Obama's withdrawal from Iraq plan calls for leaving US troops and mercenaries, upwards of 100k.
Obama calls for solar power while photovoltaic cells require more energy to produce than they could possibly return.
Obama calls for putting more troops on the ground in Afghanistan which will surely only wide up more of our military dead and maimed, as air strikes have already delivered the Afghanis to general revolt. A situation of which he is surely aware.
Notice Obama is not calling for transparency in government, nor has he any notion to reverse the draconian provisions the government has grabbed.
rocyahsoul@yahoo.co
www.lamegame.name
Daniel Vincent Kelley
The problem is that the US government has constructed an entire system (besides simply the military) to take over other countries. This includes the CIA, and the various inappropriately named "democracy promotion" US government funded/controlled organizations (e.g. the "International Republican Institute") that were set up by Reagan in 1983. Unfortunately, the left has not done enough to call out and oppose either the CIA or the "democracy promoters" interventions.
If you want to read more about this topic, check out William Blum's key book, "Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II".
Our military is broken andObama will keep what's left of it bogged down in Afghanistan and here at home "maintaining order." Our days of strong-arming our Southern neighbors, of orchestrating coups and invasions, are over. The Big Stick is broken no matter what attitude Obama has toward progress and hegemony in this hemisphere. South America is the anvil of progress.
The Jaded Prole
The best thing that could happen in regards to the USA and Latin America is that America do what it can to break the stranglehold on power that those countries elite has. These incompetent fascists (who's only skill is maintaining their power) are a anachronistic leftover from history that impedes the progress of the region. A positive step that can be taken is to close down WHINSEC (formerly the School of the Americas).
Darn Nate, you are suggesting we help the people in South America? Why not let them work it out for themselves?
Why not simply remove any influence/business from South America till they ask us to come back?
For far too long, American business and government have provided crucial support to said incompetent elite who run most Latin American countries. The most telling and symbolic example of this is the School of the Americas, as Gunboat diplomacy has passed on. Said school at Fort Benning has trained generations of military caudillos whom have gone on to terrorize their countries and repress their the majority of their people in service of a small elite. If not for US influence, it is highly likely that the incompetent fascists who run most of Latin America would have been ridden out of town on a rail a long time ago. It is time for that to happen now.
I'll go for that. I'm for withdrawing all our support there. And close down the School of the Americas.
Just leave Latin America alone!!! It doesn't need a 'saviour'. It has suffered enough through many decades at the hands of hypocritical bastards. The US doesn't have 'friends', it has to buy them.
So we should close our borders to them, withdraw any business we do there? Stop all trade with the South Americans? Just leave them alone.
This was my initial reaction as well, but when I paused and thought about it, I decided that the U.S. could (and should) enter into egalitarian partnerships with the other nations in the hemisphere, either bilaterally or as a whole.
From Cuba to Columbia, we could (and, again, should) adopt a fundamental hands-off policy unless asked BY THE PEOPLE to participate; this could mean cultural exchanges, fair trade, open borders, environmental protections, workers' and human rights advances, etc.
Think what we could learn! That progress doesn't have to mean accelerating economic growth; that education and health care and shelter and food are fundamental human rights, the basis of government.
And, with some luck and increased educational opportunities, we may even help dislodge the stranglehold superstition (aka religion) has on the people.
"no gods, no masters" --m. sanger
Bring America Back !!!!
***This is an impressive list of signatures and a marvelous opportunity for the USA to make great friends ==lasting friends==from our southern neighbors !!
***The BUSH method is the hurt little girl routine again===turn your back and scream==No we won't talk to you because you are part of the axis of evil and terror and we are in the axis of good and beneficial !! Total diplomatic failure, intransigence, incompetence, and sheer ignorance !
****Since Sen Obama's behaviour so far has been to make impressive speeches of hope and promise , then vote and act exactly opposite==i.e. the FISA immunity law for Big Telecons and the NSA; it is going to take these LASA members to guide his Southern Hemisphere diplomacy, making sure we know how to be a good neighbor in this world, as well as expecting good friendships in Latino World.
****If Obama becomes President, he should seize this great chance quick and fast, completely restructuring the State Dept, bringing these Nations into our world as Friends/Partners===If McCain gets into the White House the Nightmare will continue==we will continue to be hurt little girls, then some day we will really get our asses cracked from one or more of those Latin Nations.
Viva los Latinos Nationales !!! Bienvenidos !!
America cannot break with its past! It is destined to walk towards its extinction like the dinosaurs of old. It will fall amid the ruins of Global Warming and the Ecological Crisis or it will be exterminated by a coalition of nations who are sick of its selfish bullying and imperialism.
My recent post called 'SAD' discusses aspects of the growing Ecological Crisis. Don't miss it!
www.dangerouscreation.com
See the article in this other post of mine and which covers both Obama teams of "advisers", foreign and national policy teams; both rotten ... as hell!
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/29-2#comment-1067620
I stand with democratic leaders like Chavez and Morales---against imperialists like Obama.
Barack Obama was for single payer before he came out against it.
Just as the American people AND the Congress have been propagandized for decades to believe that Israel is the victim rather than the aggressor in the Middle East, so we have been propagandized by the Bush administration (and probably previous administrations) and the mainstream media to look upon the new left-wing leaders in South America as some kind of danger to the United States. Or at least to its largest corporations, to whom these leaders refuse to kowtow. As they refuse to accept the debt-creation offered by the World Bank and the IMF and have set up their own trade and finance groups.
Hugo Chavez has been the target of a campaign of disinformation and attempts, using USAid "democracy building" funds that are sometimes funneled through the International Republican Institute that is led by John McCain, to remove him from office by illegal coup or by elections. Within the past couple of years, the presidents of Bolivia and Ecuador have also been targeted for destruction.
After the election, we should all join the academics featured in this article in an effort to re-educate the new administration, the Congress and all Americans.
The Spirit of Arch Bishop Romero, speaking today in heaven was heard to say the Republican Fascistas murdered him, he's pissed, Obama's in.
I've been gone. Where are the Obama haters and the 'vote for ralph in the swing states' crowd? This threads saner.
Obama.
Goodbye Gangsters Scum, Your time has come!
Unfortunately Samson is probably right. Obama's foreign policy statements have been somewhat better than McCain's. But his basic viewpoint is still too imperialistic. I have some hope, however.
1. If enough Democrats are are elected to Congress, we can generate grass roots pressure.
2. He's young and may be flexible. Foreign countries have high hopes for him also, and their leaders may influence him in the right direction.
But our real work begins November 5.
"But our real work begins November 5."
And what are "we" going to be doing then?
Even if Walk on Water Obama is selected by the Repug owned and controlled easily-hackable, riggable, vote-flipping electronic voting machines and central tabulator, the man (Obama) isn't scheduled to take office until January---if he is allowed to do so---and that is assuming that the current White House occupants leave (which I'll believe when I see them physically leave).
So how does "our" work begin on November 5th? What are "we" doing then?....other than sitting on "our" ass typing?
And I have no intention of working for lord and saviour Obama to begin with since I can't stand him (or McCain). I've already voted for Nader/Gonzalez.
"1. If enough Democrats are are elected to Congress, we can generate grass roots pressure."
That's grandiose wishful-thinking. That is not at all realistic.
The entire congress could be comprised of faux Dems and NOTHING would change.
Since 2000, the record shows that the faux Dems in congress could care less what the "grass roots" or anyone else has to say, unless you're the head of a Wall Street corporation, connected with the Bush regime, the military industrial complex or a lobbyist. They are the only people the Bush-accomplice Dems listen to.
"We" have repeatedly been generating "grass roots pressure" on the Dems since 2000. I won't go through the entire list of what "we" have done. You see where we are, don't you? They have repeatedly told us, "fuk you, we don't care what you think. We work for the Bush regime. Got it?"
Meanwhile, most of you will continue to support them. That's the perfect example of an abusive dysfunctional relationship. The Dems have crapped on us and told us to "fuk you" repeatedly since 2000 and yet most of you continue to hug them/support them/vote for them. And they take your votes for granted because they know you'll vote for them regardless of what they do FOR Bush. They know you will continue to support them simply because they have that big D behind their name, when most of them are really Bush-accomplice Republicans on one or more issues after the other.
It's long past due that some of you realize who and what the Dems really are, as opposed to what you want them to be and expect them to be, because the latter is NOT going to happen.
That should be abundantly clear to any thinking person at this point in time. I don't know how much more evidence one needs to see to understand this, that is assuming you want to. That's often the problem. Most people don't want to: Denial.
Obama lived in Indonesia for part of his childhood and got some first-hand experience of life on the receiving end of a volatile US backed right wing strongman government. Hopefully he won't forget this experience when dealing with South America, or any other part of the world.
One week until the US elections
October 28, 2008
One week before Election Day, Democratic Party leaders are already issuing excuses as to why a lopsided Obama victory should not be interpreted as a mandate for a significant change of policy, and why...
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/oct2008/pers-o28.shtml
I hope I 'll be proven wrong - but I don't think I'll be. St. Obama is the same wine in a new bottle.
Because there is so much ignorance regarding Latin American politics, it has been impossible for Obama to speak intelligently on the subject in his quest to get elected and to have enough coattails to expand the Democratic Congress. I have sent him and my Congressman articles from ZNet (along w/Democracy Now the best source on international matters).
But, I find this article very heartening; that the academic community is making this vital connection.
I have yet to read the article by James Petras, a man I greatly respect. I look forward to doing so.
Obama has consistently criticized Bush for his L.America policies. Unfortunately, he seems to view the rise of the left in Latin America as a bad thing. So his criticism of Bush is of Bush not paying enough attention to the region and thus letting the autocratic power of the US in the region slip.
I really wish people would pay attention to what Obama actually says instead of pretending that he has to say it to get elected, but would really do something else.
Its equally plausible to think that McCain doesn't mean what he says and might also turn into a lefty who supports the left in Latin America after being elected.
Neither will happen. Its obvious when talking about McCain, but I don't understand this fantasy belief that says Obama doesn't mean what he says either.
I don't get it because beyond the one speech against the Iraq war as a state senator, there has never been anything progressive about Obama's foreign policies. On most issues he's so far to the right as to be basically the same as Bush\McCain. On this issue, he seems to have decided to go even further to the right of Bush and be critical of him for letting the American empire slip a bit in this area.
If you want the sort of policies you seem to imply you want, then vote Nader.
----------------------------
"To know, and not to do, is not to know"
...and Bush criticized Clinton and he criticized Gore, how the hell else do you win a presidency in modern times? (emphasis on hell) finger pointing.
sigh.
Well said Samsom. DPA red herring argument #8:" OBAMA IS ONLY PRETENDING TO BE A CORPORATE-WHORE, WALL STREET WARMONGER. ONCE IN OFFICE HE WILL SHOW HIS TRUE COLORS AND YOU'LL SEE HE'S REALLY YOUR WHORE."
-This "argument" flies in the face of what he has said he plans to do and his record. This is one of the most unprincipled arguments around. We are to believe Obama is deceiving the public into believing he's a right winger and then once in office he's going to screw all the centrists Republicans that believed him.
It also flies in the face of the fact he will spend four years ruling as a Republican to ensure he gets reelected. After all, the establishment only allows Republicans or Republican-lites to become presidents.
That is why Obama cannot utter the words: imperialism, militarism, Military Industrial Complex, social spending, single payer, or the poor.
So you only hear: MORE WAR, MORE BAILOUTS, TAX CUTs, and the MIDDLE CLASS.
Obama: "Change" for chumps and "hope" for dopes. Hope-a-dopes!
It must be hard for a liberal to act like a conservative to win over the frightened sheeple and get elected.
I really don't get this tendency to ignore everything Obama says and believes in, but instead to pretend that he's some sort of secret lefty.
And to me its basically disgusting to see the Democrats constantly pushing this idea. Because under it, they are basically saying they hate democracy and oppose the people having any say in policy.
I don't believe this for a minute, but lets just for a moment engage in the fantasy that its true. What does that mean for a democracy? A democracy is supposed to be a system where the people have the ultimate power to make the decisions in the country. But, this meme from the Democrats says that its perfectly acceptable to mislead and lie to the people to gain power. And that after gaining power there is no accountability back to the people.
If you hate American democracy, then vote Obama. That's what this argument says when you really dig beneath the surface.
----------------------------
"To know, and not to do, is not to know"
"Obama is the most liberal Senator"- Republican quote.
I imagine that it's a lot like the agonizing dilemma confronted by Clark Kent.
Clark loves Lois Lane, and Lois Lane is... fond of Clark. But it's Superman who makes her fancy ticklish.
And, as WE know, Clark IS Superman! But he dare not tell Lois for any number of reasons-- not least of which is his super-sized noblesse oblige, a profound conviction that he must use his super powers to save the world, or at least selflessly plunge into various catastrophes and leave things better than he found them.
His mission takes precedence. Yet Clark remains tormented by the desire to end the deceit and come out of the super-closet.
Same thing, pretty much.
This is the most insightful statement I ever read on Latin America, and I am one of "them", except I been here for over 50 years. Not quite enough, for sure.
But, what I wanted to write was the same thing but in real terms, and found it too difficult, impossible. I was beginning to consider the simile of a "Dance" but your expression gets closer to the substance of the issues.
In short, like the relation between Clark and Lois, it has to dealt with the recognition of their differences, not a superiority/inferiority contest but
a mutually respectful and proper initial introduction. The idea of "First Date" gets to what I wish I would have said but better than what I would have written.
I was going to end with: "like in any dance, each step, hopefully, will be mostly based on the previous step. Period."
[JFK said the same about the Missile Crisis with Russian Missiles in Cuba. He had three letters from Russia and responded to the one he chose, and ignoerd the others with unpromising implications. JFK at his best!]
Fine job, you must be experienced in your field with foreign relations.
--------------
No other site is comparable in concern, topics and, oh yes, the wise comments, except mine, of course. Gracias!
MikeSar
HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I on Meet The Press - October, 1963
I would say that at the Conference of Heads of African states, that was held last May,in the capital city of Ethiopia,
Addis Ababa, before the signing of the Charter, i have told, in the speech i have made to the distinguished heads
of state, that people who were formerly under colonialist regime, and who have suffered a great deal,
must have the girth, strength of wanting to collaborate with thier former masters for...
Otherwise, through vengance and remorse, co-existence would not be possible and this would be detrimental
to the preservation of International peace.I must say that black and white as a form of speech, and as a
means of judging mankind, should be eliminated from human society.
Human beings are precisely the same whatever colour, race, creed or national origin they may be.
Haile Sellassie the First.
HIM - Meet The Press - 1963
On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson: That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.
Haile Selassie's Address To The United Nations
Oct, 1963
You sweet little rebel you, Moondoggy.
How does it feel to be a man?
Lyrics from the song War, adapted from an excerpt of Ethiopian Emperor H.I.M. Haile Selassie’s address to the United Nations on October 1963 by Bob Marley.
What life has taught me
I would like to share with
Those who want to learn...
Until the philosophy which hold one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war
That until there are no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war
That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
Dis a war
That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be persued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique,
South Africa sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war
War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory
Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
A 'New' hopefull Obama police toward Latinoamerica will depend on the final degree of worldwide devastation of the current financial crush.
Will Obama support latinoamerican countries' "large-scale bailouts in order to save dominant financial-agro-mineral elites" and the "greater state repression"
that will be required for doing these or he will support latinoamerica' "revival of import substitution strategy including public investments in industry accompanying the nationalization of bankrupt banks and strategic economic sectors and large-scale shift in state policy from financing the bankrupt agro-exporters to co-operatives, family farms producing for the domestic market"?
Please see the following article:
Latin America’s ‘New Left’ In Crisis as the ‘Free Market’ Collapses
by James Petras
Global Research, October 28, 2008
The url address of this article is: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10721
hope
"We must demand the change we believed in because of the hope he offered"
Your lord and savior Obama did not offer "hope." He offered an empty slogan ("hope and change") and the sheep fell for it and then projected their wishes and desires ("hope," which has as much effect as prayer) on this empty suit by the name of Obama. That's the reality. Some of us did NOT fall for it because we knew it was bull shit based on Obama's Bush-accomplice VOTING RECORD which the Obama suckers refuse to talk about because his Bush-accomplice VOTING RECORD is **indefensible.**
You can demand and push and pressure all you want, but should Walk on Water Obama be selected by the vote-flipping, easily-hackable and riggable electronic voting machines (which are Repug owned and controlled), your Walk on Water Obama will ONLY listen to and be pushed by the military industrial complex and the corporations that he helped bail out with the $850 BILLION Wall Street bailout that Walk on Water Obama actively worked for and voted for.
...and the alternative???
I've already voted for Nader/Gonzalez.
During the half century plus that I have been walking the planet, I have never seen US-Latin American relations deteriorate as they have under Dubya.
As much as I disagree with many of Obama's positions, I believe he will make an effort to improve US-Latin American relations.
Where were you in the eighties?
Bush is bad on Central and South America, but he's got nothing on Reagan.
US-Latin American relations were not so great under Daddy Bush and United Fruit either.
On this and many fronts, electing Obama is not the end of the road, but a first step. We must demand the change we believed in because of the hope he offered.
You're talking about the man who, in one of the recent Obama/McCain debates, included Hugo Chavez in a list of dangerous dictators that the U.S. must oppose. If Franz Mesmer were still alive, he'd have nothing on Obama.
ding!
Who was included in McCain's list?