Business, diplomats wary of Lopez Obrador

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Mar. 31, 2006email thisprint this
Business, diplomats wary of Lopez Obrador
By Jay Root
Knight Ridder Newspapers

MEXICO CITY - Some diplomats and businessmen are spooked by the possibility that former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will become Mexico's next president.

But with three months to go before the election, most admit that they have little hard information on how an administration led by the tough-talking leftist would affect Mexico's attitude toward business and foreign investment.

In a country where the average wage is less than $2 an hour and millions have moved to the U.S. in search of better jobs, Lopez Obrador's populist message has been a winner. The 52-year-old widower has led opinion polls for more than two years. A Mitofsky poll conducted this week for the Televisa news network showed him leading with 37.5 percent, compared with 30.6 percent for Felipe Calderon, the candidate for President Vicente Fox's National Action Party (PAN in its Spanish initials), and 28.8 percent for Roberto Madrazo of the once-dominant Institutional Revolution Party (PRI).

His harshest critics have likened Lopez Obrador to Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, who likes to call President Bush a "donkey" and "Mr. Danger."
(snip/...)

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/14234210.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. As the US goes to the right, Central & South America goes left

Chaves was only the first populist president - won't it be interesting if Sr Obrador wins? We'll know that could be a possibility if Fox decides to install Diebold voting machines in the cities.

[MrPrax]

2. "little hard information"

so Busy-men and diplomats will just make 'shit' up or 'smear' with guilt by association...why would they mention Chavez? Different country, no?

[David__77]

3. I hope he wins, and confirms their fears.

I hope is more like Chavez than they fear possible. I hope he is as resolute in condemning imperialism and standing in solidarity with progressives in this country, including among Mexican immigrants to this country. Fox is a quisling.

[K-W]

4. My thoughts exactly.

Throw the diplomats and businessmen and the rest of the crooks out.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Good!

You know that Lopez Obrador is doing something right.

Of course, I can already see the posts: "Lopez is a brutal thug, just like Chavez & Castro!"

[Jack Rabbit]

6. With endorsements like that, he sounds like a winner

Let me translate from Newspeak to English:

Diplomats: Bush junta political lackies.

Business: Bush junta financial backers.

They have no currencie with me, and probably not the Mexican people.

[bemildred]

7. Fuck the diplomats and businessmen, they got us into this mess.

Self-centered assholes, all of them.