Statement from Barack Obama on Fidel Castro

[Freddie Stubbs]

Barack Obama has issued the following statement in response to the news that Fidel Castro is stepping down as President of Cuba:


Today should mark the end of a dark era in Cuba's history. Fidel Castro's stepping down is an essential first step, but it is sadly insufficient in bringing freedom to Cuba.

Cuba's future should be determined by the Cuban people and not by an anti-democratic successor regime. The prompt release of all prisoners of conscience wrongly jailed for standing up for the basic freedoms too long denied to the Cuban people would mark an important break with the past. It's time for these heroes to be released.

If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades. The freedom of the Cuban people is a cause that should bring the Americans together.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/sarahramey/gGgMq3

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Hallelujah.

I'm sorry if that sounds to cultish.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Amen

;)

[Bicoastal]

2. I'm outraged by Obama's statements and will never vote for him...

...and....um...adios, mis compadres."

--Fidel Castro.

[Freddie Stubbs]

42. Does anyone think that this will actually lose him any votes?

:shrug:

[Eurobabe]

3. booya!

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. Indeed

[End Of The Road]

4. Puke!

He should have kept his mouth closed. Leave Cuba alone.

[ProSense]

8. " He should have kept his mouth closed. Leave Cuba alone." Here's Hillary's

2/19/2008
Statement from Hillary Clinton on Fidel Castro

"As you know, Fidel Castro announced that he is stepping down as Cuba's leader after nearly 50 years of one-man rule. The new leadership in Cuba will face a stark choice -- continue with the failed policies of the past that have stifled democratic freedoms and stunted economic growth -- or take a historic step to bring Cuba into the community of democratic nations. The people of Cuba want to seize this opportunity for real change and so must we.

<...>

"As President, I will engage our partners in Latin America and Europe who have a strong stake in seeing a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba, and who want very much for the United States to play a constructive role to that end. The United States must pursue an active policy that does everything possible to advance the cause of freedom, democracy and opportunity in Cuba.

more

[End Of The Road]

13. Yeah, hers is the same as his. I still say "hands off." nt

[RoadRage]

22. Who wrote who's first? Did she plagerize Obama, or did he plagerize her??

:eyes: :)

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. Neither candidate is suggesting a 'hand-on' approach to Cuba

They are just telling Cuba that they must improve their human right record if they want the privilege of trading with the US.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Cuba's government doesn't want the US to leave them alone

They want trade between the two countries.

[End Of The Road]

18. I'm all for ending the embargo. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Apparently the "workers' paradise" can't function without trade with the capitalists

[End Of The Road]

25. Pretty small country with limited natural resources. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. There is plenty of farmland, yet they must buy food from the US

[End Of The Road]

27. The U.S. imports food, too... nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. But we aren't crying because other countries won't trade with us

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. LEAVE CUBA ALONE!!!!

[Moh96]

33. lol

[berni_mccoy]

31. You should have kept your mouth closed. Leave Obama alone.

[goodgd_yall]

5. Good statement for someone running for POTUS

Since Obama is seen by the Republicans as the most liberal senator in the Congress, this, at the very least, won't add to that. At the same time, it's worded carefully enough to not sound like a statement from a Neocon.

[Joshua N]

6. I think it's a good statement

Emphasizes the negativity of the repression (which is real) over the political philosophy, but says something to put a little pressure on our side to normalize relations with Cuba, which is overdue IMO.

The "dark era" sounds kind of pandering, but most Americans seem so afraid of Cuba (why?) he would be crucified (pardong the messianic language) if he seemed pro-Cuba.

[terrya]

9. I hope Hillary comes out with a similar statement.

Because I agree with this one. Especially the last paragraph. It's about damn time for this country to talk to Cuba...and to drop that ridiculous, pointless trade embargo.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Hillary's statement:

Statement from Hillary Clinton on Fidel Castro

"As you know, Fidel Castro announced that he is stepping down as Cuba's leader after nearly 50 years of one-man rule. The new leadership in Cuba will face a stark choice -- continue with the failed policies of the past that have stifled democratic freedoms and stunted economic growth -- or take a historic step to bring Cuba into the community of democratic nations. The people of Cuba want to seize this opportunity for real change and so must we.

"I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms. The people of Cuba yearn for the opportunity to get out from under the weight of this authoritarian regime, which has held back 11 million talented and hardworking citizens of the Americas. The new government should take this opportunity to release political prisoners and to take serious steps towards democracy that give their people a real voice in their government.

"The American people have been on the side in the Cuban people's struggle for freedom and democracy in the past and we will be on their side for democracy in the future.

"As President, I will engage our partners in Latin America and Europe who have a strong stake in seeing a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba, and who want very much for the United States to play a constructive role to that end. The United States must pursue an active policy that does everything possible to advance the cause of freedom, democracy and opportunity in Cuba.

"The events of the past three days, including elections in Pakistan and Kosovo's declaration of independence, are a vivid illustration of people around the world yearning for democracy and opportunity. We need a President with the experience to recognize and seize these opportunities to advance America’s values and interests around the world. I will be that President."

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6068

[NashVegas]

16. Hillary's Statement Is a Lot Less Insulting to Cubans

Who might prefer their system to ours.

[rosetta627]

32. I'm not real crazy about Obama's statement

For the reason you said.
I'm tired of the propaganda against Cuba and Castro.
As I recall from "Sicko" Cubans have free health care that Americans lack.
For example.

[Tatiana]

10. "If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change.."

We're the ones with the stupid embargo.

***Sigh***

It was an OK statement, I suppose.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. There was speculation that Bill Clinton was going to try to ease the embargo, but

that had no chance of happening after the Cuban Air Force shot down two unarmed planes over international waters.

[Voice for Peace]

12. The difference that strikes me between the two statements

is that one contains the trademark US arrogance & entitlement to determine the future of other peoples, and one encourages the empowerment of people to decide for themselves.

[Major Hogwash]

14. Change is coming to America too! Just wait, Bush will have to step down someday!

And none too soon.

[NashVegas]

17. "Dark Era"? Sure, If You Have Mob Ties

Or want to kiss ass in Miami.

He must want the presidency really, REALLY badly, to spew the approved RW crap.

Mmm, yeah, smells like change.

[no name no slogan]

28. Sadly, it's been the Dem "party line" for the last half century

There's very few Dems who are willing to say we should establish relations with Cuba, for fear of the backlash that would sure come from the bump on America's Wang (i.e., Miami, FL).

Unfortunately, I expect very little movement from either one of our candidates on this issue. :(

[NashVegas]

37. In An Election Year For a First Term, Non

But someone, somewhere, is going to have to find the courage, eventually.

It's going to have to be done at some point; if we let the Miami mob have at it again, if we try to let them reclaim their land by any means outside of Cuban courts - with judges WE DON'T PICK - there'll be international ramifications this time.

[jackson_dem]

20. Barack Obama: for ending the embargo before he was against it

This is yet another area where Obama has flip flopped and moved to the right in his career.

[easy_b94]

23. You are full of hate

And full of something else I don't want to say

[jackson_dem]

24. Just words? No, just Obama's record

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4272000

Obamites are terrified of Obama's record ever seeing the light of day...


In a 2004 questionnaire, Sen. Obama supported normalization of relations with Cuba:

http://www.iviipo.org/2004queries_primary/Obama-respons...

Q: "Do you support normalization of relations with Cuba?" Obama: "Our longstanding policies toward Cuba have been a miserable failure, evidenced by the fact that Fidel Castro is now the longest-serving head of state in the world. If our isolationist policies were meant to weaken him, they certainly haven’t worked. I believe that normalization of relations with Cuba would help the oppressed and poverty-stricken Cuban people while setting the stage for a more democratic government once Castro inevitably leaves the scene."

But in a December debate, Sen. Obama revealed that he now opposes the normalization of relations with Cuba:

MODERATOR: Normalize relations, whether or not Fidel Castro isn't... OBAMA: No, but there are two things we can do right now to prepare for that and that is loosen travel restrictions for family members, Cuban-Americans who want to visit, and open up remittances so that they are able to support family members, many of them who are fighting for their liberty in right now. MODERATOR: But for now...OBAMA: I would not normalize relations, but those two things, those two shifts in policy would send a signal that we can build on once Castro's out of power."

http://www.hd.net/brownandblack.html

[Asia Expat]

39. I am following this correctly?

He was for it, before he was against it, before he was for it.

[Hawkeye-X]

34. Just ignore him

He's just full of shit (and I can openly say that) and always failed to provide evidence of anything jackson_dem has said.

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. Perhaps he changed his view as he became more educated on the issue

[IDemo]

35. One positive step the US should take is closing Guantanamo naval base

That alone would go a long way in improving relations.

[rug]

36. That sounds like a generic statement any of the candidates would make.

And it says absolutely nothing, besides pandering to the right.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. How is calling for free elections and the release of political prisoners 'pandering to the right?'

Are those right-wing ideals?

[rug]

40. "The freedom of the Cuban people is a cause that should bring the Americans together."

"dark era".

It is bullshit pandering because those calls for free elections are not made for Saudi Arabia and other nondemocratic allies of US corporate interests.

It is a old, insincere slogan that's trotted out whenever socialism is bashed.

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. Obama has been critical of Saudi Arabia

Obama: Saudi Arabia fosters human rights violations

Monticello, Ia. – The United State’s reliance on foreign oil is a threat not only to the United State’s security and its economy but also fosters unacceptable human rights activities, Barack Obama said here today.

Obama made the comment in regard to an audience question about Saudi Arabia. He pointed to a situation in which a 19-year-old gang rape victim in the country was sentenced last year to 90 lashes for meeting with an unrelated man.

“The human rights record sometimes in Saudi Arabia is not one that we should align ourselves with.”

more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS/71214013/-1/archive