Calderon's Tour Of America: Hobnobbing With The Very Rich, And Demagoguing The Illegal Alien Community

Memo From Mexico, By Allan Wall

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has finally arrived for his first visit to the U.S. as president of Mexico.

As expected, Calderon’s principal emphasis is on Mexicans in the U.S. "to strengthen the ties and deepen the dialogues with the Mexican communities" north of the border.

(Why don't U.S. presidents come here to Mexico to "strengthen ties" with us gringos who live south of the border?)

Despite the fact that it's Calderon's first presidential trip to the U.S., he is not visiting the President of the U.S., George W. Bush, as Vicente Fox used to. I guess he figures Bush is a lame duck. He's right about that.

Neither is Calderon visiting any of the presidential primary frontrunners. I don't think he's worried about the next president. Last week in an interview with the LA Times, Calderon said of the U.S. primaries that

"It seems to me that the most radical and anti-immigrant candidates have been left behind and have been put in their place by their own electorate."[Mexican president foresees friendlier U.S., By Héctor Tobar, February 7, 2008]

In other words, whether Obama, Hillary, or McCain is elected, Calderon figures he'll have him/her in his pocket. He's probably right about that too.

Nevertheless, Calderon has been very busy, visiting representatives of the "Mexican Community" and various American politicians who see things his way as well. It's been quite a productive visit, from his perspective.

We've become accustomed to Mexican presidents and other officials openly meddling in U.S. immigration policy (and to the fact that our own leaders don't seem to object). This trip was no exception.