White House dismisses Jeb Bush dig against Obama's plan to tour Cuba

Source: Washington Examiner

White House dismisses Jeb Bush dig against Obama's plan to tour Cuba
By Susan Crabtree | June 16, 2015 | 2:39 pm

The White House declined to respond to a charge from Jeb Bush that President Obama is acting like a "glorified tourist" by planning a trip to Cuba at some point before his presidency ends.

During Bush's announcement speech in Miami Monday, the former Florida governor derided Obama's intentions to visit Havana by saying, "We don't need a glorified tourist to go to Havana in support of a failed Cuba."

White House press secretary Josh Earnest declined to directly comment on Bush's statement statement, noting that he has tried to be very "disciplined" about reacting to remarks from 2016 candidates. Instead, he vigorously defended Obama's decision to try to normalize relations with Havana, and argued that the U.S. policy with Cuba over the last five decades has "failed."

"It didn't bring about a government that was protecting the basic human rights that we so value in this country," he said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2566371