I prepared these remarks for Maria Villarroel of the Mirror US.
1. Why does the idea of a free Cuba remain such an important political priority for some Cuban Americans, while others place greater emphasis on domestic US issues?
Cuba remains a glaring slave island right before our eyes. It has been an open prison for three generations, so Cuba is rightfully a priority for people who have lost their homes, properties, and way of life. Many Cuban exiles and their progeny have had little choice but to rebuild the authentic Cuba in Miami.
Unfortunately, Cuba has to some degree become a partisan topic. Republican leaders have prioritized confrontation with the communists and a democratic transition. However, some Democratic Party leaders, notably former President Barack Obama, have accepted Cuba’s tyrannical status and just sought piecemeal concessions. Further, the base of the Democratic Party and the federal permanent bureaucracy have become more leftist and socialist with time. That has led them to lessen any previous opposition to the Cuban regime.
