Pool Report of McCain's Mexico Luncheon

Industrial Club Pool Report

Not a whole lot to report, apart from a little jab at Obama. See below.

We arrived at the Mexico City Marriott and went up to what appeared to be a library at the Club de Industriales, where McCain attended a luncheon with the American Chamber of Mexico.

We sat around for about 40 minutes waiting for McCain to come talk to us. Brooke came in just after noon and announced he would give a statement but would not be taking any questions. During his statement, McCain said he would expand on his meeting with President Calderon at the avail later at the police station. He described the meeting with Calderon as "very informative."

Here is the bulk of his statement:

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to be here with the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico for today's lunch. This morning we had the opportunity to meet with President Calderon and discussed the issues affecting the relations between our friends and neighbors to the south of our country. I was joined, obviously, by my wife Cindy and Sen. Lieberman and Sen. Graham. I look forward and am pleased to meet with Mexican and American business leaders here. I look forward to the opportunity to learn firsthand about their experiences under NAFTA, and how they view the future of our intertwined economies. I believe the future is bright. Mexico is already a crucial trading partner of the United States. Between 1993 and 2007, trade among the NAFTA nations more than tripled. Trade between Mexico and the United States expanded enormously, and U.S. exports to Mexico have increased 25 percent since 2004. We in America are facing great economic difficulties and we have to work hard to provide education and training programs for our displaced workers and give them another opportunity. I believe the green technologies in the United States of America will create millions of jobs, if not hundreds of thousands. I believe that green technologies -- whether it be nuclear power or hybrid cars, or battery-driven cars, or wind and  solar or tide – are directly the factor that will improve America's economy and get us on our feet again, along with the specific proposals on energy independence I have discussed at length over the last few weeks.

This was the most interesting part, where McCain took a subtle shot at Obama, without mentioning him by name:

I am disappointed at the suggestion that the United States should unilaterally reopen NAFTA. If there are issues that exist between our countries -- whether it be the United States, Canada and Mexico, or other nations with whom we have engaged and ratified treaties – the best way to do that is not in a unilateral fashion, but mutual respect of sovereignty of our respective nations.