Cuba policy is used against GOP (in Miami-Dade)

[Mika]

Cuba policy is used against GOP
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9377181.htm

By clamping down on travel and remittances to Cuba last month, President Bush tried to send a signal to Miami's Cuban exile community that he was serious about getting rid of leader Fidel Castro.

But some candidates for office are trying to turn the tables and use the policy change to attract Cuban-American votes to the Democratic Party.


''The new travel restrictions do not hurt the Castro regime, they hurt Cuban Americans here,'' candidate Dave Patlak says in his postcard advertising blitz. He is running in the District 18 Democratic primary for the nomination to challenge Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, a supporter of the new rules.

''We believe that Bush Republicans are redefining family, and putting a price tag on what our families are worth. This new Cuba policy is un-American,'' Patlak says on the postcard.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE KERRY CAMPAIGN TO DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF FROM BUSH!


No majority of Americans (including the Miami Cuban-American community) support the old harmful policies of the past.



Poll: Americans do not support Cuban Sanctions
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=770
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Poll: Cuban-Americans focus is local - Cuba issues NOT #1
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/6269237.htm

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Kerry's stated policy on Cuba: More of the same.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!

[Racenut20]

1. It should be. It is idiocy.

[Mika]

2. Kerry/Edwards could attract a majority of Miamicubans w/new policy

You are right, Racenut20, the current Cuba policy (with or without Bush's new restrictions) is just simply un-American, cruel, unjust, and an abrogation of our (and Cuban immigrants) constitutional rights.

Kerry/Edwards could make huge inroads by changing the US's anachronistic policy relating to Cuba sanctions.

Are they doing so? Nope.

I hope that they get on the ball w/this, especially knowing how important every Florida vote is.

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Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Well, DUH! R/Wingers Have Been At War With The Family For YEARS!

Well, DUH! The Far Right has been at war with families for years. I'm surprised that people like Mr. Patlak have taken this long to notice.

Lurking right-wingers reading this post might be surprised to hear a "liberal" say that the Far Right has been warring against families for years, but it's true. From the so-called immigration "reforms" of the 1990's that limited the numbers of aunts, uncles, and cousins that could enter the USA to the efforts to criminalize older relatives helping their relatives to obtain reproductive health care, the Far Right has been on the front lines in the undeclared war against the extended family. Seeking to sanctify the "nuclear family" (Mommy, Daddy, and the kiddies), the Far Right has simultaneously been working to undermine the considerable support that networks of relatives can provide.

Right-wingers thinking that Bushnik/Republican controlled federal and state governments will leave THEM alone are kidding themselves.

This is not to say that all extended families are unhealthy. I know a LOT of them that aren't. But when they are, they can provide love and support that no government agency or most private charities can provide.

I hope that those Cuban emigres and their children who believe that blood kinship still counts for something and who care about their relatives living in Cuba help put an end to the US taxpayer-funded Diaz--Balart/Castro family feud and send the Diaz--Balart's little helper Ros Lehtinen packing in November.

[Mika]

6. VogonG, GREAT post!!!

:thumbsup:

[Vogon_Glory]

7. I'm Only Stating The Obvious...

Thank you, Mika, but I'm only stating the obvious. The Far Right HAS been waging an undeclared, covert war against the extended family for YEARS and it's time that more people call them on their dirty little game.

Despite their often-spouted, highly publicized advocacy of "family," right-wingers have been busy trying to undermine extended families for at least a generation and a half. I won't digress about the abortion issue and efforts by Congressional Representative Ros-Lehtinen to criminalize family members taking other family members across state lines for reproductive services, nor will I say much of the Elian Gonzalez smokescreen; others can do that with even more eloquence. But I will mention right-wing talk show hosts' belittling of hard-pressed parents' efforts to remain near their relatives and their support networks that help care for their children while their parents try to earn their daily bread.

This latest attempt by the "Mayberry Machiavellis" in the Boosh regime to sunder family ties between Cuban emigres and their relatives in Cuba once again shows the so-called "pro-family" party's true colors--white skull and crossbones on a black field.

[Joanne98]

4. Wouldn't it be great if we could break up that voting block?

What an unexpected gift from Gawd. It actually seems to be working too. Keep fingers crossed and Gawd bless the crack in this damm. :) Finally.

[Mika]

5. Its never been a voting block

Miami-Dade is a majority Dem county, and that includes the Cuban-America community too. The Elian affair was exploited by the media to make it appear to those unfamiliar w/Miami that the C-A community is a single block.

Here's some longer term trends. Keep in mind that the emerging younger generation of C-A's is more Dem (and less anti castro) than their parents.

charts from opensecrets.org