Posted on 03/03/2002 6:26:29 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Edited on 04/13/2004 1:39:16 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
In Beijing, Bush called China our ''partner.'' Cuba officially is our ''enemy.'' Why?
Because a small number of powerful exiles in South Florida cow our politicians into keeping the crazy Cuban policy. That was designed to castrate Fidel Castro and has failed for more than 40 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...
If that is satisfactory with the companies who trade there then it is their choice. That can in no way be construed to be a burden on the American taxpayer. I am not obligated to bail out some company that agrees to those stipulations and then goes belly up. Sorry that you think this is so.
Darn those exiles for fleeing here! Darn them again for voting! If it wasn't for them we could have a workers' paradise on our doorstep!
I think 40 years of communist oppression and propaganda of the Castro's regime have broken the back of the people.
I think playing into his hands only tightens his grip on any life left in those left and why President Bush will stand in their stead.
Don't be misled, President Bush is not soft on Cuba--"The American President's outburst sets right some misconceptions in Havana, at the U.S. State Department and on Capitol Hill. The word has been spread that under Secretary of State Colin Powell's tutelage, Bush was going to seek normalization with Castro's dictatorial regime. While the trade embargo may be modified, it will continue and will no longer be the only instrument deployed by Washington to democratize Cuba. What's more, Powell is fully on board with an expanded anti-Castro strategy."
BUSH. ...I want to say something about Cuba in our hemisphere. There are some folks in our country who believe we ought to trade with Cuba. I don't. I think that would be wrong-headed. I think it's be a mistake. Capital that goes into Cuba will be used by the Fidel Castro government to prop itself up. There is a commission-type system in Cuba. Dollars invested will be dollars that will end up supporting this totalitarian regime. It's in our best interests for us to promote freedom in the island right off the coast of Florida. It's in our best interest to keep the pressure on Fidel Castro until he allows free elections, free press and free the prisoners in that island. And for those Americans that believe that trade with Cuba will cause Castro to become less totalitarian, in my judgment are naïve and wrong.
BAUER. Governor, you just made the case for withdrawing most favored nation status from China.
BUSH. I did not.
BAUER. Everything that you just said about Cuba applies to China.
BUSH. Let me answer that. Let me answer that.
RUSSERT. The difference between China and Cuba.
BUSH. May I answer that please?
RUSSERT. Please.
BUSH. There is a huge difference, a huge difference between trading with an entrepreneurial class like that which is growing in China and allowing a Fidel Castro government to skim capital moneys off the top of capital investment. There's a huge difference, a huge difference.
BAUER. Governor, one-third of the trade with China is with companies controlled by the People's Liberation Army.
BUSH. Gary.
BAUER. You know that and I know that. Tell the people rotting in the prisons of China that there's any difference between Castro's Cuba and Communist China. There is none.
BUSH. Let me say this. If we turn our back on the entrepreneurial class that is taking wing in China, we're making a huge mistake. If we turn our back on those that have gotten a whiff of freedom as a result of the marketplace taking hold, we're making a big mistake.
BAUER. Listen, I --
BUSH. We're making a big mistake. We're making a big mistake.
BAUER. The People's Liberation is O.K.?
BUSH. No it's not. I'm talking about the entrepreneurial class that is growing in the country of China.
BAUER. Sir, they are using that money for a massive arms buildup that our sons will have to deal with down the road.
BUSH. Only if you're the president.
BAUER. You can't be tough on China and not on --
BUSH. If I'm the president --
(BOTH TALKING AT ONCE)
RUSSERT. Mr. Bauer. Mr. Bauer, Mr. Bush. Let me move to another area...
I'm not arguing by the way, just wondering why you think this.
Ahh, I see. You are pro Embargo simply to prevent American companies from getting ripped off by Castro. Are you going to send them a bill for your consultative advice? I'm sure they'd be quite appreciative for saving them millions in bad business deals they wanted to undertake, lol.
And as for the company taking losses, it reminds me of shoplifters' gains being paying consumers' higher costs.
The embargo should be lifted on Cuba or we should treat China in a similar fashion, but we won't because China has bought and paid for our foreign policy and Cuba cannot.
Answer at Post# 32. What are they teaching in U.S. public schools?
So you would prop up Castro's regime to make this right?
I don't believe that the Bush administration is doing this. And as a matter of fact, In Florida, Bush announced that he had "streamlined" the SBA in order that businesses could get loans even faster than ever. If that is "denying government backed business loans" you have a funny idea about what constitutes government-backed loans I'm afraid.
I'm glad to see you repudiate corporate welfare however. And as to the higher prices argument, you are free not to do business with high-priced stores.
I know that there are many Exiles who would never even consider sending a penny back to Cuba. I would venture to say 80%+ of Exiles would never consider sending a cent back, until Castro is gone.
If you think China is okay, then why not?
Seriously, if you have no problem with China then what's so bad about Cuba?
It all in your head.. It's all emotional.
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