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Obama Blasts McCain on Cuba

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May 23, 2008 2:45 PM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: The feud between Barack Obama and John McCain over foreign policy, in general, and direct diplomacy, in particular, continued Friday when Obama accused the presumptive Republican presidential nominee of distorting his position on Cuba and embracing ineffective Latin America policies.

Referring to direct relations with Cuba, Obama said, "I would never, ever, compromise the cause of liberty, and unlike John McCain, I will not rule out a course of action that could advance the cause of liberty."

Obama’s sharp words toward McCain come days after a brief dust up between the two over negotiations with Cuba. In a Tuesday Miami visit coinciding with Cuban Independence Day, Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., criticized Obama for his willingness to meet with Raul Castro and his openness to normalized relations with Cuba.  “These steps would send the worst possible signal to Cuba's dictators -- there is no need to undertake fundamental reforms, they can simply wait for a unilateral change in US policy,” said McCain

McCain also characterized Obama’s position on the existing Cuban embargo as inconsistent, pointing out that Obama, who now says nominalization should be tied to concession from Castro’s government, once supported negotiations with Cuba without conditions.

Obama shot back Friday: “John McCain’s been going around the country talking about how much I want to meet with Raul Castro, as if I’m looking for a social gathering - I’m going to invite him over and have some tea. That’s not what I said. John McCain knows it. After eight years of the disastrous policies of George Bush, it is time to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions.”

Sen. Obama’s speech, before a Cuban American National Foundation luncheon, was part of a week-long effort to win over key Democratic constituencies in the important battleground state of Florida, as Obama looks past his ongoing nomination battle. 

The senator emphasized past commitments to Cuba and Cuban Americans, calling for unlimited family travel and remittance in Cuba, creating an energy partnership between the U.S. and Latin America, and providing development assistance for Latin America. 

"It's time for more than tough talk that never yields results. It’s time for a new strategy,” he said.  "It's time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. It’s time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime." 

May 23, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (41)

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The more obama talks the more it's painfully obvious that the he man is a parrot. If it's written down, he can read it, if he has to answer it while thinking he's just plain stupid

Posted by: trettine | May 23, 2008 3:01:45 PM

Can you imagine these two in a foreign policy debate? I can't wait! Let Obama explain again how Iran is a "tiny" threat. LOL.

Posted by: Jo | May 23, 2008 3:03:49 PM

It is about time we have this diologue with Cuba. Raul has already started some major changes there. Let's hope it continues, and John McCain you might as well sit this election out with ideas such as marginalizing Cuba and bombing Iran.

Posted by: Huh | May 23, 2008 3:13:34 PM

THANK GOD for superdelegates. If this country had to totally rely on the intelligence of the people COMMENTING here to choose a president, we'd be in deep dodo!

Seriously, it's very sad that so many Americans can't comprehend, when Obama speaks.

Posted by: Super-Delegate | May 23, 2008 3:14:50 PM

Obama is right ... McCain is wrong.

Posted by: beaupritchard | May 23, 2008 3:15:11 PM

obama will talk to castro, et al. what a disaster. vote for anybody but obama

Posted by: ron | May 23, 2008 3:17:54 PM

Ron that's right because not talking to the leader of Cuba has worked soooo well.

The regime has not gotten weaker because of not talking...

it's time to stop being stupid with bravado and fear ...this country has achieved nothing from not talking to someone.
ever.

Posted by: dl | May 23, 2008 3:20:15 PM

Did Sen Obama tell voters in Florida that he blocked their votes for Sen Clinton, but now he wants their support.

Posted by: chris | May 23, 2008 3:20:51 PM

McCain is so clueless on foreign policy that it is an embarassment that Arizona keeps sending him back to the Senate. Now he was to be President. I think not.

Posted by: TheNumantine | May 23, 2008 3:23:05 PM

The people/governments who talk the loudest are like those small dogs who bark so loudly, thinking they are bigger than they are. The U.S. has nothing to fear by talking to anyone; we don't need to be bellicose though. The constant saber-rattling from Bush/Cheney and their disciples is mindless rhetoric that makes the U.S. sound like whiners.

Posted by: MIguy | May 23, 2008 3:23:57 PM

Senator Obama is actually a pretty smart guy. I know that scares some of you, having a President who was near the top of his class as opposed to John McCain at the bottom of his class. And this thing about talking with enemies..James Baker,,,you all remember him, said that he went to Syria to talk with them 16 times when they were on our list as sponsoring terrorism. Didn't get anywhere on the first 15 visits,, but on the 16th he got them to change what they were doing. And guess what..not one soldier died for it.

You don't like Obama's plans about dealing with Cuba, don't vote for him. But he's a smart guy who has a good sensible plan for changing how we approach other countries. Oh ya..common sense isn't something you all think about either.

Posted by: Jerry | May 23, 2008 3:25:14 PM

You got to love all the slander that is completely off topic coming from the republican side of this debate...

...it's all "scandal" to try and defeat the dems this year...

guess what your scandals won't put food on the table ...won't stop terrorists using our foreign policy for the past 7 years to recruit...and it won't get us help from our allies to get our soldiers out of Iraq.

Posted by: dl | May 23, 2008 3:26:14 PM

Would someone inform Obama that John McCain is not Bush.

But Obama is his bush and chenys cousin which is more scary, what if insanity is in the genes.

Posted by: seah | May 23, 2008 3:26:59 PM

I can not believe this is finally coming out after a year. But I was on this website and it talked about Larry Sinclair.
http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Paul | May 23, 2008 3:27:22 PM

For some one who was in the service he DOES NOT have the answers.You need to talk this hush hush is nuts....Why is he trying to scare the people????
ON A NOTE CLINTON VP>>>>>She said " Not on your life still in the running NOT even thinking of such a thing".Think maybe she and Billy better get their stories straight.I hear they are different hotels in all this travel tell you something??????

Posted by: older person | May 23, 2008 3:29:07 PM

Obama will go down after the verdict in the Rezko trial. I like this site to keep updated on that.
See you people don't know about this because the media has sheltered Obama for the whole year. I feel sorry for all of you when you find out all this stuff is true.
http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Dustin | May 23, 2008 3:29:56 PM

Older Person it shows me that Bill loves his wife and is campaigning for her. You better worry about Obama and Michelle. Rumor has it Obama is down low.

Posted by: Dustin | May 23, 2008 3:31:33 PM

and someone needs to look into the Committee for Liberation of Iraq...

this is a real group...that Mccain and Lieberman were the honorary co-chairs back in 2002-3 ...they are the group that lobbied for us TO GO to war. Along with their buddy schultz who is the Bechtel guy who won the first no bid contracts out of Iraq for an initial 687 million...and has now gone on to earn billions from this.

this is not made up...wonder why Lieberman puts his butt on the line for the war to look like a good thing with McCain because they were partners in helping us get there.

Posted by: dl | May 23, 2008 3:39:25 PM

To the fools who think there's something wrong with Obama's intelligence, Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review when he was a law student there. You don't even get to be a member of the review, let alone its president, unless your grades put you in the top 10% of your class -- a class composed of the brightest people in America. Most of those commenting here couldn't get into Harvard Law even if they offered to buy the school a new building.

That he thinks Iran is not that big a threat shows Obama is smart enough to see through the nonsense Bush and McBush are peddling. Iran's economy is about the same size as Connecticut's. The conservatives are trying to make it out to be a threat because they have no solutions to the country's problems and no strategy except fearmongering. Everyone who thinks going to war with Iran is going to lower the price of gas or the cost of healthcare, please raise your hand. Those raising your hand, please report to the nearest mental hospital.

Posted by: simon | May 23, 2008 3:43:22 PM

Obama is right about Cuba - and other latin american countries...I guess one has to be latino to appreciate it-sad to say. Add all other countries disenfranchised by the current administration simply because they (BUSH) want a war for profit in their personal pockets -- and you have a wounded turkey called the republican party - that even Reagan would shutter over. Obama is tough as nails, he stays on message - he knows the truth and that the truth will set us all free. God help those who purposely stand in our way of cleaning up this filty dirty current administration.

Posted by: cecibertrand | May 23, 2008 4:04:50 PM

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