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The globalist CAFTA treaty passed in the U.S. House Assembly by 2 votes, due to the intense lobbying pressure by the White House. If anyone doubted that the Bush administration and in particular, George W. Bush, were passionately committed to a globalist agenda, those doubts are erased.
The White House pulled out all the stops to insure the passage of the globalistic Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
Leading up to the vote was a secret and closed meeting of the House Republican Conference, ordered by House Speaker Dennis Hassert (R-Ill). President George W. Bush personally addressed the group to persuade doubters to vote for passage. It is a rare occurrence for a sitting president to use such a technique to influence legislation.
{sidebar id=1}All the other "big hitters" came out as well: Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and others. Collectively, they hammered on holdouts until minds were changed.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vice President Cheney even camped out in an office just off the House floor.
The persuasion had more do to with political deals than with with ideology however. The Journal further notes that "Highway projects were dangled before undecided lawmakers, as well as assignments on top-shelf committees."
"If they voted their conscience, Cafta would fail by 50 votes in the House," claimed Augustine Tantillo, lobbyist for American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, a Cafta foe. ( House Narrowly Approves CAFTA , Wall Street Journal, 7/28/2005, p. A2)
Collectively, a great majority of U.S. citizens oppose globalization, and this is generally reflected in the makeup of Congress.
Once again, the American people have been run over by global elitists who presume to know what is best for them. This time, the leader of the pack is clearly identified as President George W. Bush.
Question: Should the Executive Branch influence an otherwise defeated Congressional vote by by offering highway projects and top-shelf committee memberships?
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