Miami congressional candidates differ on U.S.-Cuba policy

[Judi Lynn]

Miami congressional candidates differ on U.S.-Cuba policy
By Patricia Mazzei -
[e-mail]
10/08/2014 7:14 PM
| Updated: 10/08/2014 9:23 PM

Miami Democratic Rep. Joe Garcia and Republican opponent Carlos Curbelo disagree on whether more Americans should be allowed to travel to Cuba and send more money to relatives on the island.

But that significant policy difference didn’t get much attention until this week, when a pro-Cuba-travel television advertisement began airing in Miami.

The TV spot, launched Monday by the Miami-based liberal-leaning Cuba Now nonprofit, sticks out because of what it isn’t: a slick, highly produced piece bashing Curbelo or Garcia – like most of the others funded by well-heeled outside political groups in the close contest for Florida’s 26th congressional district.

Instead, the ad has a throwback, low-budget feel. Unidentified people speak directly into the camera in Spanish and urge voters to back candidates who support more Cuba travel. Their words are subtitled in English.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2627563.html#storylink=cpy

[Judi Lynn]

1. Admission made most US Americans don't know:

Other Republicans, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Miami Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, all Curbelo supporters, have endorsed revisions to discourage Cubans from coming to the U.S. to obtain their residency, only to frequently return to the island.

“We have to reform the law to prevent abuse of this generous law,” Curbelo said. “Otherwise, how do we explain this to Colombians, Venezuelans, Haitians, Dominicans that would also like to come to the United States because they feel the policy is inconsistent?”

But Garcia says the law, which he called “a tremendous advantage that Cuban Americans have,” should remain intact. Though he acknowledged some people abuse the privilege, the congressman said he cannot endorse changing the law after so many Cubans have already benefited.

“To hear some Cuban Americans make this argument — ‘I got in, now lock the door’ — it’s absurd,” Garcia said.

Simply pathetic. It has always been the excuse that the Cubans had to "flee" here, so we should let them in. So few realize that it has been the practice for years for many of them to make trips back to Cuba to see relatives, take vacations, etc.

Hardly "fleeing," is it?

[Mika]

2. Former CANF spokesperson, Garcia's, position is pathetic & less progressive and less fair.

Just get rid of the US's Cuban Adjustment Act, as well as the US's Wet Foot/ Dry Foot policy (that applies ONLY to Cubans), and allow a normal legal pathway for immigration - just like the rest of the world.