The protests in Cuba have drifted off the media’s radar screen, but not for the people of Cuba or their supporters in the United States.
In Florida in particular, there is tremendous support for the Cuba protests. Biden’s lack of action could cost the Democrats there in the short and long terms.
The Hill reports:
Cuba fallout threatens Biden’s prospects in FloridaPolitical strategists are warning that President Biden risks losing Florida again in 2024 if he doesn’t step up his response to Cuba following this summer’s historic protests on the communist island.Biden has met with Cuban American leaders, instituted harsher sanctions on the Cuban government, and is now exploring ways to possibly restore internet access in Cuba, but experts say he still risks losing ground to Republicans on the issue.Cuban Americans, many of whom turned out for former President Trump in November, are entering their fifth week of protests in Florida to voice their opposition to the government in Havana. If Biden wants to win them over three years from now, strategists say, he will need to take a different approach toward Cuba…The White House announced on Wednesday that Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will travel to Miami next week to speak about Biden’s commitment to the protesters in Cuba and his solidarity with Cuban Americans in Florida.
The reason for Biden’s lack of action here is obvious. The protests are not popular with the AOC wing of Biden’s party. They’re the ones who control him now.
This has been going on for weeks. No one in Washington can claim to be surprised by the reaction to Biden’s silence.
This NBC News report is from August 6th:
Cuba policy is domestic politics. It’s a tough spot for Biden.Belkis Gutiérrez, 54, is constantly on her phone looking at videos from Cuba that show people’s discontent with the government following the historic protests that rocked the communist island several weeks ago.Gutiérrez, who supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, said she wants to see more bold action from the administration toward Cuba following the arrests of protesters and worries over food shortages and rising Covid-19 cases.“I was expecting something more forceful than just sanctioning Cuban officials who don’t travel to the U.S. anyway,” said Gutiérrez, who left Cuba two decades ago and has close relatives on the island…Many Cuban Americans want to see bolder action against the Cuban government, with demands ranging from military intervention to lifting the decadeslong embargo.
Do you think Trump would have dragged his feet on this? I think he would have jumped on the chance to take action. So does this protester:
Biden is wasting a huge opportunity here and it may cost him and his party.
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