Mexican President's Speech Silences GOP Critics

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

When Mexico's previous president, Vicente Fox visited the California legislature in 2006, the members of the Rush Limbaugh Caucus (a.k.a., legislative Repubicans) rudely protested his visit with yellow "No Mas" buttons, while others boycotted the address. This year -- with pro-immigration reformer John McCain at the top of the GOP ticket -- it appears that legislative Republicans are changing their tune after the new Mexican President Felipe Calderon appeared before a joint convention of the Assembly and Senate in Sacramento today.
 
Gone were the buttons. And the red meat anti-immigration rhetoric -- other than that from a few fervent critics -- was also (thankfully) missing. Hats off to GOP Assembly Leader Mike Villines and Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman for helping Speaker Nunez usher in some civility toward Mexico's dynamic new leader after the embarassment of the Fox visit.
 
Even the national Fox News reporter and producer who were covering the event appeared to be stunned.
 
Calderon's speech appeared to please both sides of the aisle. "I want to assure you that Mexico does not encourage its citizens to migrate," he said."I am a President who is not glad to see Mexicans migrating to the United States."
 
He stressed massive investment in infrastructure in human services and children's health care, as well as tax and pension reform. These initiatives, he said, are designed to keep Mexico strong -- and help prevent its citizens from seeking prosperity across the border.
 
"I strongly believe that ensuring a better future for California and Mexico demands cooperation between us," Calderon continued. "Ensuring a better future for California and Mexico requires making immigration an orderly, humane and safe process, respectful of human rights."

Image courtesy Sacramento Bee.