Errores en Espanol

McCain’s new radio ad, in Spanish, aims to show Florida would benefit from the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which he supports. Narrated by Tony Villamil, the state’s ex-director of tourism, commerce and economic affairs, the ad uses statistics to argue that the pending trade agreement is crucial to Florida’s economy.

Tony Villamil: This is Tony Villamil speaking, ex-director of Tourism, Commerce and Economic Affairs of Florida.

When it comes to a strong economy for our state, commercial trade with Latin America is crucial. Three-quarters of Florida’s exports are with Latin America, and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement would create even more opportunity.

In this election, there are some that talk about revising the Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada and oppose the Agreement with Colombia. This would hurt our economic future.

Last year Florida’s exports to Latin America reached almost $45 billion dollars. Colombia is Florida’s third most important export market and this trade agreement would create almost 5,000 new jobs.

John McCain supports the Colombian Agreement, knows about our alliances with our hemisphere and understands our economy grows thanks to trade.
Remember who stands for prosperity in Florida, our country and our hemisphere. His name is John McCain.

John McCain: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

Announcer: Paid for by John McCain 2008.

Problem is, the numbers in the ad are wrong, except one, and that one is rounded up so generously that it is effectively wrong as well. Among the miscalculations, the ad states that Colombia is Florida’s third most important export market. Actually, according to both The US Census Bureau Website and Senator McCain himself, Columbia ranks fifth for Florida exports:

McCain, Latin Business Chronicle, May 20, 2008: Colombia today stands as Florida’s fifth largest export market – Florida exported $2.1 billion worth of goods there last year – and now the Colombians are offering to drop their barriers to American goods.

John McCain’s flexible memory for facts continues to astound me. Voters should be wary of McCain’s fanciful use of figures. Talk about fuzzy math.

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