NYT: Are hard line Cuban Americans as strong as ever?

[flamingdem]

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/12/are-hard-line-cuban-americans-strong-as-ever/guillen-is-lucky-that-times-have-changed

Various opinions here on various pages:
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The angry reaction when the Miami Marlins’ manager Ozzie Guillen said he admired Fidel Castro may not have been surprising. But what does it signify? Does it demonstrate that neither Cuban-Americans’ passionate opposition to any compromise with Castro nor their unity has been diminished, or does it mask divisions within the community over how to deal with the issue? Do Cuban-American voters remain a reliable bloc for conservative candidates, or will they consider other appeals?
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Old Guard Are Reliable Voters, and Organized

Ozzie Guillen’s apology for praising Fidel Castro and the Miami Marlins’ decision to suspend him reaffirmed the enduring influence of passionate anti-Castro Cubans there. But this furor does not reflect Cuban Americans’ monolithic attitudes toward the island. The most hard-line voices in Miami, largely the older generaion, may be the loudest and most firmly established, but they are no longer the most numerous, as reflected in repeated polls over the last several years.

Yet they remain the most organized, most likely to vote, most likely to vote on the Cuba issue alone, and most likely to vote Republican.
The younger generation doesn't see itself as exiles, but immigrants. Opportunity matters more to them than politics.

The younger cohort, which, unlike the older generation, maintains close ties to friends and family on the island, are less likely to engage in politics or to become U.S. citizens who are registered to vote. That is in part because they do not see themselves as political exiles as do members of the older generation, but as immigrants motivated primarily by the quest for a better living.

Generally, Cuban-Americans have historically voted Republican, for larger domestic economic and social policy reasons. Those Cubans who do vote on the Cuba issue alone tend to be the most conservative and would not support a Democrat, which suggests that there is never more than a few percentage points of swing Cuban-American votes actually in play. President Obama has courted those swing voters, many of whom are interested in staying connected to the island, by ending restrictions on Cuban Americans’ travel and remittances home. MORE

[Judi Lynn]

1. Loved Anya Landau's contribution. Finally discovered she is NOT related to Saul Landau!

Didn't know she had served as an advisor to Dem. Senator, Max Baucus. Interesting.

Funny being reminded Ninoska is still rattling around Miami. I see her station, MAMBI, is owned by Univision now. Small world, isn't it? Hers is getting smaller each day.