Obama, Brazil leader focus on economy, energy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Posted on Saturday, 03.14.09
Obama, Brazil leader focus on economy, energy

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed the economy, energy and the environment Saturday during their first White House meeting.

Both leaders said the Oval Office sit-down was productive and they looked forward to seeing each other at the Group of 20 nations meeting in London early next month, followed by the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad in mid-April.

"I have been a great admirer of Brazil and a great admirer of the progressive, forward-looking leadership that President Lula has shown throughout Latin America and throughout the world," Obama said after the meeting.

"We have a very strong friendship between the two countries but we can always make it stronger," he said.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/949516.html

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http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com.nyud.net:8090/President+Obama+Meets+Brazilian+President+W-VkOTNTaHVl.jpg

(AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with the President of Brazil
Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva in the Oval Office of the White House March 14, 2009
in in Washington, DC. (Photo by Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images)

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com.nyud.net:8090/President+Obama+Meets+Brazilian+President+umEoodEaSUSl.jpg

(AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama meets with the President of Brazil
Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva in the Oval Office of the White House March
14, 2009 in in Washington, DC. (Photo by Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images)

[rabs]

1. So, the education of Obama regarding Latam begins

Obama will be learning much more at the hemisphere leaders' conference in Trinidad & Tobago next month.

Very nice photos, thanks Judi Lynn.

One of my first thoughts upon seeing the photos was that da Silva did NOT have to ask Obama:

"You have blacks in the United States too?"

Remember what dufus airhead GWB said about blacks in Brazil:

CNN transcription of the Crossfire show that aired on May 28th, (2002) of remark by James Carville:

CARVILLE: Now it’s time for a look at those unusual, interesting, and downright shocking stories that you might not find anywhere but in our CROSSFIRE news alert. In case you think we Democrats are too tough on George Bush, I assure you, we usually have good reasons. Listen to this. The German magazine, “Der Spiegel” reports that during last week’s European summit, Mr. Bush asked Brazil’s president, “Do you have blacks, too?” “Der Spiegel” says National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice had to quickly explain that Brazil probably has a larger black population than the U.S., and perhaps the largest black population outside of Africa.

[Judi Lynn]

2. EFerrari has posted a link to the press Q & A with them, from C-Span:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-16407

Thanks to EFerrari. Listening to it now.

[bemildred]

3. Damn, they look downright happy to meet each other. nt

[EFerrari]

5. I think these two leaders have a lot in common in their style.

We'll see. :)

[bemildred]

6. They just look so fucking happy.

Completely un-robot-like. After 8 years, it kind of wakes you up to see that.

[rabs]

4. Shallow coverage by CNN

Just turned on CNN and the news is focused not on the meat of the Obama-da Silva meeting (global economic crisis, energy, environment etc).

Instead CNN is going on and on about a child custody case; a father from the United States trying to reclaim his son who lives with his step-father in Rio de Janeiro. The boy's mother died in Brazil.

Guess the custody issue is more viewer-friendly than the real reasons for da Silva's meeting with Obama.