While campaigning in Florida, Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama of Illinois addressed the Cuban-American community. In the past, this voting bloc has been crucial to the GOP let alone a GOP victory in Florida. For this year’s election, it does not look as if the Cuban-American voting bloc exclusively belongs to anybody, let alone the GOP.
Obama said that he would willingly meet with current Cuban leader Raul Castro, the brother of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro recently turned the reigns of government over to his brother Raul.
While in Miami, Obama gave a lunchtime speech to the Cuban American National Foundation. One of the audience members was Alina Fernandez, the estranged daughter of Fidel Castro. Fernandez lives in Miami in exile. She is one of the most outspoken critics towards Fidel Castro.
To Fernandez, Obama is the only candidate that has been genuine in regards to Cuba. If elected president, Obama said that Cuban-Americans will be able to visit family in Cuba and/or send money to their relatives as well. However, Obama said that he would still keep the embargo on Cuba.
While Fidel Castro had recently blasted US President George W. Bush and presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona recently, he has set his crosshairs on Obama. Castro attacked Obama of planning to keep the embargo.
Castro did compliment Obama of being the “most-advanced” candidate in the US presidency. But, Castro gave the implication he was calling Obama a coward for not changing the current US policy towards Cuba. In short, Castro said that Obama’s plan will cause much suffering for the island of Cuba.
He also criticized Obama’s plan to promote consumerism. In short, Obama too is on the receiving end of Fidel Castro’s backlash.