How a Hardline Lobby Is Blocking Closer Relations Between Cuba and America
How a Hardline Lobby Is Blocking Closer Relations Between Cuba and America
AlterNet / By Zaid Jilani
America's policy on Cuba is a relic of another era, propped up by a powerful lobby based in the swing state of Florida.
September 3, 2013 |
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Over the years, there has been some easing of the travel ban, with President Obama allowing for greater travel by academic, religious, and cultural groups. Yet Obama has chosen to maintain the major features of frozen relations, even once saying that his previous position during his U.S. Senate campaign that the embargo should be ended was simply "eons ago."
The official explanation behind why there's a general travel ban and embargo on Cuba is that the United States is protesting Cuba's human rights record. In 2010, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) complained that normalizing trade and travel with Cuba would "enrich a regime that denies its own people basic human rights," and even took the step of saying he would filibuster legislation that changed this. But Menendez has also made a point to promote trade with China, which is by most measures at least as much of a violator of human rights as Cuba, if not a greater one. Recall that the United States has no travel ban or embargo not only on China but other major rights abusers like Saudi Arabia and Colombia. In fact, after fifty-one years of the same policy, Cuba's seen some basic reforms but no major overhaul of its political system that embargo proponents long-predicted.
A more compelling explanation is the power of the domestic Cuba lobby. This lobby, dominated by wealthy expatriates, spends big in U.S. elections. In 2008, the so-called U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, for example, spent over a million dollars in American elections, spending slightly less in 2012. Its treasurer is Gus Muchado, a wealthy auto dealer kingpin who resides in the key swing state of Florida. “When it comes to the topic of Cuba, first comes Cuba and then comes the party,” said Sen. Menendez during a gala the PAC put on in 2010.
This pro-embargo lobby also specializes in antagonizing left-wing leaders throughout Latin America. For example, during the 2012 presidential campaign, President Obama rightly noted that Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez doesn’t pose a serious threat to the United States. Within hours, Connie Mack, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from the state of Florida, came out with a terse statement: “Simply put, this President is unfit for duty when it comes to understanding freedom and national security in the Western Hemisphere, and neither are his liberal allies who allow such behavior.”
More:
http://www.alternet.org/world/cuba-lobby-blocks-detente-between-cuba-and-america?
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Gus Machado, Miami "exile," having it his way.
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Wikipedia:
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Activities and stated goals[edit source]
The US-Cuba Democracy PAC lobbies the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation including:
"Oppose legislation that will finance the prolonged existence of the Castro regime."
"Encourage the U.S. Congress to urge their colleagues from legislative bodies around the world as well as allies of the U.S. to support the legitimate aspirations of freedom of the Cuban people."
"Defending the Western Hemisphere against the threats posed by the Castro Regime"
"Preparing the next generation of Cuban Democratic leaders."
The US-Cuba Democracy PAC contributes to candidates who "a) have key roles on congressional committees responsible for Cuba-related issues or b) have demonstrated their support for the struggle for human rights in Cuba." It targets new members of Congress in an effort to create bipartisan support for the embargo.
History[edit source]
The US-Cuba Democracy PAC was established in August 2003.
Prominent Members[edit source]
Mauricio Claver-Carone, Washington Director
Gus Machado, Treasurer
Raul Masvidal
Remedios Diaz Oliver
More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-Cuba_Democracy_PAC
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