BREAKING: Cuban American Foundation Endorses Obama

[Hope And Change]

BREAKING: Cuban American Foundation Endorses Obama

by devildogs

Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 06:00:39 AM PDT

Folks, I am on the road driving to VA to help with the GOTV efforts there and typing from iPhone so this diary is to inform of great news coming from the sunshine state. Unfortunately, I cannot cut and paste link but I am hoping someone else posts a new diary with more content. The republican leaning Cuban American National Foundation has endorsed Barack Obama in the Washington Post.


more...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/29/84053/408/260/645537

--------------------

Both presidential candidates have made clear that they want to help the Cuban people achieve freedom. But Barack Obama's forward-looking and proactive approach toward empowering the Cuban people is more in line with these proposals than John McCain's vow to continue the Bush administration's policy.

More of the same will not bring about freedom in Cuba, and more must be done to directly assist Cuba's opposition movement. Cuban Americans are wary of empty promises. But on Nov. 4, before casting ballots, we will ask ourselves two important questions: Who will adopt a proactive policy toward Cuba, and if dissidents in Cuba had a vote in our election, for whom would they vote?

http://canf1.org/artman/publish/home_page/How_to_Win_the_Cuban_American_Vote.shtml


Credit goes to texasleo!

[mmonk]

1. Wow. A miracle is close at hand.

[Cha]

47. This is what it

is, alright.

[remember2000forever]

2. Wow! Finally The 3rd Generation of Cuban-Americans Have Rallied To Our Side!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Wow.

That might deliver Florida to Obama once and for all.

[Sebass1271]

35. It is NOT.. wait for some riots from the older cubans

generations.. this will be HUUUGE NEWS tonight.. i am married to a Cuban and lived in Miami for 12 years.. iknow how the cuban right wing think..

This will not help obama, but it does show the foundation have some integrity and don't care what the right cubans think...

I am very proud of them..

[yardwork]

46. Why don't you think that it will help Obama?

[BlooInBloo]

50. Because the poster is a fool.

[Sebass1271]

53. i am not a fool.. i am being realistic..

that's all.. i would love to think this will help Obama.. Obama will win this state because of the hard efforts of his staff and his volunteers..

[BumRushDaShow]

62. No one is discounting the "hard efforts"

But there is a bit more diversity among the Cuban-Americans than is usually talked about. I work with 2 (one a direct Batista emigree) and have known another family since childhood (all have relatives down in Florida) and even among the older ones, there has been a shift. Every little vote helps.

[Two Americas]

57. hey!

Easy there.

[Sebass1271]

51. Don't get me wrong, it is a remarkable endorsement...

but it will really not do anything for Obama.. Obama will win Florida but not because of this endorsement. The younger Cuban Americans were already for obama, this will not change the minds of the older generations.. Trust me, they are very very very one sided view and nothing will change their mind. You know who helped for this one sided right wing view to take place?

Bill Clinton - AFter Cubans blind lily supported him, they think Clinton stab them in the back by sending Elian Gonzalez back home, therefore castigating Gore and Kerry..

Their A.M radio is all day Anti-Obama news, just like Rush and Hanni ty the only difference is that theirs are in Spanish.. If Obama is elected i hope he proves them all wrong and make some meaningful changes towards bringing some Democracy to Cuba.

[yardwork]

60. I disagree. As you point out, the older Cubans decided to support Clinton at one time.

They have changed their minds before, this could change them again. What has McCain done for the Cuban community in south Florida? And what would Sarah Palin do for them? She's all about "real America" and I doubt that is making her any friends in south Florida.

The Clinton administration did the right thing in returning Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. The little boy had a surviving parent, and that parent wanted custody. Elian was a native-born Cuban and was brought to the U.S. illegally. There was no suggestion that Elian would be harmed by Cuban authorities - far from it, they welcomed him with open arms - so there was no case for making him a refugee. There was simply no legal justification, by U.S. law or international law, to keep the boy here.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Wow that's a Tectonic Shift that I never expected

This could really give us Florida

[Sebass1271]

36. No. it will not. stop thinking that.. We will Win Florida

because obama volunteers and staffers are working their butt offs...

[daggahead]

5. WOO HOO! That's a HUGE WOW!!!! n/t

[varun]

6. This is big

Cuban Americans have been the most loyal republicans...

This is major change!

[Billy Burnett]

28. Not true. The US anti Cuba campaign has been bipartisan all long.

From opensecrets.org

Opensecrets has deleted the above charts which showed that, historically, Cuban American donations to Repugs and Dems were pretty much equal.

[Sebass1271]

39. MOST CUBANS ARE REPUBLICANS.. TIME

IS CHANGING WITH THE NEW CUBAN AMERICAN GENERATION.. but MOST ARE REPUBLICANS.. Right now my hsuban's family is divided. They are the traditionally republicans infighting against the young Cuban Americans...

it is happening.. little by little as young Cuban Americans grow and become older and more independent..

[Billy Burnett]

29. The CANF supported the Bill Clinton campaign.

Jorge Mas Canosa (founder of the CANF) was a Clinton fundraiser.


Jorge Mas Canosa and Bill Clinton at a CANF fundraiser.


The Dems are just as vociferous in their anti Cuba demagoguery as the repugs.

[texasleo]

7. That can't be correct.

Can it?

[VWolf]

10. I know! Didn't Palin say that

Jews and Cuban food are her two favorite things? Surely that should have locked up Florida for McSame.

Oh wait, that was Tina Fey

:rofl:

[AnotherMother4Peace]

17. It was either Tina or Sarah - one plays a dingbat, the other is a dingbat. Your 1000th post will be

just in time for the election. An early congrats.

[VWolf]

65. Yesssss, that was my plan all along. Thanks!

[FloridaGrl]

8. OMG

This must be a dream. I never ever thought I would see the CANF even considering a democratic candidate. If McCain wins this election then what was put into the machines isn't what came out.

[Billy Burnett]

34. Then you need to do some homework. Mas Canosa and the CANF supported Bill Clinton. eom

[Sebass1271]

42. and then , hate Democrats back

after the Elian Gonzalez fiasco. THey blamed Bill for sending the boy back to Cuba communist. This is why the voted against Gore and Kerry.. they are vicious, they don't forget.. you just have to listen to their A.M radio stations in Miami..

[Billy Burnett]

61. I live in Miami.

The Castrophobic Miamicubano radio is not representative of Miami's Cuban-American demographic, just as most talk radio in the US is not representative of the the American political demographic.

[texasleo]

9. link

http://canf1.org/artman/publish/home_page/How_to_Win_the_Cuban_American_Vote.shtml

Both presidential candidates have made clear that they want to help the Cuban people achieve freedom. But Barack Obama's forward-looking and proactive approach toward empowering the Cuban people is more in line with these proposals than John McCain's vow to continue the Bush administration's policy.

More of the same will not bring about freedom in Cuba, and more must be done to directly assist Cuba's opposition movement. Cuban Americans are wary of empty promises. But on Nov. 4, before casting ballots, we will ask ourselves two important questions: Who will adopt a proactive policy toward Cuba, and if dissidents in Cuba had a vote in our election, for whom would they vote?

[Hope And Change]

11. Thanks texasleo for posting this.I will add it to my OP.

:toast:

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. Thanks for the link and the synopsis from the Cuban American National Foundation.

Wow

[Billy Burnett]

33. US freedom for Cuba? Believe me, Cubans DON'T want that.

Cubans are well versed in the results of "liberation" American style.

They kicked it out of their country in 1959, and have done OK since.

Yes, it is a poor Caribbean nation, but actually, in many social arenas they have done better than the US.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Thrill]

12. McCain kiss FL goodbye

[BREMPRO]

14. HUGE! that's makes a near lock on south florida!

[HughMoran]

15. Wow! Cubans are notoriously Republican leaning

This is good news!

[EFerrari]

23. Mostly older anti-Castro Cubans. Each generation seems to get more liberal leaning. n/t

[frickaline]

16. Is this the wapo article you are talking about?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102402716.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

It isn't exactly an endorsement but it is very positive news anyway.

[mellomel]

18. I hope...

I hope this endorsement influences at least a handful of Cuban Americans to vote for Obama. I live in a predominantly Cuban American neighborhood in Miami and all I see are McCain signs and LOTS of them... even a gigantic one infront of a house that is directly infront of an early polling place. Ah, not only that but I've had countless Cuban Americans (mostly elderly, though, the younger ones are different) tell me that Obama is a "communist" :( There is literally ONE Obama sign infront of a house that I've seen around the neighborhood, we haven't even put one out because we're afraid to.

[FloridaGrl]

20. I have spoken to a few who

are strong Obama supporters for the reason the CANF spoke about but I never thought the CANF would come out and favor a democrat. They are also upset about the policy restricting them from visiting their family in Cuba.

[renate]

26. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[IsItJustMe]

19. A prediction: Florida is now officially Obama country!!!

[IsItJustMe]

21. This is a great develeopment in Florida.

[Ichingcarpenter]

22. Any guesses when the TV media will mention this important news?

I give them within 48 hours but only as a side note. I hope this info
can get into an ad in Florida by Obama soon.

[SeeHopeWin]

24. Si se puede!!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

25. Obama needs to run a TV ad in Florida with this info immediately

ASAP

[FUCK_BUSH]

40. I AGREE 100%. THEY SHOULD CAPITALIZE ON THIS.

[Mike 03]

27. F'in A. That's going to seal Florida, no? NT

[AspenRose]

30. !

:wow:


Satan's wearing a parka!!!


:wow:


Bet it's the youth...the young ones....influencing the Cuban vote.

[GreenPartyVoter]

31. Awesome!

[tekisui]

32. That is big.

He has a commanding lead with non-Cuban Hispanics.

He just sealed Florida.

[Coexist]

37. Welcome to a Florida victory, Senator Obama!

[FUCK_BUSH]

38. THIS IS HUGE FOR OBAMA IN FLORIDA.I HOPE OBAMA TALKS ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

[Thrill]

41. Is this true? Why isn't it in the news?

[ieoeja]

49. It is in the news. In the Washington Post for example. n/t

[mtnester]

43. You know, I am stunned by this one

I never thought they would as a group endorse Mr. Obama. I thought they would endorse McCain, or remain silent at the very least with no endorsement.

I am not easily impressed, but holy cow!

[Florida33156]

44. I am from South Florida...

...and this is huge. Ironically, Bill Clinton had eroded much of the Cuban Republican support. Then, the Elian Gonzalez fiasco swung it back. If Obama can erode that at all (he won't get a majority or anything), that can definitely swing the state his way.

[Sebass1271]

48. Totally agree.. exactly my point of view above..

it is huge news, but the foundation has really lost some reputation within the elderly right wing cuban generation.. they are constantly trashing the foundation... especially when the foundation invited Obama to speak earlier in the summer..

They have a strong effort in the AM radio to take the foundation. however, they won succeed because the younger cubans will not allow it..

[Sebass1271]

54. Welcome to DU by the way!!!

:hi:

[yardwork]

45. Another remarkable endorsement. Cubans in south Florida, Junior Johnson in NC, Ralph Stanley in VA

Everybody recognizes that Obama is the best candidate.

[tigereye]

52. great news!

[Drunken Irishman]

55. Who'd they endorse in 2004?

[whistler162]

56. See... that proves it!!!! O'Bama is a commie... pinko....

Cuban's are supporting him. What else could it be?

<SNARK>

[bushmeister0]

58. "Cuban Americans are wary of empty promises." Ai Dios Mio!

You bet they are, that's all they've been getting from every American president since Kennedy.

I've got to figure, though, the Bush administration's recent "get tough" measures banning remittances, and visits to family members living in Cuba to once every three years, really opened a few eyes.

Normally, tough talking GOP candidates swoop on to Calle Ocho implying the minute they get into office the Marines will be landing in Havana (and then swoop right out), but they basically do nothing. In Bush's case, he actually did do something, he stuck it to the Cubans in the name of sticking it to "El Monstroso."

Some of the older Cuban American contigent down there might be a little over caffinated most times but they're not stupid. Who's getting hurt the most by this embargo? I think the scales have finally lifted from their eyes.

OMG, but what will Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Diaz-Balart brothers do without the embargo? They might actually be forced into representing their districts!

BTW, what will an Obama led justice department do about Luis Posada Carriles? That's what I'd really like to know.

[FloridaJudy]

64. The snowman building contest

Will begin in the Ninth Circle shortly. All residents of limbo and purgatory are also welcome to attend.

[smoogatz]

66. Well, that's Florida, then.

Amazing.