Mexican officials react after Romney disses Mexico’s economy
Romney believes culture makes all the difference in a country’s economic success.
A spokesman for the Embassy of Mexico rejected comments by presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney who said Mexico’s economy was inferior because of its culture.
“In spite of the challenges presented by the global economic downturn, Mexico today has one of the world’s most dynamic economies,” said Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Embassy of Mexico.
He noted that the Mexican economy is projected to grow 3.5 percent in 2012 (2 percent in U.S.), has low inflation, 4.9 percent unemployment (8.2 percent in U.S.) and a growing middle class.
“Many fully industrialized nations would give two arms and two legs for those stats,” said Alday.
The reaction comes after Romney drew criticism for remarks he made at a fundraiser in Israel earlier this week. He knocked Palestinians, blaming their culture for their lack of economic success. He went on to include Mexico as another example where “culture makes all the difference,” according to his understanding of economic history.
When Romney made the comments, he had mentioned the book “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations,” by David s. Landes, which he said influenced his worldview.
After he drew criticism for his remarks, his campaign claimed Romney’s comments on the Palestinians had been “grossly mischaracterized.”
In trying to control the situation, the campaign cited Mexico and Ecuador as similar examples, implying that culture explains why the U.S. is richer than its southern neighbor. Democrats, including White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, seized on the remarks as evidence of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s weak foreign policy record.
Days earlier, Romney had sparked controversy while visiting the U.K. and questioned London’s preparedness for the Olympic games.
President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign was all too happy to call the trip meant to boost Romney’s foreign statesman credibility a disaster.
(Photo: Flickr Iowapolitics.com)
