Vicente Fox Pulls No Punches in Promoting Mexico as an Economic Partner to America

Mexico's greatest cheerleader on advocating a partnership with our country came to southern California to promote the idea that the United States needs to work with the nation located directly south of us in order to compete with Asia and the countries of Europe in this 21st Century economy.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada spoke to a crowd of about 500 at the California Institute of Technology's Beckman Auditorium in Pasadena October 16 to discuss the contents of his newly published book and spread the word that our two countries and Canada must work together if they are to stay economically competitive in this rapidly changing global market.

Fox was in the state as part of a month-long American speaking tour to promote his presidential memoirs entitled 'Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith, and Dreams of a Mexican President.'

Fox served his one six-year term as President of Mexico from 2000 until December, 2006 when his successor Felipe Calderon replaced him. He has since announced plans to build Mexico's first presidential library which will hold all of his administration's documents and be a focal point in Latin America where leaders in all types of endeavors can gather to discuss ways to improve this hemisphere and world.

He appeared at the event in a gray suit and red tie, and began his talk by greeting everyone present in Spanish which brought much applause from many in the audience.

Fox began by espousing on why the Mexican immigrant workers now residing in the United States plays a major role in keeping the American economy going and why we should not worry about their ever-increasing numbers.

"Fear is affecting the debate on immigration," he proclaimed, adding that he is against the construction of any additional fencing on the common border separating the two countries.

"The wall in China did not work against their enemy," he said. "The wall in Berlin did not work against freedom. The money being used to build this wall should instead be used for infrastructure."

He then jokingly speculated that if the wall's proposed lengthening was to be continued over the next few years it would end up being constructed by Mexican workers anyway.

But Fox's main theme was why this country needs his nation's workers to do many of our more mundane and low-paying jobs.

"They are a hard working decent group of people who make an enormous contribution to this nation," he said. "Immigrants are not terrorists."