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Hillary Clinton’s Record Of Supporting the Cuban People
Hillary Clinton has a proven record of supporting the Cuban people. She has fought for their ability to decide their own future and to enjoy the same human rights and freedoms that people everywhere deserve.
As Secretary of State, Clinton worked alongside President Obama to build ties between the Cuban and American peoples in hopes of bringing about positive change:
o Bloomberg: “From 2009 until her departure in early 2013, Clinton and her top aides took the lead on the sometimes public, often private interactions with the Cuban government. According to current and former White House and State Department officials and several Cuba policy experts who were involved in the discussions, Clinton was also the top advocate inside the government for ending travel and trade restrictions on Cuba and reversing 50 years of U.S. policy to isolate the Communist island nation.”
In July of 2015, Clinton went to Miami and delivered a major speech to make this case to the American people and lay out her plan for engagement with the Cuban people. Here are some key excerpts:
We’ve already seen the positive impact of re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and helping the Cuban people:
Clinton continues to be relentlessly focused on advancing human rights in Cuba, as she was as Secretary of State:
As Secretary of State, Clinton worked alongside President Obama to build ties between the Cuban and American peoples in hopes of bringing about positive change:
In 2009, the United States began easing restrictions on travel to Cuba and Clinton called for Cuba, in turn, to begin to open up its society to “improve the opportunities for the Cuban people.”
In 2011, the Administration took further steps to roll back travel regulations and make it easier to send remittances to Cuba.
o Bloomberg: “From 2009 until her departure in early 2013, Clinton and her top aides took the lead on the sometimes public, often private interactions with the Cuban government. According to current and former White House and State Department officials and several Cuba policy experts who were involved in the discussions, Clinton was also the top advocate inside the government for ending travel and trade restrictions on Cuba and reversing 50 years of U.S. policy to isolate the Communist island nation.”
Before stepping down as Secretary of State, Clinton urged President Obama to move to improve our relations with Cuba and to lift the Cuban embargo, arguing “the embargo is Castro’s best friend.”
In July of 2015, Clinton went to Miami and delivered a major speech to make this case to the American people and lay out her plan for engagement with the Cuban people. Here are some key excerpts:
“As Secretary of State, it became clear to me that our policy of isolating Cuba was strengthening the Castros’ grip on power rather than weakening it—and harming our broader efforts to restore American leadership across the hemisphere. The Castros were able to blame all of the island’s woes on the U.S. embargo, distracting from the regime’s failures and delaying their day of reckoning with the Cuban people.”
“As President, I would increase American influence in Cuba, rather than reduce it. I would work with Congress to lift the embargo and I would also pursue additional steps.”
We’ve already seen the positive impact of re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and helping the Cuban people:
Forbes, 7/1/15: “Cuba’s growing entrepreneur class is celebrating. For most people on the island, the news Wednesday that the United States and Cuba will resume full diplomatic relations — and will reopen their embassies later this month — more than half a century after the two countries broke off ties portends better days ahead. That’s especially true for the many entrepreneurs who have had to overcome immense obstacles to gain a footing in Cuba’s stifling business environment.”
Bloomberg, 8/20/15: “A Breakout Year for Cuban Entrepreneurs: Startups multiply as the economy opens more to private business”
Clinton continues to be relentlessly focused on advancing human rights in Cuba, as she was as Secretary of State:
Agencia EFE, 10/16/15: Clinton backs Obama's Cuba policy but expresses concern over human rights
Clinton’s State Department repeatedly rebuked the Castro regime for their efforts to arbitrarily detain and silence activists, among other human rights violations.
Source.
13 replies
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John Kerry finished carrying the ball that President Obama directed. It is nice to know that a person who has been absolutely NON-INFLUENTIAL since her "retirement" in 2012 has been working so tirelessly to normalize relations with Cuba.
Sigh. 
for those who thought I believed her opinion on the topic mattered to Obama or Kerry.
Cuba!
It rained in Cuba today..
The First Family visit la Catedral de La Habana
More pics from the President and his Famiy's first trip to Cuba!
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/03/20/the-first-family-tours-old-havana/
Gracias Agschmid~
