President Bush touted global trade as fuel for the economic recovery Monday, a day when the World Trade Organization declared the administration had illegally hindered trade by slapping tariffs on imported steel.
Bush spoke at a BMW plant here that manufactures Z-4 Roadster convertibles and X-5 sport-utility vehicles. Unpainted, partially finished steel cars displayed behind Bush stood as reminders of a dispute that moved one step closer to a trade war Monday.
The appearance came between two fund-raisers that pushed his re-election war chest close to $100 million.
The president made no mention of the steel debate in his travels to Arkansas and South Carolina, instead reiterating his support for "free and fair trade."
File under: talks the talk. Cross-reference: can't walk the walk.
A non-violent, counter-dominant, left-liberal, possibly charismatic, quasi anarcho-libertarian Quaker's take on politics, volleyball, and other esoterica.
Lo alecha ha-m'lacha ligmor, v'lo atah ben chorin l'hibateyl mimenah.
