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kpete

(71,986 posts)
Fri May 31, 2019, 06:46 PM May 2019

President Lopez Obrador of Mexico responds to Trump's tariff threat & it's a beautiful thing

Mexico City, May 30, 2019

President Donald Trump,

I am aware of your latest position in regard to Mexico. In advance, I express to you that I don’t want confrontation. The peoples and nations that we represent deserve that we resort to dialogue and act with prudence and responsibility, in the face of any conflict in our relations, serious as it may be.

The greatest President of Mexico, Benito Juárez, maintained excellent relations with the Republican hero, Abraham Lincoln. Later, when Mexico nationalized its oil resources and industry, Democratic President Franklin D, Roosevelt understood the profound reasons that led our patriotic President Lázaro Cárdenas to act in favor of our sovereignty. By the way, President Roosevelt was a titan of freedom who proclaimed the four fundamental rights of man: the right to freedom of speech; the right to freedom of religion; the right to live free from fear; and the right to live free from misery.

With this in mind, we frame our policy on immigration. Human beings do not leave their villages for pleasure but out of necessity. That’s why, from the beginning of my government, I proposed opting for cooperation in development and aid for the Central American countries with productive investments to create jobs and resolve this painful situation.

You also know that we are fulfilling our responsibility to prevent, as much as possible and without violating human rights, any passage of the persons concerned through our country. It is worth remembering that - in a short time, Mexicans will not need to go to the United States and that migration will be optional, not forced. This is because we are fighting, like never before, the main problem in Mexico, corruption. And, in this way, our country will attain a powerful social dimension. Our countrymen will be able to work and be happy where they were born, where their families, their customs and their cultures are.

President Trump, social problems are not resolved by tariffs or coercive measures like turning a neighboring country overnight into a ghetto, an enclosed place for the migrants of the world, where they’re stigmatized, abused, persecuted, and excluded and the right to justice is denied to those who seek to work and to live free from want. The Statue of Liberty is not an empty symbol.

With all due respect, although you have the sovereign right to say it, the slogan "United States First" is a fallacy because universal justice and fraternity will prevail until the end of time, even over national borders.

Specifically, citizen President, I propose to deepen our dialogue, and seek alternatives to the immigration problem. And, please remember that I do not lack courage, that I am not cowardly or timorous, but that I act on principles. I believe that politics was invented to avoid confrontation and war, among other things. I do not believe in the Law of Talon, in a 'tooth for a tooth' or an 'eye for an eye' because, if we practiced it, we would all be toothless and one-eyed. I believe that as statesmen and even more so as patriots, we are obliged to seek peaceful solutions to controversies and to practice the beautiful ideal of non-violence, forever.

Finally, I suggest that you instruct your officials, if it doesn’t cause any inconvenience. that they attend to representatives of our government, headed by the Secretary of Foreign Relations, who will be in Washington tomorrow to reach an agreement for the benefit of our two nations.

Nothing by force. Everything by reason and human rights.

Your friend,

Andrés Manuel López Obrador

President of México


https://lopezobrador.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/30-05-2019-Carta-al-presidente-Trump.pdf

via:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/31/1861779/-President-Lopez-Obrador-of-Mexico-responds-to-Trump-s-tariff-threat-it-s-a-beautiful-thing?utm_campaign=trending

85 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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President Lopez Obrador of Mexico responds to Trump's tariff threat & it's a beautiful thing (Original Post) kpete May 2019 OP
Now that is a leader. redwitch May 2019 #1
He won't even read it. pandr32 May 2019 #21
Even if he read it, I doubt he'd have the depth to understand the message. Haggis for Breakfast May 2019 #42
He'd certainly need a translator. SergeStorms May 2019 #54
He will give the new Mexican President some offensive nick name that will be trump's response lunasun Jun 2019 #60
Oh yes malaise May 2019 #2
Trump can't read this letter PJMcK May 2019 #3
That was my thought - to many words davekriss May 2019 #5
He may be able to read the words, mgardener May 2019 #27
! Kali May 2019 #51
During the transition, national security and military briefers discovered that NCjack Jun 2019 #77
I love Mexico! lunatica May 2019 #4
the minimum wage in mexico is $5.10 per day Mosby May 2019 #16
No. lunatica May 2019 #18
I couldn't agree with you more about the Mexican people... world wide wally May 2019 #36
Well, to begin with, Mexico does not pay wages in dollars Xipe Totec May 2019 #25
Cost of living in Mexico: bhikkhu May 2019 #33
Can we swap presidents? nt procon May 2019 #6
I've suggested that very idea to my Mexican immigrant help. Sorry, Mexicans aren't Karadeniz May 2019 #15
They won't take Trump even if we paid them. lunatica May 2019 #20
What if.......... MyOwnPeace May 2019 #38
LOL! lunatica Jun 2019 #62
A cynic might think Trump wants to increase the number of immigrants sop May 2019 #7
A cynic would be right. Lonestarblue May 2019 #13
A great letter and message--as good as any I've ever read. panader0 May 2019 #8
a true leftist. Kurt V. May 2019 #9
lol Mosby May 2019 #17
We should all be free trade globalists riverine May 2019 #43
Free trade yes. Turin_C3PO May 2019 #47
Howard Dean on trade Mosby May 2019 #48
Lofty goals no doubt. riverine May 2019 #49
america is still the largest consumer economy Mosby Jun 2019 #75
countries that trade with each other openly GetRidOfThem Jun 2019 #72
lol. That's what i just said. try and keep up . Kurt V. Jun 2019 #84
... Scurrilous May 2019 #10
Now that's a man our country should want as a friend. I hope someday... Hekate May 2019 #11
Brilliant. K & R bronxiteforever May 2019 #12
Trump's representative will will scream for Mexico to pay for the Trump Wall. nt NCjack May 2019 #14
OK I realize this is TOTALLY out of bounds shanny May 2019 #26
Well, MyOwnPeace May 2019 #39
Entrale al toro, cabron. nt Xipe Totec May 2019 #19
President Bidden and Lopez will get along just fine. Ligyron May 2019 #22
That's "Bidan." nt Ilsa May 2019 #34
Er, ah, no, MyOwnPeace May 2019 #40
Check the spelling in the post I replied to. (Bidden) Ilsa May 2019 #45
Saw the first one........ MyOwnPeace Jun 2019 #71
AMLO gets it. shanny May 2019 #23
It's a shame tRump can't read. KPN May 2019 #24
Ivanka and Jared will give him a book report FakeNoose May 2019 #30
Was thinking the same. Duppers May 2019 #53
"America First" is a fallacy Ohiogal May 2019 #28
Intellect. eom sprinkleeninow May 2019 #29
Beautiful letter KSNY May 2019 #31
A beautifully written, heart-felt letter. WinstonSmith4740 May 2019 #32
President Obrador has done more to uplift our nation, in this one letter, than trump has ever done NBachers May 2019 #35
Yep. That was an epic monolouge ...I re-read it, hearing Josh Brolin as Thanos telling Tony Stark... Volaris Jun 2019 #59
Come on man, how do you expect animal tRump to respond to a reasonable statesman? pdsimdars May 2019 #37
Now THAT is how a true leader and humanitarian thinks. llmart May 2019 #41
Holy fuck, that was beautiful! denbot May 2019 #44
Incredibly eloquent Olafjoy May 2019 #46
Wow.. It's a shame the USA has Cha May 2019 #50
Mexico is lucky to have such a wonderful man as president. roamer65 May 2019 #52
AMLO is a great man ZeroSomeBrains May 2019 #55
Love that last line Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2019 #56
Trump doesn't read mshasta Jun 2019 #57
What a pity it will end up on the desk of an illiterate bully. n/t TygrBright Jun 2019 #58
Nothing by force. Everything by reason and human rights. lunasun Jun 2019 #61
This message was self-deleted by its author Midnight Writer Jun 2019 #63
I think the Mexican people deserve a better analogy than that. ZZenith Jun 2019 #68
OK. Midnight Writer Jun 2019 #69
Thanks ZZenith Jun 2019 #85
Unfortunately Trump doesn't know how to read garybeck Jun 2019 #64
Pearls before swine Blue Owl Jun 2019 #65
Way too many words captain queeg Jun 2019 #66
Link to DW nitpicker Jun 2019 #67
TRUMP: SkyDaddy7 Jun 2019 #70
This long,eloquent and just plain sensable letter will probably get a one line patricia92243 Jun 2019 #73
Trump couldn't get past the salutation - TheCowsCameHome Jun 2019 #74
He pointedly referred to Trump's "America First" kskiska Jun 2019 #76
That is simply superb. It's how a true, democratically elected leader responds to a bullying tyrannt The Liberal Lion Jun 2019 #78
Oooooh, he's so good! You're lucky to have him, Mexico donkeypoofed Jun 2019 #79
I'm currently in Mexico. a la izquierda Jun 2019 #80
You know this letter is too long for Trump to read... if it was yuiyoshida Jun 2019 #81
too many words for Trump to read that. TeamPooka Jun 2019 #82
He lost Donny Two-Scoops at "prudence and responsibility". trof Jun 2019 #83

pandr32

(11,581 posts)
21. He won't even read it.
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:23 PM
May 2019

He'll let someone else read it and tell him whether it flattered him or not.

SergeStorms

(19,200 posts)
54. He'd certainly need a translator.
Fri May 31, 2019, 11:36 PM
May 2019

Someone who can translate Spanish into 'Dumb-fuckese'. And it's can't take longer than 2 minutes, unless there are multiple pictures of Donnie-Dumb-Fuck or racy pictures of Ivanka.

mgardener

(1,816 posts)
27. He may be able to read the words,
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:39 PM
May 2019

But will not be able to process or comprehend what the letter means.

He is unfit for office.

NCjack

(10,279 posts)
77. During the transition, national security and military briefers discovered that
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 10:31 AM
Jun 2019

Trump cannot read, even simple text in bullet form. To make it understandable, the simple text had be accompanied with a cartoon. That is, Trump's highest level of "reading" is essentially comic books for elementary school children.

And, he will not read those unless an adult projects the images & text onto a screen, reads the text to him, and explains the image. After 10 minutes, a break is need to discuss golf.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
18. No.
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:22 PM
May 2019

But I still love Mexico and I love Mexicans. How do you feel about Mexicans? I think they’re the most friendly, welcoming, fun loving, family loving people I know. And I love their food and their culture and their music.

Do you have a problem with that?

world wide wally

(21,742 posts)
36. I couldn't agree with you more about the Mexican people...
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:03 PM
May 2019

I wish we would learn a few things from them.

Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)
25. Well, to begin with, Mexico does not pay wages in dollars
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:31 PM
May 2019

So right off the bat, your statement is bullshit.

Second, it doesn't matter how much you're paid, but how much you're paid relative to the cost of living.

If you make $1,000 an hour but a tomato costs $2,000.00 you are thoroughly screwed.

bhikkhu

(10,715 posts)
33. Cost of living in Mexico:
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:53 PM
May 2019
https://transferwise.com/us/blog/cost-of-living-in-mexico

Takes a bit of reading and currency conversion, but for the most part it can be said that you can make a living on minimum wage there. That is, you can afford a roof and food in most places. Which wouldn't seem like a very high bar or admirable standard, except that you pretty much can't do that here in the US working for minimum wage, most places.

Worth mentioning, the cost of health insurance is absurdly low there in comparison, not even in the ballpark of what we put up with. The yearly cost there - that's what I pay every month, even with a big employer subsidy. My out of pocket for the last little incident I had here, even after the insurance coverage, would have paid for 14 years of insurance in Mexico.

Karadeniz

(22,513 posts)
15. I've suggested that very idea to my Mexican immigrant help. Sorry, Mexicans aren't
Fri May 31, 2019, 07:46 PM
May 2019

interested in having trump in their country. Que lastima!

MyOwnPeace

(16,926 posts)
38. What if..........
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:31 PM
May 2019

we deducted it from what they're gonna' pay for the wall?

(Just in case you're a troll and needed this)

sop

(10,167 posts)
7. A cynic might think Trump wants to increase the number of immigrants
Fri May 31, 2019, 07:02 PM
May 2019

Further damage the Mexican economy, increase the people's desperation and caravans may materialize in time for 2020 election.

Lonestarblue

(9,981 posts)
13. A cynic would be right.
Fri May 31, 2019, 07:36 PM
May 2019

Trump is helping create this crisis by cutting off all economic aid to the neediest Central American countries. After all, without a crisis, he can’t keep his supporters salivating over the notion of building a big beautiful wall to keep those dirty brown people out of the US. I’ll take the brown people over the person in the White House any day.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
8. A great letter and message--as good as any I've ever read.
Fri May 31, 2019, 07:07 PM
May 2019

Trump won't read it. Even if he did he wouldn't understand it.

 

riverine

(516 posts)
43. We should all be free trade globalists
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:42 PM
May 2019

like FDR, JFK, WJC, and BHO.

Cooperating and trading with other countries is the goal.

Tariffs are evil as Trump shows. Fake Democrats like BS agree with Trump.

Mosby

(16,306 posts)
48. Howard Dean on trade
Fri May 31, 2019, 10:16 PM
May 2019
Q: What about free trade?

A: We’ve gone the first mile. I don’t disagree with the premise of the free traders. But we need an emerging middle class in these countries, and we’re not getting one. So now is the time to have labor and environmental standards attached to trade agreements.

Q: What if they say no?

A: Then I’d say, “Fine, that’s the end of free trade.”

Q: What do you mean, that’s the end of free trade? Then we slap tariffs on these countries?

A: Yes.

Q: So you’d be in favor of tariffs at that point.

A: If necessary. Look, Jimmy Carter did this in foreign policy. If you can’t get people to observe human rights, and say that we’re going to accept products from countries that have kids working no overtime, no time and a half, no reasonable safety precautions-- I don’t think we ought to be buying those kinds of products in this country. We’re enabling that to happen.

Source: Joe Klein Interview, John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation , Mar 26, 2003



Free trade must equal fair trade. We are subsidizing the sometimes awful environmental practices of our trading partners, and we are subsidizing the profits of multinational corporations by not having international labor standards. If free trade allows General Motors to set up a plant in Mexico, free trade should allow the UAW to organize that plant under conditions similar to those in the US. This isn’t wage parity; I am asking for shared ground rules.

Source: Campaign web site, DeanForAmerica.com, “On the Issues” , Nov 30, 2002


We’ve only done half the job with globalization. You’ve globalized the rights of big corporations to do business anywhere in the country, but what we now need to do is globalize the rights of workers, labor unions, environmentalists and human rights. If you do that, you raise the standard of living in other countries. And what happens is our jobs stop going away because the cost of production goes up

Source: Democratic 2004 primary Debate in Greenville SC , Jan 29, 2004


http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Howard_Dean_Free_Trade.htm





 

riverine

(516 posts)
49. Lofty goals no doubt.
Fri May 31, 2019, 10:40 PM
May 2019

But we had a chance to set trade rules (including labor and environmental standards) with the TPP and Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Liz Warren all shat on the deal for selfish political purposes. Obama had it right.


As a result we are nearing a global trade war with the US as protagonist.

China has become the manufacturing alternative to the USA WITHOUT an FTA with the USA. Howard Dean's bleary eyed optimism of 2002 has been replaced with a desperate US as international beggar.

Mosby

(16,306 posts)
75. america is still the largest consumer economy
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 09:54 AM
Jun 2019

China needs us a lot more than we need all the crap that we buy from them.

Trump has no idea how to do tariffs properly, it needs to be a transparent algorithm tied to wages, workplace safety, human rights, building codes and environmental laws. That way a country can improve its "score" and lower tariffs by making changes to the indices I mentioned above.

Hekate

(90,674 posts)
11. Now that's a man our country should want as a friend. I hope someday...
Fri May 31, 2019, 07:28 PM
May 2019

...that we will have a president who will hold out a hand to him.

 

shanny

(6,709 posts)
26. OK I realize this is TOTALLY out of bounds
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:33 PM
May 2019

but: just imagine if rump treated his representatives the way Kim Jung Il does.

I wonder if he would still HAVE any representatives, even as brain-dead as they are.

It's just an idea...that being, I wonder if they have actually thought this whole thing through.

MyOwnPeace

(16,926 posts)
39. Well,
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:37 PM
May 2019

they quit in record time anyhow, so yes, that may certainly give them some incentive to perhaps, as Fagan from "Oliver" said, " I'm reviewing.....the situation..............."

Ilsa

(61,695 posts)
45. Check the spelling in the post I replied to. (Bidden)
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:56 PM
May 2019

I guess you didn't hear about dotard's twitter thread with misspellings, including him calling the VP "Bidan." (I know it's Biden.)

MyOwnPeace

(16,926 posts)
71. Saw the first one........
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 06:58 AM
Jun 2019

but never did see dotard's version. I'm surprised it was that civil instead of something nasty, which is certainly his style..............

FakeNoose

(32,634 posts)
30. Ivanka and Jared will give him a book report
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:49 PM
May 2019

... No more than three sentences and nothing longer than 3-syllable words.

Ohiogal

(31,989 posts)
28. "America First" is a fallacy
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:46 PM
May 2019

He is so right. He gets it. That ought to make Dopey Donald stark raving mad....

WinstonSmith4740

(3,056 posts)
32. A beautifully written, heart-felt letter.
Fri May 31, 2019, 08:52 PM
May 2019

Unfortunately, Trump will never be able to concentrate long enough for Kelly Anne to read it to him.

NBachers

(17,108 posts)
35. President Obrador has done more to uplift our nation, in this one letter, than trump has ever done
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:02 PM
May 2019

in his entire lifetime.

Volaris

(10,270 posts)
59. Yep. That was an epic monolouge ...I re-read it, hearing Josh Brolin as Thanos telling Tony Stark...
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 12:18 AM
Jun 2019

'I HOPE THEY REMEMBER YOU.'

just totally fuckin brutal...what an amazing takedown lol...


 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
37. Come on man, how do you expect animal tRump to respond to a reasonable statesman?
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:06 PM
May 2019

I mean, really. Everyone seems to act like they haven't observed him for the last few years.

llmart

(15,536 posts)
41. Now THAT is how a true leader and humanitarian thinks.
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:40 PM
May 2019

I'll take him or the guy to the North of us any day. Why oh why are we stuck with the imbecile while our northern and southern neighbors get real leaders?

Olafjoy

(937 posts)
46. Incredibly eloquent
Fri May 31, 2019, 09:59 PM
May 2019

What an amazing letter from the President of México!
i1 will never read it. To many big words. Too long. All I can think of is that Troll in Harry Potter trying to read a play by Shakespeare. One is an idiot who yells like a banshee and tries to bash people and the other is a mythical beast who gets in a scuffle with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

ZeroSomeBrains

(638 posts)
55. AMLO is a great man
Fri May 31, 2019, 11:46 PM
May 2019

Frankly he is one of my heros right now in these dark times. He is the best leader of any North American country right now.

mshasta

(2,108 posts)
57. Trump doesn't read
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 12:09 AM
Jun 2019

He doesn’t give two fks about Americans and surely won’t be a fk about Mexico

Response to kpete (Original post)

garybeck

(9,942 posts)
64. Unfortunately Trump doesn't know how to read
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 01:26 AM
Jun 2019

And if you did this is too long for him

He will never read this

Blue Owl

(50,356 posts)
65. Pearls before swine
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 01:35 AM
Jun 2019

If only trump had the maturity and intellect of an adult instead of a juvenile delinquent...

captain queeg

(10,188 posts)
66. Way too many words
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 01:51 AM
Jun 2019

Needs to boil it down to about 2 dozen at the most with some crayon drawings. Even then you’d. Have to use his name in every sentence to have a chance of him looking at it.

patricia92243

(12,595 posts)
73. This long,eloquent and just plain sensable letter will probably get a one line
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 08:35 AM
Jun 2019

tweet from the malignant buffoon.

kskiska

(27,045 posts)
76. He pointedly referred to Trump's "America First"
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 10:25 AM
Jun 2019

as "United States First," since Mexico is part of America, too, as well as every other country in this hemisphere.

The Liberal Lion

(1,414 posts)
78. That is simply superb. It's how a true, democratically elected leader responds to a bullying tyrannt
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 11:02 AM
Jun 2019

Very strong indeed.

a la izquierda

(11,794 posts)
80. I'm currently in Mexico.
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 11:45 AM
Jun 2019

It will be interesting to see how things play out over the next couple weeks. There is a “buy Mexican” movement that is beginning to coalesce. At the same time, prices have been rising here because of the decline of the peso in the past couple years.
The EZLN was out last night protesting in the central square of Mérida. So we’ll see.

yuiyoshida

(41,831 posts)
81. You know this letter is too long for Trump to read... if it was
Sat Jun 1, 2019, 01:57 PM
Jun 2019

tweeted maybe he might understand it, and he refuses to have someone read it to him cause it
makes him look weak.. not to mention that Trump thinks people with brown or dark skin are not "stable geniuses" like he claims to be.

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