The battle over Cuba begins

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2008 12:37 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The first of many McCain-Obama fights over Cuba? The McCain campaign just put out this statement: "Not so along go Senator Obama favored complete normalization of relations with Fidel Castro's Cuba. Last night, he said that as president he'd meet with the imprisoned island's new leader 'without preconditions.' So Raul Castro gets an audience with an American president, and all the prestige such a meeting confers, without having to release political prisoners, allow free media, political parties, and labor unions, or schedule internationally monitored free elections.

"Instead, Senator Obama says he would meet Cuba's dictator without any such steps in the hope that talk will make things better for Cuba's oppressed people. Meet, talk, and hope may be a sound approach in a state legislature, but it is dangerously naive in international diplomacy where the oppressed look to America for hope and adversaries wish us ill."

Obama's camp has yet to put out a response, but here is what he said in the debate last night: "I support the eventual normalization. And it's absolutely true that I think our policy has been a failure. I mean, the fact is, is that during my entire lifetime, and Senator Clinton's entire lifetime, you essentially have seen a Cuba that has been isolated, but has not made progress when it comes to the issues of political rights and personal freedoms that are so important to the people of Cuba. So I think that we have to shift policy."

McCain, of course, is trying to score points with Florida's Cuban community. But then again, isn't he tying himself to the politics of the past here?

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Comments

Senator Obama stated last evening at the debate is that he would have his people do some up front negotiations and perperation work first before he would meet with Castro. John McCain fails to realize, and it's scary that he doesn't, is that having our president meet their leader would give an enormous amount of HOPE to the people of Cuba. Hope that perhaps a face to face would start to tear down the walls and also preconceived notions. I've negotiated my whole life and I know that a face to face conversation always brings common ground and a willingness to unite and therefore hope for change. McCain is stuck in the old and also in the stuborness of W's foreign policy. McCain has also not taken into consideration that the prestige of the US Presidency has deminished quite a bit and it no longer holds the lofty respect worldwide that it used to. Good for Obama for advocating change. Under McCain we will have another 50 years no bad policy and no progress. Can't you see that McCain is a bully just like W. America needs change.

MG, St. Louis, Mo. (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:45 PM)

Patty, sd, ca (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:34 PM)

Sweety, you are not just disagreeing. You are insulting. And honey, how does it feel to be condescended to as a female. Listen Babe, I like em as sassy as the next guy but you exhibit a pretty tough exterior for a little woman. It's kind of charming to see a girl like you get all feisty as if you were a man or something.
How's it feel Patty. I suppose if you or J Merle had anything you wouldn't have to stoop so low with your racist vitriol. But the fact is ..you got nothin.
Go away

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:48 PM)

I am mistaken and he is really a girl?
PATTY, SD, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:35 PM)

Patty, child, (or are you really J. Merle?) he is a man, not a boy. There is a severely negative connote attached to referring to a mature African-American man as "boy". And don't tell me you didn't know that.

Oh, and Patty? (And J. Merle?) If you wish your comments to be accorded suitable gravitas, I have two words of advice for you:

Spell check.

Chris F., Just o'er the border in Williconsinois (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:50 PM)

Sweety, you are not just disagreeing. You are insulting. And honey, how does it feel to be condescended to as a female. Listen Babe, I like em as sassy as the next guy but you exhibit a pretty tough exterior for a little woman. It's kind of charming to see a girl like you get all feisty as if you were a man or something.
How's it feel Patty. I suppose if you or J Merle had anything you wouldn't have to stoop so low with your racist vitriol. But the fact is ..you got nothin.
Go away

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:48
***********************************

I am sorry your little feelings got hurt.

Patty, sd, ca (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:52 PM)

I'm quite pleased that both candidates are willing to open talks with Cuba. I am weary of our foreign policy being hijacked by a few precints in south Florida, who have been chanting the same mantra for the past 50 years. And because these aging Bay of Pigs warriors have a considerable amount of political and economic clout, every politician who wants to win Florida (and thus, the presidency) has to knuckle under to them. That population is fading out and the younger members of the community see no sense in continuing an embargo that has hurt both nations.

Bold statements from both candidates - they are to be commended. The "stick" hasn't worked. It's time to try the "carrot".

Chris F., Just o'er the border in Williconsinois (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:57 PM)

I don't think Patty or J. Merle are old enough to vote....

Where are your parents? (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:57 PM)

Patty, just to refresh your memory, you did refer to Senator Obama as "boy".
Setting The Record Straight (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:31 PM)

Isn't he a boy?

I am mistaken and he is really a girl?
PATTY, SD, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:35 PM)

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

Since it seems you aren't aware, in the United States, especially in the deep south, "Boy" has served as a racial epithet towards African-American males to infer that they are inferior and subservient.

Now, granted, that may not have been your intent but just keep in mind how your choice of words may be interpreted.

Setting The Record Straight (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:03 PM)

John McCain is wrong.

Normalizing relations with Cuba would have a greater impact toward freeing the Cuban People than the embargo. The Cuban people are the ones that suffer under it and the Castros benefit.

McCain's foreign policy seems like it's out of the 1950's.

adam/NYC (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:03 PM)

All the negative, put downs and "little" name calling is "residue" from The past 7 years. If you can't beat them with wisdom, intelligence, rational thinking, or working together for real solutions to real problems....attack them! Humiliate them. Laugh at them! If that doesn't work call them unpatriotic. The very reasons MOSt AMERICANS scream for CHANGE. It degrades our politcal system, our people, and our nation. We do not live in a bubble. The whole world watches as some Americans "hack" at each other with words, and we become the laughing stock of the civilized world! Just because our speech is free, doesn't mean everything and anything should be spoken.
Could we try to have a discussion about differences in the candidates, without looking like a bunch of little kids during recess, trying to deal with the playground bully? Rise above the kindergartenish behaviors of some...to discuss THE REAL ISSUES. They do that to make people get off the issues. Just IGNORE THEM.
My husband has always told our children..."Don't ever argue with IGNORANT PEOPLE(people can't speak rationally, are bigots, and/or racists, or retarded persons) You will never "win" and YOU look like an idiot doing it. Walk away."
Let's just "walk away" and ignore them and move onto the ISSUES we want to intelligently discuss. They will get bored and go away!!

conPA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:04 PM)

How is any kind of special bragging rights inferred by a meeting with a US president if that person will meet with any world leader?

Sounds like more of the reasoning that tell us that borrow & spend economics is fiscal conservatism.
I am sure that McCain likes this. After all its our kids that he wants to pay his bills.

PAW, Oakland, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:08 PM)

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Spanish/American philosopher George Santayana.

Obama says Hillary will not bring change. He is right. Hillary will bring progress.

Those who were not involved to experience the past did not gain the knowledge that must be retained. They lack the retention of ingredients needed to progress the issues of health care, the economy, jobs, and to redirect resources from the Iraq War to the fight on terrorism.

Obama wants us to forget and eliminate those who possess the knowledge gained during those fights, as if by doing so there can be progress.

Obama was not in the fight for health care, when the insurance companies brought change that defeated any hope for progress. Obama was not in the Senate fight that authorized the use of force to combat terrorism when the President changed the intelligence that doomed the plan. Obama was not in the fight that brought prosperity and jobs during the 90’s, or when but Bush made the changes that doomed the economy.
If these issues demand progress, then Hillary will be the right President.

For anyone who would doubt that change cannot bring progress, I offer Iraq. The Bush doctrine wanted to bring the progress of Democracy and equality to Iraq. The Bush doctrine held that by changing the “cast of characters” in Iraq that democracy could progress and flourish.

In Iraq the changes were made, and the cast was changed, but no one believes that the cause of Democracy has made progress during the 5 years of war.

We do not need change from our Democratic values. We need progress. Hillary Clinton is the right person, and will be the right President.

Johnny at Work (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:09 PM)

Speaking as an African-American man that grew up in the US my entire life, there is a stigma that goes with the word "boy". We all know the history of how the word was used in a degrading way and in no way was meant to show favor. So Patty, please explain to the people that are posting and reading how you calling Obama a "boy" was meant with the best intentions?? For you to even question the brain capacity of those of us that read and say, "he is a boy isnt he...." shows that you knew what you were saying and doing. Yes we know that he is a man, but you were not using "boy" to talk about his gender.

This Can't Be Life, Alabama (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:09 PM)

I believe the fine people of this post, those supporting Hillary and Barack would best be served by addressing the issues in the posts and quit acknowledging two misguided souls. If they choose to use this medium to diffuse there ideals let them but the more you acknowledge them is the more fuel to the fire. They and their ideals will soon become moot. Let's get back to the business of issues and unity.

Marlon, Stamford, CT. (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:10 PM)

(Republica Talking Points: emails)

"Vote for Obama in the Dem. primaries. Take Hillary out"

People better wake up or we're going to have 4 more years of the republicans.

John Doe (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:12 PM)

"BOY"

Function: noun

1: a male servant (often offensive)

Source - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Pete, Albany, NY (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:12 PM)

Obama responds to McCain's attack
by Sam Graham-FelsenFriday, February 22, 2008 at 01:58 PM

Barack Obama:

John McCain would give us four more years of the same Bush-McCain policies that have failed U.S. interests and the Cuban people for the last fifty years. My policy will be based on the principle of liberty for the Cuban people, and I will seek that goal through strong and direct presidential diplomacy, and an immediate change in policy to allow for unlimited family visitation and remittances to the island. In November, the American people will have a clear choice: a new direction versus more war in Iraq, more not talking to leaders we don't like, and more of a Cuba policy that has failed to achieve freedom for the Cuban people. I am confident that the American people will choose the promise of the future over the failed policies and predictable political attacks of the past.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGC4Zq

kylem beacon, ny (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:12 PM)

How many dictators have previous presidents met with? Bush even held hands with the dictator of Saudi Arabia (who calls himself "king") as they merrily strolled about Bush's ranch.

Jerry Mander (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:13 PM)

Johnny,
Why do you feel compelled to continue to fight battles that have been won or are being won?
Does it not make more sense to consolidate and advance than to play the role of a pooch that chases its tail to no avail?

PAW, Oakland, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:16 PM)

we don't agree but stop the personal attacks please because its not nice.

or is that that being an Obama supporter is all about?

Patty, sd, ca (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:17 PM)

patty,
I really do beleive that you miss the point. These are not personal attacks. We are commenting on your lack of knowledge when it comes to the words that you choose to use. Secondly, I am a Hillary supporter. So I guess that shot your theory...GIRL.

This Can't Be Life, Alabama (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:21 PM)

Yes. Si se puede. It's time for the Cuban-American community realize that Fidel (vile egocentric dictator that he was) is gone; Raul might be a bit more pragmatic of a ruler. Look, we all want freedom for Cuba. Dictatorships of the right or left are dispicable but it is only by infiltrating the island, opening the abcess, so to speak, with travel business, education, etc. will we bring the administration of the Communist party down. In fact, we must not mix up nationalism with Communism and if we get that straight we can avoid the little despots like Fidel and Hugo Chavez.

And in that vein, as a Jewish-American, I hope that Obama's new administration will usher in a new era of even handedness with the Palestinians. If one really wants to guarantee a secure Israel, then we must help with the establishment of a contiguous and economically prosperous Palestinian state (with access to Gaza). Only then can we diffuse the hatred associated with Hamas (again, it's a question of nationalism; when people are desperate they are likely to resort to desperate acts). I look forward to the day when a secure Israel can live with peacefully with its Arab neighbors. That's what the politics of hope is about. Naive? I don't think so. Reagan helped to bring down the Berlin wall, didn't he?
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:26 PM)

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 1:48
***********************************

I am sorry your little feelings got hurt.

Patty, sd, ca

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

Schear doesn't care about anyones feelings but his own. He's the knucklehead that keeps publishing fallen soldiers names without their families permission just so he can feel important.

Lance, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:37 PM)

MNDem, I really like your view and believe you are right. I'm 27 and think the baby boomers have not handled the situation in the best of ways. now is the time of change and there will always be people (mainly older people like J. Merle and Patty) who will fight change. But one thing that is true about life is change happens. the past decade it happened for the worst. and as the pendulum swings it's now changing for the better. And I believe Obama has the best ideas to lead us into that era. The leaders of my generation are acting. when the rest of us get into our 30's and 40's hopefully we will be smart to build upon what the successes of this fascinating time. I'm sorry republicans, you've tried. You've failed. Now it's our time. Welcome to the 21st century. and it's true first president, Barak Obama.

Simon, LA, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:38 PM)

It's about time to have an honest, rational debate about American relations with Cuba. We haven't spent but 49 years in irrational emotionalism.

The point is that Cuba is a Communist state. Just like China. And China hasn't backed one inch off its Marxist philosophy. Yet American corporations make billions with these Communists. The American government remains solvent only because of these Communists. Then there is the Communist state of Viet Nam. They haven't backed one inch off their Communist philosophy. Yet American corporations will make billions more off Viet Nam. Then there is the Communist state of Albania. No real profits there, but we've made them one of our best buddies.

So much for the "we can't deal with Communists" argument. We can no longer refuse to deal with Cuba "because it is Communist" unless we want to be what we truly are on this issue, bunch of hypocrites.

Richard Nixon went to China. The Chinese didn't come to him. How many prisoners have been freed because of "normalized" relations? How many free elections have been held? How many churches have been built under religious toleration laws? None. None. Zilch.

Should I mention meetings or intended meetings between President Eisenhower, Vice-President Nixon, Presidents Kennedy and Reagan with Soviet Communist Party bosses with no prior condition of "you have to change your ways first"?

So much for the "they got to change their ways first" argument.

Perhaps we should also look at Cuba prior to Castro. Fulgencio Batista seized power in a coup when polls showed him to be running third in a three man race for President. The U.S. legitimized this unlawful seizure of power with diplomatic recognition 17 days later. Batista turned Cuba into a RICO state by giving free rein to the American Mafia. He tortured and murdered at least 20,000 Cubans. He reduced the already poor population to starvation.

It is not surprising at all that Fidel Castro turned on the United States.

Yeah, let's have that debate about Cuba.

Jerry Jefcoat Bartlesville, Oklahoma (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:47 PM)

Yes, McCain is.....in fact he is still living in the past....not only with the policies, but the wars of the past. We cannot afford to risk having a leader, who can not move on, to move the country forward.....

Lucieann, St. Lucie County, FL (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:52 PM)

It's 2008 not 1948. Don't ya think that maybe the US should do things a little differently? The old man thinks that we should do things the same and get better result. Don't think so.

Somebody get the old man his alzheimer medication.

Phyllis, Dallas TX (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:01 PM)

The inexperienced one BO will probably get us all stuck in Cuba. He will be so JFK like the BAY OF PIGS will look like a cake walk. I wonder if BO knows what a Russian Missile looks like? JFK found out, he was a young and inexperienced when he became president, knew from naught.

HP Boston (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:03 PM)

People seem to be losing their minds in their bitter disappointment. (Of course, I am referring to the increasingly bitter ramblings of Patty from San Diego and J. Merle). I hope you both will go and take a long bath, soak in it and let your anger out. I'm not kidding all of that hate will make you sick. I'm not new-age, go to the John Hopkins website and find out how right I am.

But, I am also concerned about the references here to Senator John McCain. Let's keep it respectful shall we? I support Senator Obama as the only candidate who can actually bring us (well, most of us -- see the top of my post) together to solve our problems. I will argue for Senator Obama as vehemently as anyone else. However, let us not fall into the negativity trap of the so-called Clinton supporters.

Senator Obama is the right candidate because of who he is, the campaign he is running and what he plans to do for this Country. Senator Obama is infinitely superior to Senator McCain on the policy issues. But, Senator McCain is an American war hero who deserves our respect, if not our vote.

We can do this, but we need to remember to come together we cannot start by insulting and demeaning the other side of the argument. We need to persuade that other side. Senator Obama, although of course an imperfect man, has provided us with more than sufficient positive arguments to make in advocacy of his eventual Presidency. Let us not become like the so-called Senator Clinton supporters (dripping with venom) simply because the Presidency is almost within reach. Remember we are turning the page on the politics of partisan bickering!

Yes we can! Obama '08.

Kim, Pasadena, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:03 PM)

Dear John, oh john.....dig your grave a little deeper, a little deeper. Thanks.

Billy S, Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:04 PM)

It's time that we get over Cuba. Fulgencio Battista is not coming back. We need to recognize the circumstances that brought Cubans to revolt in the first place. A corrupt government, many of whom fled to Miami in the wake of Castro's rise.

Now we've wasted 50 years punishing people for embracing a system we don't like. If Cubans hated Castro enough, they certainly could have and would have thrown off his regime. Instead the US has embargoed goods and services to Cuba, when we could have economic success with Cuba and Central and South America. We could have done more to establish a strong role in Carribbean countries. But we didn't. Fifty years later, Castro is still alive, and is just now stepping down. It's time to turn the page on the politics of the past. US influence in the region -- not only Cuba, but Haiti, too -- has been uneven, and hasn't served us well. I'm looking forward to a new kind of foreign policy with a new forward looking President. (Obama, of course.)

Jade7243 (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:05 PM)

Hey if you are 80 years old anyone 47 is a BOY!! Come out of the South and it's ways, we speak a higher grade of ENGLISH here. Patty is from CA not SC.
Southern WHITE MEN use boy and you know who you are!
So how old are you Patty?

HP Boston (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:07 PM)

Simon, LA.....

There was a time when Baby Boomers were your age. As a 60 year old Boomer I remember marching for civil right and against the Vietnam war; canvassing for Democratic candidates (first was Kennedy, I was in the 4th grade) and participating in the process for as long as I've known there was a process. And every time I participated I did so because I too was looking for change.

Now that people of my generation have grown well past their 27th year what makes you think that we too have not called on the lessons we've learned and why would you assume that we are not smart enough to build on our fascinating time.....

I am very happy to know that you are living and working to make these times even better than the ones before.....welcome to the party....hope you stick around.

campdog (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:10 PM)

HP Boston (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:10 PM)

When are we going to wake-up? The world situation isn't about politics. It's about who is going to win.
If we retract, like Hillary and Obama want, then we let others win. Then they dictate to us what foreign policy will be. Is that what we want? Carter said Pax America was over, Reagan said it wasn't. And then we won the cold war. Remember, the Soviets thought Carter was weak and they invaded Afganistian, the Soviets thought Kennedy was weak and they went into Cuba, Truman thought by declaring the Containment Theory, that their would'nt be any incursions, but he failed to mention Southeast Asia, hence the Korean war and Vietnam. Are we so innocent to believe? Are we?

Thomas McClure, Fort Lauderdale, fl (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:14 PM)

John McCain's jumpy political record is nothing to qualify him to be president. His record at Annapolis and much of his active duty time in the Navy reflects a lot pretty poor judgement calls. I can't imagine what he went through as a POW, but that alone doesn't qualify him. I'll take Barack Obama's judgement any day.

bill, okla (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:30 PM)

US policy toward Cuba is a throwback to the 1950's. I'm not surprised that John McCain has fond memories of Happy Days, but what has the policy really accomplished apart from punishing the already oppressed Cuban citizens? This is exactly the kind of US foreign policy that deserves revisiting. Change is possible, folks.

Mitch, Denver (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:30 PM)

He'll sit down with Cuba because after he gets in we'll have similar economic systems if he has anything to say about it (i.e. socialism).

Thursday (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:32 PM)

"So Raul Castro gets an audience with an American president, and all the prestige such a meeting confers, without having to release political prisoners, allow free media, political parties, and labor unions, or schedule internationally monitored free elections." Why should Cuba be any different than Saudi Arabia...oh, yes, oil.

Lawyerbot, Cyberspace (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:32 PM)

Talk to the adversaries and make your own opinion - that's what I want from my president ! Not just fly by when all is said in done - or send the armed forces to die because the administration is not willing to listen and talk.

Martha in Missouri (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:33 PM)

As you can see from all the responses this Country is not ready for a woman or a black President.All the comments are based on some form of racism. As much as we like to think of ourselves as not being racist we clearly are and this is why neither one will win. Furthermore why can we not take of our own in this country we are so free to hand out welfare,food stamp, etc. to all the immigrants that come to this country i't's about time we stand up for our rights in The United States. When we have to press one for English and need help reading signs not in
English clearly we have a problem. Try going to their country and getting away with it..WAKE UP

Linda West Palm Beach (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:38 PM)

"As you can see from all the responses this Country is not ready for a woman or a black President.All the comments are based on some form of racism"

Yes! Vote for the old, corrupt honky cracker and sleep well at night.

Rush's other neighbor (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:43 PM)

You Obamashhep are really hateful. I hope barack looses big in the general. For the first time in my life and I am a third generation Demacrat, I will vote republican.

anton t, clear lake, mn (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:49 PM)

Anton-

Could the first two generations spell "democrat"?

(I hope he "looses," too!)

jeez! (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:56 PM)

Martha in MO. Absolutely. How many wars could have been avoided if leaders had the will and understanding to find common ground? Haven't we had enough swaggering cowboys and greedy oil barons!

bill, okla (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:57 PM)

I look forward to vacationing in Cuba. We will be able to make ethanol with Cuban sugar cane for 1/3 the cost of Archer Daniels Midland high fructose corn syrup. Maybe even the old COCA COLA will come back with cane sugar. Maybe I'll be able to say hello to Elian. All we are saying is give peace a chance.

nuanced (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 4:05 PM)

Obamanomics = soviet style socialism with a dash of 1970s stagflation thrown in for good measure

Thursday (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 4:26 PM)

MOST PEOPLE IN AMERICA TODAY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE A EMBRAGO AGAINST CUBA AND DO BUSINESS WITH ALL THE OTHER OPPRESSED COUNTRY,S IN WORLD. I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH TALKING TO LEADERS OF COUNTRIES WE DO NOT LIKE.THE IRON CURTAIN DID NOT COME DOWN UNTIL WE STARTED TALKING TO RUSSIA.BUSH DOES NOT WANT TO TALK TO COUNTRIES UNTIL THEY JUMP THRU HOOPS.HILLARY AND McCAIN BASICLY AGREE.WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET ANY WHERE IN THIS WORLD IF WE DO NOT TALK TO PEOPLE!IN THIS CASE WORDS DO MATTER.

RENEA,PLYMOUTH,MI (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 4:37 PM)

1. Obama did NOT say he would meet with Castro with no pre-conditions. Basically Obama said he said they would have to show human rights advancements and then he would meet with him. It makes sense to get some basic things accomplished, and then try to work on the more complicated issues.

2. I agree with Johnson, New Orleans, LA. In addition, Hillary put all kinds of pre-conditions on meeting with Castro. Pre-conditions that will probably never happen or take a very long time to happen and therefore we would never meet with Cuba. Not helpful. What if we had made pre-conditions of this sort on Hitler?

3. If we as a nation are concerned about human rights we should not let a dictator get in the way of making advancements toward that end.

Noel Anschutz, Las Vegas NV (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 4:47 PM)

You know what Obama needs to do against a John McCain on this issue. Simply explain his position, but he needs to learn how to do it susinctly and clearly. While somebody like me or perhaps you are able to understand the nuance of his position, the general population will see the Right's "B.H. Obama surrenders a la Cuba."

He should say something like "We are in a rut, our current and past policy has not changed the situation at all in Cuba. It/they have not brought about the release of political prisoners, free media, labor unions, or internationally monitored free elections. I, Barack Obama, will open up a dialogue with the Cuban government. We, the U.S., will not "surrender," will not give in, but we will make sure the Cuban leadership understands what we want. It is not in our nor the Cuba peoples' best intests to keep a nation, so close to our borders, as an enemy by the shear fact of doing nothing. I, Barack Obama, will actively work to promote a free and democratic Cuba.

No?

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 4:49 PM)

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