Dear Señor Presidente
On the contrary, sir, unless you wish to reprise that little incident between us, Mexico does indeed stop at the border:
President Felipe Calderon blasted U.S. immigration policies on Sunday and promised to fight harder to protect the rights of Mexicans in the U.S., saying "Mexico does not end at its borders."
The criticism earned Calderon a standing ovation during his first state-of-the nation address.
"We strongly protest the unilateral measures taken by the U.S. Congress and government that have only persecuted and exacerbated the mistreatment of Mexican undocumented workers," he said. "The insensitivity toward those who support the U.S. economy and society has only served as an impetus to reinforce the battle ... for their rights."
He also reached out to the millions of Mexicans living in the United States, many illegally, saying: "Where there is a Mexican, there is Mexico."
No, not really. Once your people cross the border, legally or illegally, they are in the United States and are subject to United States law, regardless of the matricula consulares your government issues. You can thump your nationalist chest all you want, but remember what Porfirio Diaz said:
¡Pobre México! ¡Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos!
Seriously, I sympathize with President Calderon; his incredibly close election election victory was challenged by a bunch of leftist thug-losers who base their appeal on a revanchist anti-Americanism and a primitive class warfare. I'm sure this portion of his speech was meant as a sop to nationalism in order to keep that faction happy or, at least, appeased. My impression of him during the election campaign was of an intelligent man who wants to liberalize Mexico's sclerotic economy, to provide his people with better opportunities at home. I wish him luck.
Just don't expect us not to roll up our sleeves, sir, if we're slagged unfairly.
(hat tip: Patterico's Pontifications)
LINKS: Hot Air noticed this, too. Blue Crab Boulevard isn't too happy, either. More at Flopping Aces and Cop the Truth.
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