The second draft of Lula's history

The second draft of Lula's history

It's often said journalists write the 'first draft' of history. If that is true, it can often be an interesting experiment to review that history years later to see how it holds up to the scrutiny of time.

Take a look at this article about Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's first inauguration as president from the New York Times, January 2, 2003. The piece very accurately points out how the US snubbed Lula, by sending only a trade representative. It was no secret at the time the George W Bush administration didn't view Lula as the best choice, given his leftist, labor union background which Washington probably viewed as contrary to maintaining Brazil in their sphere of political influence.

But with Lula's two terms about to expire next year, he has actually turned out to be a fairly centrist leader. Yes, than man can still give a rousing speech about workers rights and neo-liberal economic failures like simply no other person on the planet.

But aside from that, Washington has viewed Lula as a true friend - if not a balance between right leaning leaders such as Alvaro Uribe and Hugo Chavez. Bush even visited Brazil a couple years ago. And Barack Obama jokingly told reporters - with his arm around Lula - that the Brazilian president was "my man, I love this guy" and confirmed Lula remains one of the world's most popular leaders.

In Brazil, Lula's approval ratings remain in the 70 percent tile.

But there are some inside Brazil, on the far right and far left of the political spectrum who have their doubts about the man.

On the left, there are labor activists who say Lula has failed to fundamentally change the neo-liberal economic model that he often rails against. They say he missed an opportunity, and governed too much to the middle on economic policy. It should be noted that overwhelmingly most labor activists still support Lula. This issue of Lula's union legacy I dealt with in a recent story, seen below.

On the right side of the spectrum, I have interviewed land owners and wealthy farmers who have argued Lula has 'sold them out' in his push for agrarian reform and has been too soft of social movement activists who occupy land. In the far north of Brazil, some rice farmers who were forced off their farms to make way for indian reserves simply despise Lula and all he stands for. In the upper middle classes, you have people who grumble that he has done too much for the marginalized classes of society and not enough for the wealthy who pay a bulk of the taxes.

In the end, some on the right say Lula was too far left. Some on the left say Lula was too far right. And most people outside Brazil seem to think he has been just great. Some people might say this is the sign of a good, middle-of-the-road leader. But then again, I have the benefit or writing this 'second draft' of history rather than the first. The third draft coming soon.