One Hollywood Star Has the Guts to Defy Castro

newsmax.com ^ | Oct. 15, 2002

[Tailgunner Joe]

Notice how the media establishment laps up every hateful word uttered by left-wing Hollywood has-been Barbra Streisand - who hasn't made one movie since the humiliating 1996 bomb "The Mirror Has Two Faces" - but ignores the one American actor who dares to denounce Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Andy Garcia, who stars in the critically acclaimed new movie "The Man From Elysian Fields," has a rational basis for his political beliefs, unlike the pampered Left Coast usual suspects: When he was a child his family escaped Castro's island prison.

In the latest issue of City Link, a leftist yuppie tabloid in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Garcia says he was proud to star in HBO's 2000 movie "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," as the jazz great who fled Cuba for freedom in America.

"We're very proud of 'For Love or Country' and proud of HBO for giving us a chance to tell that kind of story, because over the years I've noticed the sensitivity to Cuban political subject matter," Garcia says.

"Hollywood does not want to touch that, or they haven't in the past. Sometimes, you feel like what's really going down in Cuba is protected in a way by the American media, and it's a shame, because the truth needs to come out. People need to be aware of what's really going on down there."

The intensely private Garcia spoke out during the Elian Gonzalez controversy, and although he was that rare celeb who knew what he was talking about, the media paid him scant attention.

"I tend to be uncomfortable in those situations. But as a Cuban-American and being an Elian Gonzalez in a sense myself and knowing what the importance is and the sacrifices one has to make to enjoy freedom and the benefits of being free, I thought that the child was not getting his due process," Garcia says.

'Product of the State'

"I had to speak up as a child who came here also and let people know that in Cuba, parents do not have rights over their children. At the age of 5, you become a product of the state and are indoctrinated by the system - and that's the nature of that system.

"A lot of people don't know that, and it's a simple fact that he went back to that.

"For me, there's no substitute for liberty and freedom. People die for that. His mother laid down her life just to be free."

Perhaps B. Streisand and Alec "Kill Henry Hyde" Baldwin and Susan Sarandon would become enlightened if they got to experience Castro's communist-fascist police state for a few years.

[Utah Girl]

I'm glad Andy Garcia is speaking up. He and his parents fled Castro in 1959, so he knows what he is talking about. Good actor too.

[fight_truth_decay]

Costner meets Castro for missile movie

[Dr. Frank fan]

Obviously a closet Batista supporter and greedy capitalist worm.

< /sarcasm >

[fight_truth_decay]

Castro, 76, opened the U.S. Food Industry fair with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.

[Darksheare]

Look for his career to take an unexpected downturn after he dared to go against the 'enlightened' Hollywood elite.
That place has a habit of going after anyone in their midst that doesn't agree with their attitudes.

[backhoe]

Locator bttt^

[goodnesswins]

Uh oh....he's left the "plantation."

[Boxsford]

And, don't forget downright gorgeous!

[Utah Girl]

That too, he is pretty way cute.

[Commander8]

Gloria Estefan is another celebrity who is outspoken about opposing the Castro regime.

[Commander8]

I should also mention Daisy Fuentes.

[MattinNJ]

Don't forget Bob Villa and the guy who played Al Pacino's sidekick in Scarface.

[hosepipe]

[ Look for his career to take an unexpected downturn after he dared to go against the 'enlightened' Hollywood elite. That place has a habit of going after anyone in their midst that doesn't agree with their attitudes. ]

That would mean that Andy got "RED-BALLED" in Hollywood, as others have. Would- that- that term got some press.

[stands2reason]

Oh, yeah....

[maxwellp]

We live in a small, upstate New York village. My husband escaped Castro's Cuba during the revolution. During the Elian situation, many folks around here asked my husband his thoughts on the situation (he's the only ex-Cuban around here for many many miles). My husband said to them "Why do you think I'm standing here in the U.S.A.? I was lucky to get out of Cuba and become an American where I can live free - and to send poor Elian back to Cuba when he could also live free is horrible". Many said to him "Well, he should be with his father". My husband said "Well, my father and mother, and I'm their only child, said "Go! Go to America where you will live free". My husband said to me "I don't know about the future of America, if Americans think it's fine to send a kid like Elian back to a Communist dictator". The frightening aspect of this tale is that he wasn't in a dialog with Hollywood lefties - he was talking to our neighbors - law-abiding, ordinary Americans. My husband and Mr. Garcia know - they know how precious freedom is. Too bad many Americans don't realize this.

[HitmanLV]

Garcia spoke very eloquently during the Elian Gonzales situation, and showed his "not liberal towing line" on that issue, at least.

Seems like a good guy who can think for himself. I'm a fan!

Daisy Fuentes, on the other hand, is a Cubana-Americana Republicana firecracker of the first order!! What a beautiful, passionate, and NON-LEFTIST woman!

Oh, to make some beautiful Republican babies with Daisy! :-)

[gg188]

I sure wish you and your husband had been here on FR from Thanksgiving 1999 through the months of 2000.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I think it may have already happened. Garcia was a hot commodity, but lately he doesn't seem to be appearing in any new flicks. Bruce Willis, Ahnold, and Eastwood can speak their mind and get away with it because they're serious money makers, but Andy isn't quite on their level.

[Boxsford]

I don't know if he's on a downward turn. He's quite the family man with a wife and children and probably seems to have his priorities straight. Maybe spending time off with the family.
Hollywood is all about money. Greed. And, if Andy can bring in the cash I bet they could care less what his opinons are.