Rift with Bush is still open (Cuban-Americans & W's Re-Election)

[Khephra]

Rift with Bush is still open
A debate among Cuban Americans over support for President Bush's reelection campaign reveals lingering wounds over Cuba policy.
BY PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK
[e-mail]

TAMPA - A leading Cuban-American legislator on Wednesday joined President Bush's reelection campaign committee -- but only after an emotional closed-door debate over whether the Bush administration was committed to sharpening its Cuba policy.

Following intense negotiations with Bush campaign officials and his own peers in the state Legislature, Rep. Gaston Cantens agreed late Tuesday to attend Wednesday's news conference with Gov. Jeb Bush, Bush-Cheney 2004 manager Ken Mehlman and other GOP luminaries. Cantens, a Miami Republican, stood on stage to express his support as a chairman of ``Hispanics for Bush.''

The debate comes two months after Cuban-American legislators wrote a letter to the White House warning the president risks losing Cuban-American support over a controversial decision to send 12 hijack suspects back to Cuba to face prison time. It shows that the wounds remain raw, even as Bush aides scramble to repair the damage.

The episode also exposes a growing rift between the White House and some exile leaders who say Bush has not fulfilled campaign promises to crack down on Fidel Castro.

more......

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6909890.htm

[0rganism]

1. Oh, they'll bitch and moan for a while, until bush* gives them lip service

They'll fall back in line when it comes time to cast a vote, no question about it. I don't know why the papers bother to report this as news. It's not like the cuban exile mafia would vote for anyone BUT a rethug.

[Mika]

5. Wrong

0rganism, wake up and smell the (Cuban) coffee. Our Dem party is in with the Miamimaffia too,


CANF founder and Clinton fundraiser Jorge Mas Canosa & Bill Clinton



charts from www.opensecrets.org



If DUers are sick of the hypocrisy and want changes in US foreign policy regarding Cuba, they should become familiar with the facts.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Omigosh!

"It's raining Cuban "exiles"!" around the Bushes.

This is worth observing:

(snip) Garcia even stepped onto the stage before the cameras, at the request of Gov. Bush, but said later he continues to share concerns about the administration's handling of Cuba.

But, he added, ``The closer we are to the process and the closer we are to the president and the vice president, the more we could try to have them understand the concerns of our community.''




Gaston Cantens on Jeb's right

Maybe some more huge contributions will help, and Cuban hate-radio hosts shrieking 24/7 against Bush opponents on Miami's radio stations.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Any idea who Jeb's other buddies

are in this pic? I don't see Orlando Bosch anywhere in sight. He must be laying low for the day.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Here's what an Orlando Bosch looks like, just what you'd expect!

Here's a great Miami New Times article on the guy:
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2001-12-20/feature.html/1/index.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't know the other gentlefolk. Had to run Gaston Cantens down in a seperate image search to be able to identify him in the photo. You can be sure they're all delightful.

[Mika]

7. Same with Lawton Chiles

It was "raining exiles" around Gov. Lawton Chiles too, before he suddenly died.

Same with florida's former Governors, like Gov Bob Graham, Gov Bob Martinez, and Gov Ruben Askew.

Its was the Dem party in Florida (led by Claude Pepper) who assisted the rabbid "exiles" entry into US electoral politics. Sad, but true.

[Say_What]

8. Like father, like sons

all nicely bought-and-paid for by the one issue agenda fanatics in south Florida.



Cuban-American National Foundation's Jorge Mas Canosa, its founder and president until his death, with former President Bush.

[Mika]

9. Like any corrupt politician willing to take exile blood money..

.. and steal taxpayer money.

It not a repuke thing nor a dem thing, because its both parties. Its a corruption thing.
Corruption made possible by the average American's complete ignorance and lack of concern of this subject.




Don't ask questions!

[Say_What]

10. Well, as I often say

the race track isn't the only place where BLINKERS ON is a true statement. Same could be said for most brainwashed 'muriKans. Just the way Uncle Sam likes it, keep them focused staight ahead on everything BUT the truth.

[Say_What]

6. American foreign policy to Cuba held hostage for

40 years in Miami. Politics as usual. ALL pols PANDER to these fanatics with a one issue agenda and they've been doing it for decades. Who is gonna have enough cajones to stand up to these creeps? Dems haven't demonstrated it and neither have the repukes.

[Osolomia]

11. US policy against Cuba is in the spotlight NOW!

To wit from today's news, ready or not:

Gorbachev: Cuba victim of super powers' Cold War confrontations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=146022

Senate panel chairman says policy toward Cuba `has not worked'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=146052

U.S. accuses Cuba of germ weapons program
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=146031

State Department official defends U.S. travel restrictions against Cuba
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=146071