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Rudy Giuliani on World Trade: 'America Is a Great Brand'
Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani pledged Thursday to give the United States a bigger role in the global marketplace, especially in the Middle East. "The global economy is a wonderful thing for America," Giuliani said, adding later: "America is a brand after all — a great brand." The former New York mayor described his trade and economic goals Thursday at a campaign stop in Novi, a suburb about 21 miles west of Detroit, where he addressed about 500 Republicans at a fundraising dinner. The Michigan Republican Party and state House Republican Campaign Committee will share $1 million raised at the event. Giuliani said creating new markets for U.S. products around the world will make America safer. American businesses helped undermine Communism by doing business in the USSR, he said, and can similarly combat extremist ideologies in the Middle East.
Story Continues Below Giuliani said the Middle East is isolated, but its residents share common goals with Americans, including a better life, economic security and ending terrorism. "We should do more business with them and engage them more," Giuliani said. He proposed changing the Voice of America and other international broadcasters to promote the idea of freedom and U.S. values abroad, expanding exchange programs with Arabs and Muslims, and increasing the size of the Foreign Service. He suggested improving the work force with incentives for job training, more science and math education and an expansion of visas for skilled foreign workers to meet market demand. He said he would aggressively push for free trade by reducing corporate taxes and regulations and convincing lawmakers to restore the president's power to seal "fast-track" trade agreements without congressional intervention. Following his speech, Giuliani said Americans should embrace globalization — even tens of thousands of Michigan manufacturing workers who have lost their jobs — but added the free-trade playing field must be leveled. "Americans should never be afraid of competition," he said, noting the U.S. must figure out what products to sell in China and India. "They need the things that we have." He said Americans "should not feel sorry for ourselves," but should help transition the economy and capitalize on an opportunity. Giuliani's goal of expanding U.S. involvement in the global economy and strengthening the country's reputation abroad is among a dozen proposals he calls the "Twelve Commitments." They address crime, spending, education and other areas. Democrats, however, said Giuliani is committed to President Bush's failed Iraq war policies. His speech came the same day the Bush administration reported that Iraq has achieved only limited military and political progress toward a democratic society. The U.S. House also voted to order the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning within 120 days. "Giuliani has been absent, out of touch and obstinate in his support of Bush's failed Iraq policies," said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer. "Even though the Bush administration has failed yet again in Iraq according to Bush's own benchmarks, Giuliani still supports Bush's failed policies."
Giuliani told the GOP crowd that Democrats who want to "retreat" from the Iraq war do not understand the threat of Islamic terrorism. He said wars should not be fought on timelines. Giuliani also delivered a message to Michigan: Democratic proposals that raise taxes to help balance the state's budget $1.6 billion shortfall are a bad idea and would lead to jobs leaving Michigan. He said he received a tax-hike proposal when he was mayor of New York at a time when that city faced deficits. He said he threw the proposal in the trash, and the city's economy was turned around through tax cuts and other initiatives. After the event, Giuliani was asked by reporters why he did not attend the NAACP's annual convention in nearby Detroit Thursday. He said he was not sure he was invited and added that he personally did not find out about the event until Thursday afternoon. Only one Republican candidate attended the convention, and other top rivals such as Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney also stayed away.
© 2007 Associated Press.
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
2008 Presidential Race
Inside Cover Stories
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