Vision of Democratic Cuba unifies Democratic and Republican Senate candidates

[Billy Burnett]

Vision of Democratic Cuba unifies Democratic and Republican Senate candidates
http://www.examiner.com/x-30685-Miami-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m12d23-Vision-of-Democratic-Cuba-unifies-Democratic-and-Republican-Senate-candidates

A rather contentious issue, but not given much focus amid other debates, is the stance the US should be taking towards Cuba. Some would argue that no government has power that wasn't given to it by the public, however, Republican candidate Marco Rubio would beg to differ: "have we arrived at a point in our history when we think that to sell rice and livestock to a tyranny is more important than upholding the founding principles of this country?" The four major candidates--Rubio, Charlie Crist, and Democrats Kendrick Meek and Maurice Ferre--appeared in Coral Gables for a luncheon hosted by the US-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee, and expressed views similar to those of Rubio, the only Cuban-American in the race.

The four candidates agree that the embargo should be upheld, but that sanctions currently in place against Cuba's government can be amended, provided the nation accept certain Democratic reforms, a major point of contention since Fidel Castro took power more than 50 years ago.

Maurice Ferre, a former mayor of Miami, asserted that Cuba's aversion to normalized relations was an attempt to "legitimize its totalitarian government and to justify decades of repression,'' Ferré said.

Rubio agreed, and maintained that freedom and human rights were mainstays of US policy towards Cuba.

While Kendrick Meek's comments, as reported in the Miami Herald, seem to take the tone of an outright campaign speech, he reaffirmed Ferre's points:
"Meek emphasized his collaborative relationship with his Cuban-American colleagues in Congress and said that as a member of the Democrat majority he would have the attention of President Barack Obama on Cuba policy.

He stressed that whenever the United States made a gesture toward normalizing relations with Cuba, the Castro regime ``did not move an inch toward democracy, free elections or the release of political prisoners.''

He recalled that U.S. Sen. Bob Menéndez, D-N.J., was a key player in early 2009 in supporting legislation that would maintain the Cuba embargo."
Closing the event was Governor Charlie Crist who did not offer any specific reforms he'd like to see, but the criteria by which he felt they should be designed: "``Freedom in not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is a fundamental concept that unites us all in this nation,'' he said.

The PAC luncheon brought a very important issue to light, the US-Cuba foreign policy that should be a focus in this race, given Florida's massive Cuban population. With all of the theatrics involved in Healthcare Reform, economic recovery, and President Obama's Afghanistan plans, it is unfortunate that an issue so close to Floridians slipped the public's collective mind in terms of selecting their next Senator.

Not all of the candidates, however, believe the US has a role in Cuban affairs. Libertarian candidate, Alexander Snitker takes a more isolationist view towards foreign policy as a whole: "For far too many years our foreign policy has been to police the world....We have too many problems in our own country to have some of the best and brightest...building up other countries."

Snitker's views on Foreign Policy, coupled with his views on immigration--offering paths to citizenship to illegal immigrants--theoretically allows American-style freedoms to those coming from Cuba and other nations illegally, without involving the Federal Government in the affairs of another nation.

Kendrick Meek reasons that the US has a role in this because "family members should be allowed to visit elderly or sick relatives. Cuban Americans and their loved ones should not be punished by severe travel restrictions that can strain family bonds already stretched thin by Castro's policies."
The US-Cuba PAC, however, has made clear what it wants from candidates it supports:

``Our immediate task is to support candidates who do not want the unconditional lifting of sanctions against Cuba, and who put first the issue of human rights and democratic reforms,'' said Mauricio Claver-Carone, who is head of the U.S.-Cuba PAC.

United we stand. :patriot: :puke:

[Judi Lynn]

1. Put a sock in it, grabby candidates. Keep your mitts off Cuba.

It's time these people learned a little respect for others themselves, and butted out of Cuba, and started trying to live their OWN lives with dignity, respect for a change. They're not getting any younger. The days of seizing control of other peoples' countries are numbered. That's the way the world WANTS it.

If you live in the U.S., "exiles", clean up your acts and buckle down to living clean, respectable lives HERE. Stop gaping back at the people who already have proven they don't want ruthless US bosses controlling them through puppets any longer.

Billy Burnett, what are the chances so many other non-exile people are moving to South Florida the "exile" bloc will lose its overbearing power any day soon?

[Downwinder]

2. They will have their own little island soon, -- Miami.

[Mika]

3. Billy is doing his thing, playing, feeding, and bringing hope and joy.

Wish I was with his family and him, but he had far too many requests for volunteers this year for me to join. They are an amazing crew of deeply loving people.

:grouphug: