Obama Flip-Flops on Normalization of Relations With Cuba

[no name 1]

Tonight, Sen. Obama said he would not normalize relations with Cuba until the country started making some progress toward meaningful Democratic change. Here’s his exchange with Campbell Brown:

OBAMA: …but I would not normalize relations until we started seeing some of the progress that Senator Clinton is talking about.

BROWN: But that's different from your position, back in 2003, you called us policy towards Cuba a miserable failure and you supported normalizing relations. So you backtracked now.

Campbell Brown is right. In 2004, Sen. Obama was saying something different with regard to normalizing trade relations with Cuba:

Sen. Obama on Cuban Embargo 2004

In a 2004 questionnaire, Sen. Obama supported normalization of relations with Cuba: Q: "Do you support normalization of relations with Cuba?" Obama: "Our longstanding policies toward Cuba have been a miserable failure, evidenced by the fact that Fidel Castro is now the longest-serving head of state in the world. If our isolationist policies were meant to weaken him, they certainly haven’t worked. I believe that normalization of relations with Cuba would help the oppressed and poverty-stricken Cuban people while setting the stage for a more democratic government once Castro inevitably leaves the scene."

[Sofargone 2]

Better get used to it as that Skank Hillary is fading fast and McStain will be no match for Obama in the general election.

Sofargone

[mawilson 2,133]

Better get used to it as that Skank Hillary is fading fast and McStain will be no match for Obama in the general election.

Don't be so sure.

[Peikko 1,575]

I agree, I don't think one should quickly or easily dismiss McCain as a no hoper in the presidential election if it's a race between Obama and McCain.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I can't imagine why its so hard to have an unequivocal opinion on Cuba.

But then again we make out that we oppose the Cuban Govt apparently on ideological grounds because they don't support democracy (which of course is not the real reason), and at the same time - in a completely different part of the world - we suck up to and support the Saudis.

I agree, I don't think one should quickly or easily dismiss McCain as a no hoper in the presidential election if it's a race between Obama and McCain.

Personally, I think McCain will win - though he'll probably be a single term President.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

[no name 1]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

if they get counted this time.

I can't imagine why its so hard to have an unequivocal opinion on Cuba.

But then again we make out that we oppose the Cuban Govt apparently on ideological grounds because they don't support democracy (which of course is not the real reason), and at the same time - in a completely different part of the world - we suck up to and support the Saudis.

I agree, I don't think one should quickly or easily dismiss McCain as a no hoper in the presidential election if it's a race between Obama and McCain.

Personally, I think McCain will win - though he'll probably be a single term President.

If it's O vs. J - I think McCain has a good chance. Esp once O has to start walking the walk.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Personally, I think McCain will win - though he'll probably be a single term President.

If it's O vs. J - I think McCain has a good chance.

Yes, McCain has a chance against Obama. More so than Hillary would have against McCain.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

I don't see it that way. Anyone that thinks that the US policy towards Cuba over the past 4-5 decades has been anything but a miserable failure needs a serious reality check. Anyone that believes that we ought to continue on that path of failure ought not to be elected President.

[Peikko 1,575]

However, to admit that position to the avge US Joe might just tilt the voters in the other direction. If Liberal is a bad word, then commie is positively evil.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

I don't see it that way. Anyone that thinks that the US policy towards Cuba over the past 4-5 decades has been anything but a miserable failure needs a serious reality check. Anyone that believes that we ought to continue on that path of failure ought not to be elected President.

I agree with you. But, to Robin's point, neither of us are Cuban-American. They feel differently down there. Especially the older crowd with actual memories of Castro's "revolution".

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

I don't see it that way. Anyone that thinks that the US policy towards Cuba over the past 4-5 decades has been anything but a miserable failure needs a serious reality check. Anyone that believes that we ought to continue on that path of failure ought not to be elected President.

I agree with you. But, to Robin's point, neither of us are Cuban-American. They feel differently down there. Especially the older crowd with actual memories of Castro's "revolution".

Even they ought to recognize that the policy we've been pursuing is a failure. It has neither helped the Cuban people nor has it weakened let alone eliminated Castro's regime.

[mawilson 2,133]

I bet a position of normalizing relations with Cuba would cost Obama Florida

I don't see it that way. Anyone that thinks that the US policy towards Cuba over the past 4-5 decades has been anything but a miserable failure needs a serious reality check. Anyone that believes that we ought to continue on that path of failure ought not to be elected President.

I agree with you. But, to Robin's point, neither of us are Cuban-American. They feel differently down there. Especially the older crowd with actual memories of Castro's "revolution".

Are you saying that Cuban Americans don't want to normalize our relations with Cuba???

That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Sofargone 2]

Well in my opinion McStain is the Republicans version of John Kerry and truth be told Hillary is probably more conservative than McStain. I take nothing away from what he went thru as a POW but his liberal slants along with him getting in bed with that fat drunk Ted Kennedy in supporting immigrating reform errrrrrrrrrr......... amnesty, I dont think he will win.

Myself being a conservative I am seriously thinking of doing a write-in or crossing party lines. I just dont believe McStain is the answer.

Sofargone

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

One of my friends came over on Mariel boatlift - if her and her family are anything to go by, anyone who supports normalizing relations with Cuba will not get their vote. Will it be different now that Fidel is out of the picture? Maybe, but I doubt it.