My firm's media monitoring software downloaded an article today from the Arizona Sun. It was really instructive in its advice to Obama on the way he should handle his communications while attending the Summit of Americas in Trinidad, early next year.
"Resurrect the job of special envoy to the Americas, as you suggested in the campaign. But turn it into a Cabinet-level job, or appoint a very high-profile figure for the position. Be bold: Offer it to former President Clinton as part of other larger diplomatic missions."
"Commit yourself to presenting within the next two years a new comprehensive immigration reform bill that allows an earned path to legalization to more than 11 million undocumented workers. Mexico and Central American (and Jamaican) economies depend heavily on their family remittances, which are declining rapidly at the very time when these countries are facing a drop in exports to the U.S. market. You have to act swiftly to avert a dangerous crisis on the U.S. southern border."
"Bypass Chavez. Venezuela's narcissist-Leninist leader will do all kinds of pirouettes to grab your attention and seek to propel himself as a world leader. Just ignore him and focus your energies on building better ties with Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Peru. Expand President Bush's plan to work with Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean to jointly produce sugar-based ethanol, which is cheaper and environmentally cleaner than U.S.-made corn-based ethanol. This would both help reduce U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil and boost Latin American and Caribbean economies."
"Announce a hemispheric healthcare agreement, whereby Americans with and without health insurance will be able to get lower-cost and more personalized health care at U.S.-certified hospitals in Latin American countries. Medical tourism can pour billions of dollars into Latin America, while helping reduce the U.S. budget deficit. Those are just a few simple ideas to begin with."
"Good luck, President-elect Obama. Even though your closest ties abroad are with Africa, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to open a new chapter in U.S.-Latin American relations."
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