America Lifting Cuban Embargo?

[DanInAceh]

Honestly, I never thought I'd see this. The potential lifting of the Cuban Embargo and a foreign policy move by Barack Obama I wholeheartedly agree with. Seeing America's deepening return to the Cold War with Russia, it makes perfect sense to return Cuba to our side. Also, the U.S.-led embargo has been devastating for Cuban citizens. They're the only ones who have suffered, not Castro nor his cronies.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/politics/obama-cuba-castro-relations/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

I eagerly await being able to travel to Cuba.

[lantern]

Seems like a good idea to me.

Visit as quickly as possible as it will soon be overrun with American tourists. My brother drove around the island a few years ago and had a great time. He said the people were fantastic.

[lantern]

Marco Rubio will try to block the move.

"[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Georgia]WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will get no money for his Cuba policy, no ambassador will be confirmed and the embargo will never be lifted, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) vowed in a blistering press conference on Wednesday".

[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Georgia]"This entire policy shift announced today is based on an illusion, based on a lie,” Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants, told reporters on Capitol Hill. "The White House has conceded everything and gained little."[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Georgia]"I’m committed to doing everything I can to unravel as many of these changes as possible," he added.[/FONT][/COLOR]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/marco-rubio-cuba-obama_n_6342348.html

[DanInAceh]

No surprise there. I don't think Obama can actually pull it off, but the overwhelming consensus of Americans sans a few thousand people in a certain ethnic enclave is that the embargo is ultimately harmful for everyday Cubans. It baffles me completely that the exile community, who originally were made up of what amounted to a Cuban aristocracy, would be so petty as to hurt their former countrymen. They're the only ones suffering, it's certainly not the Castro family not its cronies.

[lantern]

No surprise there. I don't think Obama can actually pull it off, but the overwhelming consensus of Americans sans a few thousand people in a certain ethnic enclave is that the embargo is ultimately harmful for everyday Cubans. It baffles me completely that the exile community, who originally were made up of what amounted to a Cuban aristocracy, would be so petty as to hurt their former countrymen. They're the only ones suffering, it's certainly not the Castro family not its cronies.

It seems to be a generational thing. However the trade embargo stays in place as only Congress can lift it. Lots of huffing and puffing to come.

"[COLOR=#242424][FONT=Verdana]A large majority favors diplomatic relations with Cuba (68%), with younger respondents strongly backing the policy shift (90%). Support for re-establishing diplomatic ties maintains a solid majority among all age groups up to age 70, after which it drops to a third of the population supporting the policy"
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/1...upport-embargo[COLOR=#242424][FONT=Verdana]

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[Nimbus]

Cubans and Republicans don't vote for Obama, so he has practically nothing to lose by adopting this policy. Cubans are probably the only Latino group that votes Republicans more than Democrats. Unlike the rest of latin Americans they are guaranteed legal status as an immigrant as soon as they step one foot on U.S. soil, so Obama's and Democrats' pro-immigration stance means nothing to them.

China is formally a communist country and US trade has turned it into communist-in-name-only. I don't see why the same thing can't work with Cuba.

[ScooterIndo]

Agreed it can only be a good thing especially for the Cubans themselves.

[waarmstrong]

Cubans and Republicans don't vote for Obama, so he has practically nothing to lose by adopting this policy. Cubans are probably the only Latino group that votes Republicans more than Democrats. Unlike the rest of latin Americans they are guaranteed legal status as an immigrant as soon as they step one foot on U.S. soil, so Obama's and Democrats' pro-immigration stance means nothing to them.

China is formally a communist country and US trade has turned it into communist-in-name-only. I don't see why the same thing can't work with Cuba.

Actually that's wrong. Obama carried Florida in both of his presidential election victories. Poles indicate that the Cuban community is split along age lines. The shrinking old guard is still hard line by 6 to 4, but an overwhelming majority of young Cuban Americans support recognition and eventual lifting of the embargo. Fact is the majority of all Cuban Americans support the President's move.

[Nimbus]

Actually that's wrong. Obama carried Florida in both of his presidential election victories. Poles indicate that the Cuban community is split along age lines. The shrinking old guard is still hard line by 6 to 4, but an overwhelming majority of young Cuban Americans support recognition and eventual lifting of the embargo. Fact is the majority of all Cuban Americans support the President's move.

Obama carried Florida because its Cuban population today is much smaller in proportion compared to 15 years ago. If I remember correctly other Hispanics have actually outnumbered Cubans during the last Presidential election. Since Hispanics in general are overwhelmingly pro Obama and Democrats, they eclipsed the Cubans.

Younger Cubans do favor lifting the embargo, but I believe they are still outnumbered by the older generation, not to mention the old guys are typically more reliable voters.