Obama's Cuba stand breaks rank

MIAMI - Barack Obama's desire to ease U.S.-Cuba travel restrictions stands in contrast to the stances of Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and most of the Republican contenders.

The question is whether his position will help him in Florida.

Cuban-Americans make up a small but growing number of Democrats in this swing state, but most are still either Republicans or independents, meaning they will have little say in the party's Jan. 29 primary.

<snip>

The Bush administration says the restrictions, on top of the government's 45-year-old economic embargo against Cuba, promote such change. But Obama disagrees.

"The primary means we have of encouraging positive change in Cuba today is to help the Cuban people become less dependent on the Castro regime in fundamental ways," the Illinois senator wrote in an op-ed piece published in Tuesday's Miami Herald.

Clinton, the New York senator and Democratic front-runner, issued a statement reiterating her support for the current policy toward Cuba, adding, "Until it is clear what type of policies might come with a new government, we cannot talk about changes in the U.S. policies toward Cuba."

She has recently sought to portray Obama as naive on foreign policy.

Among other Democratic candidates, Sen. Joe Biden also supports the status quo. Former Sen. John Edwards staked out the middle ground Tuesday, calling for an end to the family travel restrictions but saying he would not immediately change the remittance limits.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has also called for an end to the travel and money restrictions for Cuban-Americans, while Sen. Chris Dodd has said he would lift all travel restrictions. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich supports scrapping the embargo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_cuba_5

we trade with china which is far worse than castro. funny no candidate wants to say anything about our trade with cuba..i guess they do`t want to bring that up -it might confuse the voters...

I completely support this.

I support Obama, but I would prefer that he treat Cuba like a normal country, and seek to diplomatically recognize the legally-established Republic of Cuba.

I am kind of puzzled by how this philosophy squares with some of Obama's remarks on Pakistan.

are human beings and are owed the same courtesies and respect as anyone else.

Our foreign policy as regards Cuba has absolutely, positively SUCKED for decades and needs to be completely reconfigured and overhauled.

Obama's position appears dedicated to such an outcome.

Bravo for the proposal and position in and of themselves, and also because they'll aggravate Condi Rice.

however, anything looks better than the current stupid policy.

Count on Clinton and Biden to be stuck in the past.....

with Cuba would be of great benefit once Castro kicks off.

I'm not sure. I would assume the stance would hurt him, as I had assumed the primary reason politicians of both parties have kept these measures regarding Cuba in place all these years was simply to pander to strongly anti-Castro Cuban-American voters in Florida. But FWIW, based on my understanding of these issues, I agree with Obama's stance here and appreciate him taking this stand.

Makes me like Obama that much more.


Clark’s position on the Cuban embargo garners at least one more supporter
Posted November 19th, 2003 at 1:34 pm
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/865.html


http://www.ffrd.org/election04/clarkcubadec03.html

Unless they're removed for ALL Americans. The privileged status enjoyed by Cubans in this country is complete bullshit.:grr:

Can he state the obvious ( as he just did) and still carry Florida in the general election?