Richardson gave
foreign policy speech on improving relations with Latin America and dealing with common problems. He deviated from his original speech and first lambasted * over the deployment of National Guards to Iraq when they are needed for aiding in a disaster like the California fires.
The
major points of the speech are:
- Diplomacy: Honest talk, tough negotiations, and finding common ground.
- Realistic approach to Cuba: Allow family visits and remittances. Require Cuba to meet certain goals to ease trade embargo.
- Permanent UN Security Council seat for Latin American Country: Suggests Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, or Chile.
- Replace "regime change" rhetoric with emphasis on human rights: End US hypocrisy by closing Guantanamo, secret prisons, ending torture.
- Fair Trade: Trade agreements with strong, enforceable labor, environmental, and human rights standards.
- Development: Promote economic development in Latin America and reduce poverty.
- Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Need both realistic and humane reform.
He's mentioned these policies in several speeches but used this speech to tie it together in relation to Latin America. Bill Richardson has long said that he would meet with any of the Latin American leaders including Chavez. He met with Castro to negotiate the release of political prisoners. He has favored liberalizing our relationship with Cuba in the past. He's given a
previous speech where he favors expanding the UN Security Council to include countries from under represented regions to provide more balance. He was one of the first candidates to call for
shutting down Guantanamo and has long supported human rights.
He's moved left on trade from stances he took earlier in his career. However, Richardson has always supported tying human rights to trade agreements. He cosponsored a bill while in the US legislature requiring a human rights agreement with China before granting them Most Favored Nation status. Richardson has consistently maintained that position.
His
immigration policy was the first out among our candidates. It is the most detailed and is considered a balanced proposal. He emphasizes that one way to lower illegal immigration is to aid Latin American countries in
developing their economies.
Here are a few of the best lines from the speech.
Latinos admire American democratic values, but they know hypocrisy and they've seen it. Guantanamo. Abu Ghraib. Secret prisons. Torture.
...
(Referring to *'s refusal to talk to some Latin American leaders)
We must remember that preserving your popularity is no recipe for inspiring a nation, let alone a region or a world.
...
At its root, illegal immigration is an economic problem, driven by the lack of decent jobs for people in their home countries. So long as other economies fail to produce jobs, people will continue to come here. As long as we have a monopoly on hope, we will be a magnet for the hopeful.
...
Finally, we cannot truly engage Latin America if we do not include the 28 million indigenous peoples who live there. Too many indigenous peoples live in deep poverty. Too many lack access to the essential services that others in their own countries take for granted. Too many are ignored by their own governments.
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