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Obama Pens Op-Ed Teeing up the Summit of the Americas

April 16, 2009 10:49 AM

MillerABC News' Sunlen Miller reports:

In advance of traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for the Summit of the Americas this weekend, President Obama has penned an op-ed, running in fourteen papers in the region, translated into Spanish and Portuguese. 

At the top, Obama makes note of the United States' failure in the past to engage neighboring countries fully and calls for a renewal of partnerships.

“We have been too easily distracted by other priorities, and have failed to see that our own progress is tied directly to progress throughout the Americas. My administration is committed to the promise of a new day. We will renew and sustain a broader partnership between the United States and the hemisphere on behalf of our common prosperity and our common security.”

Teeing up the goals of the two-day Summit of the Americas in the Port of Spain, the president calls for collective action on the economy.

“The United States is working to advance prosperity in the hemisphere by jumpstarting our own recovery. In doing so, we will help spur trade, investment, remittances, and tourism that provides a broader base for prosperity in the hemisphere.”

The president adds that part of laying the foundation for long-term prosperity is to confront the challenge of climate change and renewable energy, which administration aides say is a top priority for President Obama to discuss at the summit.

“Together, we have both the responsibility to act, and the opportunity to leave behind a legacy of greater prosperity and security. That is why I look forward to pursuing a new Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas that will help us learn from one another, share technologies, leverage investment, and maximize our comparative advantage," he writes.

The president says that too many in the hemisphere are forced to live in fear, and addresses the need to advance common security.

“Security for our citizens must be advanced through our commitment to partner with those who are courageously battling drug cartels, gangs and other criminal networks throughout the Americas. Our efforts start at home. By reducing demand for drugs and curtailing the illegal flow of weapons and bulk cash south across our border, we can advance security in the United States and beyond.”

The president, who will meet with Mexico’s President Calderon this afternoon and will likely discuss border security, says that going forward, a lasting dialogue in the hemisphere is necessary to adapt to new threats as they come.

After a day in Mexico City, President Obama will travel to the Port of Spain on Friday where he will meet with other democratically-elected leaders in the Americas. Some members of the Organization of American States have voiced support for returning Cuba to active membership.

“The Summit gives every democratically-elected leader in the Americas the opportunity to reaffirm our shared values,” President Obama writes. “Each of our countries has pursued its own democratic journey, but we must be joined together in our commitment to liberty, equality, and human rights. That is why I look forward to the day when every country in the hemisphere can take its seat at the table consistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. And just as the United States seeks that goal in reaching out to the Cuban people, we expect all of our friends in the hemisphere to join together in supporting liberty, equality, and human rights for all Cubans.”

Obama also discusses the steps his administration has taken this week to amend Cuba policy in easing travel restrictions to Cuban-Americans.

President Obama’s op-ed ran in the Trinidad Express, St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, La Naci (Argentina), O Globo (Brazil), El Mercurio (Chile), El Tiempo (Colombia), La Naci (Costa Rica), El Comercio (Ecuador), El Universal (Mexico), El Comercio (Peru), El Nuevo Dia (Puerto Rico), El Paz (Uruguay) and El Nacional (Venezuela).

-- Sunlen Miller

April 16, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)

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President Obama needs to talk to his wife about being proud of my country finally and adopt some of that view himself as the President. I am really getting tired of our Commander in Chief stating time and again he not proud of our country.

Posted by: JeffinSac | Apr 18, 2009 10:18:23 AM

"American legion has been named a 'HATE GROUP' by the leftist extremeist that did the report"

Yes that left wing extremist who was a holdover from the Bush administration.

All the right wing has are lies and fake outrage.

Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 16, 2009 4:45:20 PM

"Just go there and tell them how America is not a Christian nation,"

We're not a Christian nation.

"how arrogant we are,"

Yes because Freedom Fries was the height of humble diplomacy.

"how he will weaken our military."

Defense budget is up 4%.

Last I checked the F-22 and airborne laser project aren't of much use against men in the mountains.

Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 16, 2009 4:43:23 PM

tea-bagging: As it should be!

Posted by: dl | Apr 16, 2009 1:52:38 PM

good-bad, right-wrong, safe-risky....let's continue to attack everything Obama.
just like attacking Bush was un-American.
attacking everything Obama is the new American way

Posted by: tea-bagging | Apr 16, 2009 1:33:40 PM

Are Sasha and Malia picking out the gifts again?

What is Michelle wearing?

These are the most important issues.

And remember to take along Obama's 12 teleprompters.

Posted by: sammy | Apr 16, 2009 1:23:00 PM

Just go there and tell them how America is not a Christian nation, how arrogant we are, how he will weaken our military.

Blame America and Bush--and everything will go smoothly for Obama.

And he needs to remember to bow down a few times.

Posted by: nick | Apr 16, 2009 1:19:09 PM

I do not know who the GOP are trying to fool because these so-called “tea parties” are really an attempt at Disguised Racism…, if a white man had been elected President, they would not be doing this. They know that there is still some right-wing extremists who hate blacks, jews, etc., and they want to get this element going again. That is why the Govenor of Texas is so ready to secede from the Union! I say shame on the GOP, Rush, Fox, Hannity and Scarborough. What they are doing is evil. GOP love to spout that Pres. Obama's initiatives will "bankrupt" the country...., which is laughable because the GOP have already done that and some more. What Pres. Obama is trying to do is invest in America now and for the future.

Posted by: bacaangel | Apr 16, 2009 1:03:32 PM

HEY ! Isn't this great ? Another opportunity for Mr. O'Babble to put-down America.

Posted by: Ron | Apr 16, 2009 12:07:15 PM

Obama is renewing and mending foreign relationships with other countries and his approach is working to the benefit of Americans and the world. If you didnt know it before the world was starting to dislike Americans, yes the world does think that Americans are arrogant especially the former Pres Bush. It was because of bad foreign policy.

Posted by: Trish | Apr 16, 2009 11:52:48 AM

A link to a full translation of the op-ed would be awfully nice.

This seems like a very useful tactic to, with a pretty low time commitment, develop some public support for our agenda at the Summit of the Americas.

Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 16, 2009 11:52:04 AM

Right wing nut jobs will say that its another 'blame America' moment, despite the fact that everyone and their mother understands that Obama is talking about Bush, not America.

Unfortunately, Obama brings it on himself by being so oblique and too nice to his predecessor.

Posted by: Flash Override | Apr 16, 2009 11:40:42 AM

More of his We're Sorry We Suck '09 Tour? I'm sorry he's the president. How dare he talk about promoting human rights when he sucks up to dictators who imprison dissenters like the Castros. I guess he'll do anything to be liked, at any cost.

Posted by: Oh Please | Apr 16, 2009 11:25:49 AM


Obama: Mister Un-American!

Posted by: dl | Apr 16, 2009 11:17:19 AM

Conservatives will use this to slam Obama, portraying him as "out of touch" on the economy.

Posted by: matt | Apr 16, 2009 11:14:17 AM

So he is given another chance to tell everyone that Americans are bad people and he apologizes for being an arrogant American
He can also promote his homeland security chiefs report that the American Military are nothing m ore than terrorist and the American legion has been named a 'HATE GROUP' by the leftist extremeist that did the report,and any no good American that owns a gun or does n ot believe in abortion are terrorist

Posted by: The Media is the problem | Apr 16, 2009 11:13:42 AM

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