Charlie Crist explains why he wants to visit Cuba: 'This policy has not worked'
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Charlie Crist explains why he wants to visit Cuba: 'This policy has not worked'
By Adam C. Smith and Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Staff Writers
Friday, May 9, 2014 5:43pm
ST. PETERSBURG Charlie Crist minces no words describing the government of Cuba: "It's oppressive. It's anti-free-press. It's totalitarian. It's wrong."
But the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee wants to visit Florida's communist neighbor this summer and says it's past time to lift the United States' 53-year-old Cuba trade embargo.
"The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. This policy has not worked," Crist told the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald in an interview Friday, explaining for the first time the thinking behind his plans.
The controversial trip panned by Republican Gov. Rick Scott as a public relations coup for the Castro regime would be a first for such a high-profile Florida candidate, and it may not happen at all if the Department of State or Cuban government reject the idea. The former Republican governor said he is optimistic after submitting his request to the Department of State two weeks ago.
Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/charlie-crist-explains-why-he-wants-to-visit-cuba-this-policy-has-not/2179105
Judi Lynn
(160,542 posts)Scott says Crist will be Castro puppet if he visits Cuba
by George Bennett | May 7th, 2014
GREENACRES Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera blasted Democrat Charlie Crist for considering a trip to Cuba this summer.
Its sort of laughable. Hes going to go down there and help promote the Castro regime, Scott told reporters after a campaign appearance at AutoNation Chevrolet to promote cuts in motor vehicle fees and other taxes.
Hes just going to be a puppet for the Castro regime and every dollar he spends down there is going to help them oppress their people, Scott said.
Crists interest in visiting the communist island was first reported by The Tampa Bay Times.
~snip~
Charlies been a Republican and an independent and a Democrat, Lopez-Cantera said. I dont know, maybe hes going down there to explore becoming a communist.
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2014/05/scott-says-crist-will-be-castro-puppet-if-he-visits-cuba/
Judi Lynn
(160,542 posts)Cuba arrests Miami-based 'terrorists' over alleged plan to attack military
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 08 May, 2014, 10:18pm
UPDATED : Friday, 09 May, 2014, 12:26am
Reuters in Havana
Cuba has arrested four Miami-based exiles suspected of planning attacks on military installations with the goal of promoting anti-government violence on the communist-run island.
Labelling the suspects "terrorists", it said they were linked to Luis Posada Carriles, 86, a Cuban exile and former CIA operative living in Miami who for many years sought to overthrow then-president Fidel Castro.
The April 26 arrests could antagonise the already poor relations between Washington and Havana, and the case recalled a series of plots from the exile community in Miami against Cuba.
Cuba said it would contact US officials about the investigation and that the four suspects had admitted to planning the attacks.
More:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1507632/cuba-arrests-miami-based-terrorists-over-alleged-plan-attack-military
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)DirkGently
(12,151 posts)Last edited Sat May 10, 2014, 12:25 PM - Edit history (1)
Last I knew, a lot of South Florida's Cuban American population vehemently opposed any rapprochement with Cuba.
Maybe attitudes are shifting.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)joshcryer
(62,276 posts)Crist is just following the polls. The influence of the exiles is marginalized every year.
As they die off.