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CNN Live Sunday

Bush on His Way Back to Washington

Aired March 24, 2002 - 18:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is on his way back to Washington, after wrapping up a four-day Latin American tour. He touched on free trade, immigration, and charges by the Democrats. CNN White House Correspondent Major Garrett has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The president's Latin American tour ended much as it began, with fewer policy breakthroughs than the White House wanted.

In El Salvador, no announcement about a trade pact, linking the U.S. and all of Central America, why? Congress isn't ready to give the White House a green light.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Completing these agreements will promote prosperity throughout the hemisphere, and reinforce the region's progress toward political, economic, and social reform.

GARRETT: It was the same in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Bush wanted to arrive with a freshly renewed Indian free trade pact.

BUSH: The Indian Trade Preference Act is a cornerstone of good policy as far as I'm concerned, and it's a cornerstone of good relations.

GARRETT: But Senate Democrats refused to act, prompting one Indian leader to tell President Bush it looked to him as if Democrats were manana-ing the issue to death.

In Mexico, the president could not announce progress on immigration reform, in part because Senate Democrats have blocked legislation simplifying visa renewals.

BUSH: It's an important piece of legislation. It allowed families to stay together.

GARRETT: White House officials not only complain about Democratic obstructionism, but this line from the Democrats' weekly radio address:

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA: The president's trip this week into Latin America is part of an orchestrated strategy to carry favor with a team of voters in the United States. Our community knows the difference between rhetoric and results. They know the difference between pandering and producing.

GARRETT: While top aides were incensed, the president appeared unmoved.

BUSH: Sometimes in Washington, D.C., people can not get rid of old habits, which is petty politics, Mr. President.

GARRETT: Despite the shortcomings of the trip, the president returned to a region his father helped transform, supporting negotiations ending wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador and encouraging democracies throughout the region.

GARRETT (on camera): President Bush entered the White House eager to place Latin America at the center of his foreign policy, but the War on Terror derailed those plans, at least for the time being. The president hopes to return to the region in October with new trade and immigration bills that he could not deliver on this trip. Major Garrett, CNN, San Salvador, El Salvador.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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