(Florida Democratic Sen. Bill) Nelson questions return of 12 to Cuba

[Mika]

In this thread,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=36968&mesg_id=36968&page=
I sarcastically said this about the recent split between the Miamicuban radical "exiles" and the repuke party..
"This is just the time for the Dem party to make inroads in S Florida again.
All they need to do is cozy up to the intransigent Miamicuban professional "exiles" and their terrorist brethren.. again."



Well.. it has started, let the Dem pandering to intransigent "exiles" begin.. again,

Nelson questions return of 12 to Cuba
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/6406412.htm

Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said Monday he will call for an investigation into negotiations that led to the recent repatriation of a dozen people who stole a boat in a failed bid to flee the island.

-

Nelson, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he is supported by Sens. Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., in the quest for answers and would write to committee chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind., seeking a policy review.

[guajira]

1. Nader Said it Best - There is no Difference Between Dems & Repukes

When Nelson was running for Fla. Senator, I put a sign in my yard and voted for him. Some months later I had a chance to meet him and ask him about Cuba and the embargo. He said he was going to Cuba, and I was thrilled. Later it came out he wanted to go to Cuba like some kind of Cold War spy, sneaking in and visiting "dissidents" (apparently he had done this in Eastern Europe years earlier).

Bottom line -- he still hasn't gone to Cuba, and he panders to Miami Batistiano Republicans.

I will not vote for him again, or support him in any way, unless he decides to become a Democrat again and fight for my freedom to travel!

[Mika]

2. He's never been to Cuba..

He's never been to Cuba but knows all about it?

I'm keeping my eye on all of the Dem presidential candidates to see which among them comes to Miami to pander to the miscreant "exile" propaganda.

I've crossed these two off of my list already,

Lieberman
Graham

[ima_sinnic]

3. what's up with Graham being crossed off?

he voted against the Iraq war resolution, has been on BushCo's case constantly about 9/11 investigation, and has been talking impeachment.

[Mika]

4. I agree with your points

and I give Bob a thumbsup for those votes and stances.

I just can't bring myself to support him because of his support for and by the CANF and many other radical "exile" organizations that are manned or run by terrorists. I've heard him spew anti Cuba propaganda that easily echos the propaganda of the current admin.

I'm not trying to convince anyone away from his candidacy but I just can't support a man who takes to the stage and applauds Orlando Bosch or Pepe Hernandez or Mas Canosa or Jose Basulto.. terrorists all. These men have seriously & negatively impacted many of my friends in Cuba and America. Some have been convicted of murder and terrorism. These men have influenced US policy so as to turn it into pretzel logic, and Bob's support of some of the more insane anti Cuba policies and travel sanctions is a disgrace to freedom loving people.

When it comes to terra & Bob Graham.. he is a hypocrite.

[tlb]

5. Graham is not my man but

it's unfair to penalizze him for meeting with the local Cuban community. He IS their senator also, and as such he should be accessable to any demographic who wishes to see him.

Worry more about a senator who avoids components of his electorate who would otherwise welcome him.

[Mika]

6. Except that..

I agree with your point.

He's not just accessable to the Miamicuban extremists, he panders to them, he lauds their "efforts" to "free" Cuba (some of these "efforts" include funding and commiting acts of terror in Cuba and in Miami). The point is that the radical pro embargo & sanctions anti Cuba policies espoused by the militant Cuban "exile" organizations do not represent the majority opinion of Cuban-Americans or Americans. Graham panders to these groups, as do most politicians in the area, for campaign dollars - despite the fact that their anti Cuba trade and travel policy is not supported by the majority of his constituents.

I worry about what kind of wingnut anti Cuba policy would be pushed by a Graham presidency.

Unfortunately, its off of the radar for most Americans

[jiacinto]

8. Answer this question

Can a pro-Castro candidate win in Florida? The answer is no.

[Mika]

11. Pro Castro?

"Can a pro-Castro candidate win in Florida? The answer is no. "


Oh, that is funny. Getting rid of Castro would end the campaign platform for the professional anti Castro opportunists, both Dem and repuke.


What the anti embargo crowd is saying is that for over 40 years the pro embargo policies have not worked at ending the Castro leadership, in fact there's much argument that the more radical the US policies get the more authoritarian the current regime is.

The pro engagement crowd say that a relaxation and normalization of relations between the two countries will only quicken a transition of support away from Castro and the defensive posture he excels at.

It is very interesting that the professional anti Cuba body politic that profits off of the US taxpayer funding of their ops, plus it provides a great platform for campaign funding, are the very parties that seek to cement the policies that have successfully kept Castro so popular in Cuba.


Let's end the political profiteering off of the ridiculous and unsuccessful anti Castro politics that a majority of Americans (as well as Cuban-Americans) want to end. Lets normalize relations with Cuba now.

[Osolomia]

12. What's your excuse for still being travel banned?

You'd rather vote for being treated like a second class citizen in your own country for many more years to come than stand up for your right to freedom of travel and trade like everyone else in the world?

[Mika]

14. Hi Osolomia

:hi:

You missed a couple of interesting threads in the past few weeks.
Nice to see ya around here again.:toast:

[Judi Lynn]

17. Letter from a retired minister concerning the travel ban

Seems darned insightful, actually. It seems to really help people grasp what Cuba IS if they simply go there, instead of gibbering the rightwing propaganda the "exiles" and wingnuts pass around among themselves!

(snip) Posted on Thu, Jul. 24, 2003

Why not be Cuba's friend?
Ending embargo would open a market hungry for U.S. goods

A letter from Samuel H. Brown of Charlotte, a retired United Methodist pastor:

It was my privilege to be in a Witness for Peace delegation to Cuba June 20-28. We met with Cuban farmers, health workers, government agencies, a film school, middle school, a builders cooperative and a community of people with AIDS.

People old enough to recall how it was before the revolution are especially proud of the improvements in schools and the medical system. Cuba has more doctors per capita than we do and the literacy rate is 98 percent.

Almost all had a real affection for Fidel Castro and blamed the failing of the communist state on the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Many upper-class Cubans fled to Florida in 1960 and are bitter critics of Castro. They exert a powerful influence on U.S. policy, giving several million dollars to the campaigns of presidential candidates. They are the primary reason the embargo continues.(snip)

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/6371140.htm

[jiacinto]

7. And you would rather have Bill McCollum as a Senator?

A Florida candidate is not going to win running on a pro-Castro platform.

[guajira]

9. One Can be Anti-embargo and Not be Pro-Castro

There is no reason a Democratic politician has to pander to Miami Batistianos. Miami Cuban "exiles" vote Republican, so it's mainly a question of $$$.

An honest and moral Democrat would support Americans right to travel and Americans right to trade with Cuba. If America can trade with Vietnam and China, surely the same should apply to Cuba -- and would if it weren't for the pandering politicans like Nelson and Graham!!!

[Alexander]

13. Because, of course, Bill Nelson represents ALL Democrats.

Yes, because of Nelson's so-called pandering, that just proves that the Democrats and the Republicans are EXACTLY THE SAME.

Use some logic, for once.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Hasn't Nelson always been one of their lackeys?

I was horrified to find out Peter Deutsch and the other seemingly normal Rep., Robert Wexler actually defer to these criminals, also.
Too damned bad.

Within a few years, the demographics of South Florida are going to include far more people from Latin America, and the choke hold the Cuban "exile" extremists will be diluted.

Who wants to wait several years, however?

One interesting thing has surfaced recently, which needs to be studied: Why did the misadministration actually do the right thing, for once, on the criminals who hijacked the geological mapping boat? They must have been preoccupied with devastating the Iraqii people.

(snip) U.S. officials have denied any change in policy, adding that the 11 men and one woman who stole the boat were disqualified for asylum consideration because they used violence to steal the vessel and again when Coast Guard officers intercepted them at sea. (snip)

[jiacinto]

15. Do you think a Pro-Castro candidate can win in Florida

I would really like to see your answer to that question.

[Judi Lynn]

16. So Lieberman has blazed a trail to Miami, too!

Gotta get in line for election handouts!

(snip) Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003

Lieberman courts Cuban American voters
BY PETER WALLSTEN
[e-mail]

Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who hopes to woo traditionally Republican Cuban-American voters next year if he is the Democratic nominee for president, assailed President Bush today for an ''abandonment of American values'' in sending 12 Cuban boaters back to the island last week to serve prison time.

Lieberman attacked the Bush administration's decision to negotiate with the Castro government, and pledged that as president he would increase aid to dissidents and pay for stronger transmissions of Radio and TV Marti -- touching on the very concerns raised in recent days by Cuban exile leaders in Miami.

''This was a setback for America's best values,'' Lieberman told reporters gathered in a meeting room at the Westin Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood. ``For the U.S. government to negotiate a jail sentence for these people with a repressive regime that we know does not have fair trials is simply outrageous.''

Lieberman made his remarks during a press conference that seemed timed perfectly to capitalize on a movement among some exiles to abandon years of GOP loyalty and consider voting for a Democrat in next year's presidential race.

But, Lieberman acknowledged, the true purpose of his visit was to raise money.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6411726.htm