Bush: N.O. place for commerce, culture
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NEW ORLEANS — After dancing to Dixieland jazz Monday night in Gallier Hall, President Bush delivered his most personal remarks about New Orleans during a two-day North American Leaders Summit, one in which aides had said the president won’t be focusing on New Orleans recovery but on cooperative endeavors with Mexico and Canada.
“For centuries this city has been a place for commerce and culture across the globe,” Bush said, referring to the Crescent City before a U.S. Chamber of Commerce audience in a pink Gallier Hall ballroom. “One thing is for certain, New Orleans has come a long way since Hurricane Katrina. And we’ve tried to do our part at the federal level.”
Bush cited the commitment of more than $120 billion in federal funds to rebuild New Orleans levees, schools, the criminal justice system and the city’s overall infrastructure.
Already, the city’s comeback can be seen in trade, Bush said about one of his key topics at the trilateral summit. In 2007, Louisiana surpassed $30 billion in exports for the first time, he said.
“The fundamental question continues to be: Will we continue to be a country that believes in free and fair trade?”
Bush saved his biggest barb Monday for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for her role in blocking a Colombian free trade agreement Bush is pushing. Bush said the agreement would lower the cost of U.S. products going to Colombia and make them more successful in the South American country.
Products from Colombia already enter the U.S. tariff-free for the most part, rendering an imbalance for U.S. farmers, small business, manufacturers and consumers, he said.
Pelosi said the Bush administration didn’t give the trade deal a fair airing with adequate input from congressional leaders.
“It’s an unfortunate decision. The deal is dead unless she changes her mind,” Bush said, raising his voice and adding, “It’s about time Congress put aside petty politics and did what’s right for the United States of America.”
From a spirited rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” at Gallier Hall, Bush was whisked via motorcade to another New Orleans institution, where he dined with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
The surprise came in who dined with the heads of state. At least three New Orleans Saints were in that number: running backs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister, along with quarterback Drew Brees. They were joined by an off-the-field saint in Archbishop Alfred Hughes.
Along with Gov. Bobby Jindal and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, dignitaries in the audience also included New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul and LSU football coach Les Miles.
Trumpeter Irwin Mayfield and his quintet entertained the Commander’s Palace crowd after dinner.
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