President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama meet in the White House. Obama's top transition aide discounted talk of tensions over the financial crisis with the White House, after the president-elect pressed for urgent aid to ailing auto giants. (AFP/White House-HO/File/Eric Draper)Obama Aides Play Down Tensions With Bush
-- Voice Of America
-- Voice Of America
Aides to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama are distancing themselves from reports that President George Bush pressed him to support a free trade deal with Colombia, in exchange for help with aid to the struggling automobile industry.
The New York Times Tuesday quoted unnamed sources as saying the president might agree to new funding for U.S. automakers and a new economic stimulus package, if Democrats pass the trade deal stalled in Congress. Many Democrats oppose the deal, citing Colombia's record on human rights and labor union activity.
Mr. Obama's transition co-chair, John Podesta, said the subject of Colombia came up in White House talks Monday between Mr. Obama and Mr. Bush. But Podesta denied the president offered the Colombia pact as part of a deal. Podesta also played down suggestions the situation led to tensions with Mr. Bush and his staff.
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My Comment: As I had predicted, President-elect Obama could not keep his confidential talks with President Bush confidential. This will mean two things .... (1) no more confidential talks with the current administration, and (2) foreign leaders will now be careful when talking to the new administration on sensitive or confidential information.