Repatriated Cubans spell boatload of trouble for Bush: Novak

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 31, 2003 | Robert Novak

[OldCorps]

I can't think of a group of people who have been cheated, deceived and completely ignored more than the Cubans. These guys were double crossed by Kennedy and left to die at the Bay of Pigs. Comrade Klinton and Madame Reno sold them out to their brother communist Fidel, along with using Jack Booted Thugs to kidnapp Elian Gonzalez.

But now the Bush administration selling them out? What gives? And why do this.

I'm really an impartial observer to all of this. I'm a white guy, no Cuban blood. Yeah, I hate commies and Castro. When I was in the Army, I knew a fellow captain of Cuban blood. You could not find a more loyal and dedicated American. Yeah, he hated Castro. But shouldn't all freedom loving people?

[dirtboy]

It was not just that the Bush administration dispatched 12 Cubans who hijacked a boat to the tender mercies of Fidel Castro. What inflamed pro-Bush Cuban Americans in south Florida is that the United States negotiated with the communist dictator to impose 10-year prison sentences.

The Cubans should have come across the border via Mexico and then Bush would be fine with them staying.

[NonValueAdded]

Ping

[OldCorps]

lol, the sad thing is, there is a lot of truth to what you write.

[pgyanke]

Maybe I missed something but the facts presented in the article don't show indifference to the Cubans' plight. These Cubans HIGHJACKED a boat (a crime) and were not allowed to enter the U.S. Knowing they would be killed by Castro when repatriated, the government argued for a nonlethal sentence.

What's the result if we reward people who commit crimes to enter our country? Would that really be the right thing to do? I think the people quoted in the article are Bush-bashers from the start, not recently-aggrieved supporters as the article would have us believe.

[Labyrinthos]

The Cubans should have come across the border via Mexico and then Bush would be fine with them staying.

Within 24 hours they would have driver's licenses, a social security card, medicaid benefits, free education, and an attitude.

[Texas_Dawg]

Novak is one of the top Bush-hating paleos so naturally he's overexaggerating the effect this will have on Bush. But at the same time, Novak is right here about Bush needing to do much better on the Cuban situation. Cubans for the most part though are still strong Bush supporters, unlike Bob Novak.

[Pikamax]

the fact they hijacked the boat, would make them not fit to come to America. If they had been let in, it would be worse for Bush because you are rewarding criminal acts and it would have lead to more from the island. There would have been a huge backlash because of it.

Now the guys in the chevy trunk, they should have been let in.

[MEG33]

You hammered that nail perfectly.The last hijackers did get the death sentence and if I recall It took less than a month before it was carried out.

[Ann Archy]

Many...many Cubans supported Clinton even AFTER Elian Gonzalez.....disgustng for anyone to suport Clinton, but these people should NEVER had.

[zarf]

Ummm....have you been to Miami lately?

Hatians have a lot more to bitch about than Cubans.

[Coop]

Mark your calendar! A column by Bob Novak that's critical of President Bush! Who could have ever seen this coming? [yawn]

[Catspaw]

The hijackers should've been tried and sentenced in the US. The last hijackers were excuted by Castro in warp speed and, despite our "negotiation" with Castro, these hijackers will, very quietly, meet the same fate.

[technomage]

What's the result if we reward people who commit crimes to enter our country?

Uh, Kalifornicatia?

[mhking]

What inflamed pro-Bush Cuban Americans in south Florida is that the United States negotiated with the communist dictator to impose 10-year prison sentences. This sudden agreement between Washington and Havana could cost George W. Bush a second term.

Where is this noted? Where is the proof of this statement? Or is this more piling on by Novak to show just how much he hates the President?

With Wanna-be Paleo's like Novak (sorry, even I couldn't insult the paleos like that) floating around, who needs enemies from the left?

Hey, Novak, you get a check from Hillary, or are you taking cash?

[Grut]

If they had been let in, it would be worse for Bush because you are rewarding criminal acts...

On the other hand, America was created by traitors and yet we regard ourselves as legitimate, so apparently the desire for freedom sometimes justifies breaking the law.

[gitmogrunt]

This is a good one for the Bush apologist's.Please explain this Reno-esque behavior on Georgie boy's part.....please do...

[hchutch]

Don't like paleos at all. They've made several issues much harder to address and solve through not-so-veiled bigotry at times.

[ExpandNATO]

These Cubans HIGHJACKED a boat

You can only hijack a boat that has other people aboard. The article says that they stole the boat (of course Cuba being a Communist country they cannot own their own boat).

What's the result if we reward people who commit crimes to enter our country?

Every single person who has fled from a Communist country has committed at least one crime. You going to send them all back?

As for me and other critics being Bush-bashers, sorry but I have bashed just about every president (starting with Nixon) in my lifetime about the nonsense of sending a refugee of any sort back to a Communist country.

[livius]

Supposedly the logic in sending them back is to prevent Castro from doing another Mariel (sending us the entire population of his prisons and mental hospitals). However, there's got to be a better way to handle this.

I think there needs to be more analysis of individual cases, but then, of course, you end up with people having to wait for years in detention facilities while their cases are examined.

It's a difficult situation. However, I did write to the White House expressing the fact that I wasn't happy at seeing so many Cubans (like the guys in truck-raft) sent back. Maybe if it becomes clear that many of us are not happy about this, some effort will be made to develop a better policy.