In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
President Clinton, often criticized as wishy-washy, last week took the unpopular step of stitching together an almost $50 billion international package to back the reeling economy and currency of Mexico. He called the move necessary and acted after Congress balked at approving a $40 billion credit guarantee from the U.S. alone.
Some creatures of Congress scurried for cover like flapping chickens when faced with this foreign economic crisis.
Others, taking their cues from labor bosses and a diminutive billionaire with a Texas twang, wanted to refight the 1993 battles over the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Still others parroted the line of America Firsters and radio talk-show blatherskites that the U.S. can wall itself off from the rest of the world’s problems.
While the president’s move will help save some Wall Street bacon, as opponents charge, it is aimed most importantly at restoring confidence in Mexico’s economy, which will help our neighbor in need and possibly prevent social agony and burdensome costs for the U.S.
