In this McCain campaign Spanish-language radio ad, Tony Villamil, a former Florida Director of Tourism, Commerce and Economic Affairs of Florida, argues that Florida's future economic success depends on the Columbia Free Trade Agreement, which John McCain supports.
In the ad, Villamil states that three quarters of Florida's exports go to Latin America, that Florida's exports to Latin American reached nearly 45 billion dollars, and that the CFTA, if ratified by congress, would create almost 5,000 new jobs. Trouble is, according to FactCheck.org, none of that is true.
In reality, about half of Florida's exports go to Latin America. The state's exports to all foreign countries only just totaled $45 billion in 2007. And the job statistic? Rounded up from 4,483 (which, if you passed your elementary school math classes, you will note is actually closer to 4,000 that 5,000), that estimate was taken directly from a report by a coalition of business owners that supports the agreement. But a more recent report from a less biased source, the International Trade Commission, predicted the treaty would actually result in "minimal to no effect on output or employment for most sectors in the U.S. economy."
Many unions and humanitarian groups in the U.S. have opposed the agreement because of Columbia's lower wages, lower worker safety standards, and history of violent suppression of organized labor.
President Bush signed the CFT Agreement in 2006, but Congress has delayed a vote on its final approval indefinitely.
Jaelithe also writes at The State of Discontent.
Yep, the Devious Talk Express has definitely left the station! Why, why WHY aren't his lies called out as such by MSM???
Grrrr.
At least you're doing a great job of pointing out the lies and distortions here.
Posted by: cynematic | July 10, 2008 at 08:44 AM