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Obama's Cuba Policy Separates Cuban American Community
By Michael P. Tremoglie, The Bulletin
President Barack Obama’s announced intention of removing the trade restrictions with Cuba and talking with the communist dictatorship are dividing the Cuban-American community.
Mr. Obama cannot unilaterally rescind the trade restrictions — although he has hinted that he might. He needs the help of the Congress. This might be possible if a poll by the liberal Brookings Institute is accurate. It shows that 55 percent of Cuban Americans oppose continuing the embargo.
This near even split among Cuban-Americans who make up an important voting block in the important electoral state of Florida is good news for Democratic Party who favor eliminating trade restrictions.
Cubas communist rulers, Raul and Fidel Castro, greeted President Obama’s election with great enthusiasm. Fidel watched the entire inauguration, according to visiting Argentine President Cristina Kirchner.
He told her that “he followed with much interest President Barack Obama’s assumption of power, and that he spent the whole day watching the event on television.”
Raul Castro earlier had kind words for the first black American president: “He seems to be a good man; I wish him luck.”
He has said he was willing to talk with Mr. Obama, as long as there are no intermediaries and as equal parties to the dialogue.
But not all are so enthusiastic. Cuban-American author Humberto Fontova objects to the idea of removing the embargo. He rejects the notion that it will be beneficial to both the United States and Cuba.
Mr. Fontova points out that in 2006 both France and Mexico cut off Cuba’s credit line. Cuba owed $175 million to the French and $365 million to the Mexican government operated banks.
He also notes that in 2008 Cuba owed South Africa $117 million, dating back to 1996 and that Dun & Bradstreet, Moody’s and Standard & Poors rate the island communist nation’s credit extremely poor.
Organizations such as the Cuban American National Foundation also are worried about the embargo being removed. They wonder how Mr. Obama’s new attitude will stem the tide of democracy in Cuba.
A recent newsletter asked, “Will an Obama administration blow up Cuba policy and push for open trade, and allow American tourists to travel there like they can in China and Vietnam, both human rights abusers? Or will President Barack Obama only tinker around the edges, keeping the embargo but restoring family-friendly travel policies for Cuban Americans?”
Michael P. Tremoglie can be contacted at mtremoglie@thebulletin.us
Mr. Obama cannot unilaterally rescind the trade restrictions — although he has hinted that he might. He needs the help of the Congress. This might be possible if a poll by the liberal Brookings Institute is accurate. It shows that 55 percent of Cuban Americans oppose continuing the embargo.
This near even split among Cuban-Americans who make up an important voting block in the important electoral state of Florida is good news for Democratic Party who favor eliminating trade restrictions.
Cubas communist rulers, Raul and Fidel Castro, greeted President Obama’s election with great enthusiasm. Fidel watched the entire inauguration, according to visiting Argentine President Cristina Kirchner.
He told her that “he followed with much interest President Barack Obama’s assumption of power, and that he spent the whole day watching the event on television.”
Raul Castro earlier had kind words for the first black American president: “He seems to be a good man; I wish him luck.”
He has said he was willing to talk with Mr. Obama, as long as there are no intermediaries and as equal parties to the dialogue.
But not all are so enthusiastic. Cuban-American author Humberto Fontova objects to the idea of removing the embargo. He rejects the notion that it will be beneficial to both the United States and Cuba.
Mr. Fontova points out that in 2006 both France and Mexico cut off Cuba’s credit line. Cuba owed $175 million to the French and $365 million to the Mexican government operated banks.
He also notes that in 2008 Cuba owed South Africa $117 million, dating back to 1996 and that Dun & Bradstreet, Moody’s and Standard & Poors rate the island communist nation’s credit extremely poor.
Organizations such as the Cuban American National Foundation also are worried about the embargo being removed. They wonder how Mr. Obama’s new attitude will stem the tide of democracy in Cuba.
A recent newsletter asked, “Will an Obama administration blow up Cuba policy and push for open trade, and allow American tourists to travel there like they can in China and Vietnam, both human rights abusers? Or will President Barack Obama only tinker around the edges, keeping the embargo but restoring family-friendly travel policies for Cuban Americans?”
Michael P. Tremoglie can be contacted at mtremoglie@thebulletin.us
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