Heinz Kerry Charity Donation Assailed/Defended (Cuba)

[guajira]

Miami-Cuban congresspersons accuse Teresa of donating money to a fund that helped Cuba hookup to the internet in early nineties.

That is such a "terrible" act that the Kerrys are actually having to defend themselves against doing such a vile thing!!!

snippet:
Political dueling for Florida voters -- especially Cuban exiles -- erupted in Miami on Tuesday as charitable donations from Teresa Heinz Kerry's fortune came under fire by three local Republican members of Congress.

Among the trio's allegations: The endowment Heinz Kerry oversees may have indirectly helped the Cuban government link up to the Internet over a decade ago.

Angry local Democrats quickly denied the accusations and called them a ploy to link the wife of the party's presidential candidate to fringe groups, and worse, Castro's Cuba, a hot-button topic in Miami-Dade.

''This is incredible that the Bush campaign has stooped so low and talked these three Cuban congressional members into telling straight-out lies,'' said Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, who is helping the Kerry campaign in Florida.
more....

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/9367942.htm

[sniffa]

1. bwahaha

The John Kerry campaign called the accusation ''lies'' and said the congressional members had ``embarrassed themselves.''

- give em heLL john.. and then they'LL soiL themseLves.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Oh, the HORROR!!!!

Might have given Cuba some medicine, too. <gasp!>

Is nothing too low and criminal for the Heinz foundation?

What bastards!

[Mika]

3. Teresa is as much a Castrophobe as most uninformed Americans

Brainwashed Americans know best. :crazy:

No wonder we're the laughing stock..


Teresa Heinz Kerry, Democratic "secret weapon"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/2004...

Or she improvises on politics as she did last month when she compared Fidel Castro (news - web sites)'s regime in Cuba with South Africa under apartheid.

She could address the CANF with that crap and go over well. They would love it. Seriously.


I guess Teresa should have consulted with Nelson Mandela before spewing rightwingnut nonsense,

http://members.allstream.net/~dchris/CubaFAQ103.html

Indeed, in the same speech, Mandela praised Cuba's role in Africa and that his country's newly won freedom was due, in no small part, to "Cuba's selfless support for the struggle to free all of South Africa's people and the countries of our region from the inhumane and destructive system of apartheid."

<snip>

For when we battled against apartheid, against racial oppression, the same countries were supporting the apartheid regime. A regime that represented only 14 percent of the population, while the overwhelming majority of the people of the country had no rights whatsoever. They {the US} supported the apartheid regime. And we fought successfully against that regime with the support of Cuba and other progressive countries.

They now want to be our only friends, and dare to ask us to renounce those people who made our victory possible.......
<snip>

---

Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!

[July]

5. However, this has nothing to do with the scurrilous lies of these 3 reps.

But let's pile on.

[Mika]

8. Yes it does. Kerry & the organization are denouncing it as an "accusation"

Teresa has made stridently anti Castro/anti Cuba remarks. She has verbally demonstrated that she is no friend of current Cuba. Just as has J F Kerry.

Its a wrong headed and unpopular policy, that a MAJORITY of Americans disagree with.
Poll: Americans support ending Cuban Sanctions
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=770


God forbid that any association be made with actually helping Cuba get connected.

These flip/flopping S Florida repug gusanos stridently accuse Cuba of not having enough internet access one day, and now they are "accusing" a charity of helping Cuba get connected.

Now the charity is denouncing it as if it is some sort of heinous act to be helping Cuba (which has suffered at our hand for decades). So is the Kerry campaign.


From the lead Miami Herald piece,

Tides money, they said, helped Castro's Cuba by donating funds to the Institute for Global Communications, whose Canadian affiliate in 1991 used an undersea cable link from Havana to Sprint in the United States -- connecting Cuba to the Internet.

''They linked the Cuba government to the rest of the world,'' Lincoln-Diaz Balart said.

The Heinz Endowments and the Tides group denounced the accusation.

Just why is it an "accusation"? WTF is wrong with helping Cuba's less than modern internet get connected globally.


Jeezuz, why does Kerry think that his campaign must pander to the very worst segment of the radical rightwingnut minority of the Miami Cuban diaspora?

---

Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!

[July]

9. You know and I know that this is an attempt to damage THK.

It IS an accusation in the sense that it is meant to harm her. It is also false.

The issue of why it is considered an "accusation" is best answered by the people offering this lie AS CRITICISM.

You say Kerry is pandering, but this is an issue that the Kerrys did not bring up. It is intended as a smear, and if it were true would be understood by many of these reps' constituents as negative.

Since the basic claim is false, THK can (and, IMO, should) address the fact that it is a lie without getting into the worth of the cause. Neither candidate for the presidency is going to say anything right now that will piss off the Florida Cubans.

It shouldn't be considered an accusation, but at the moment it is, and it's dirty politics.

[Mika]

10. Huh? How?

"Neither candidate for the presidency is going to say anything right now that will piss off the Florida Cubans."




Hello..


Bush just pissed off most of the Miamicuban community!! BIG TIME

Bush just restricted Cuban-American visits and remittances to their families back in Cuba. An egregious abrogation of their (and our) rights.

A MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans DO NOT agree with this latest move.

A majority of Cuban-Americans seek more dialog and more access to communications with their families back in Cuba.

It would be a good thing for Teresa to be associated w/a charity that helped open up these lines of communication, and helped to make life just a little better for their families.

NOW IS JUST THE TIME FOR KERRY TO DIFFERENTIATE HIS POLICY FROM BUSH'S REGARDING CUBA!

Just what is it that the Dems don't understand about the word 'majority'.


Rabbid 'denouncements' of 'accusations' is simply pandering to the minority of radical reichwingers within the larger Cuban-American diaspora.



Poll: Cuban-Americans focus is local
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/6269237.htm

The majority of Cuban Americans living in Miami-Dade County are more concerned with improving their lives in the United States than with issues in Cuba, according to a recent poll commissioned by a national Hispanic voter-registration group.

Overall, 62 percent of the 600 Cuban Americans polled said that spending time and money improving their quality of life in this country was more important than working to remove the regime of Cuban President Fidel Castro.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Hello, Mika. I just learned something about what Bush did to the exiles

from a poster on another message board who lives in South Florida. ( ~ ~ Hi, C.P. :hi: :hi: :bounce: ~ ~ )

He said that _Bush's proclamation that Cuban-Americans cannot go back to Cuba to see their close relatives, even in matters of ultimate emergency, more frequently than once every three years has been made RETROACTIVE, as well.

This must have hit them HARD. A lot of ordinary Americans had no idea Cubans have been coming and going with regularity to Cuba all along. (A lot of us were lead to believe they would be killed or imprisoned or persecuted if they showed up again!) I found out they had even been going back for simple vacations until _Bush stole the White House.

They were taking back money and gifts, and necessities our embargo has made it hard for Cubans to get, and meeting friends, relatives, etc., going all over the island, just like tourists. What a shame.

They have been banned from returning to their island to see their parents, even if they are dying, if they have seen them more recently than three years ago. That would cause outright panic among some people I have known!

[Vladimir]

12. And people complain about Castro's

human rights record, eh? :eyes:

[Mika]

13. NOW THE TIME TO STRIKE - WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

:hi: Hi JudiLyn. Thanks for that Mandela link on the other thread. :thumbsup:



The MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans didn't support the politics of family separation that was in place even before Bush made this last restrictive move.

I just do not understand why the JFK campaign (and many DUers) haven't "gotten it" yet.

[Tansy_Gold]

19. I asked yesterday what would happen if Kerry supported

normalizing relations with Cuba. The thread got about four responses, all saying he would lose all the Cuban vote in FL.

I don't think so. And if anyone can do it, I think the man who helped normalize relations with Vietnam ought to be able to.

Castro hasn't fallen after 45 years of isolation. Maybe he's doing something we could learn from!

[LiberalFighter]

18. Are there m/any miami/cubans that communicate with their families...

in Cuba via the internet?

If so.. how would that play if it was put out there?

[July]

23. Hello, I'm back.

You're right about Bush's pissing off of Miami Cubans.

And it could be a good thing, as you suggest, for Teresa to be associated w/a charity that helped open up lines of communication. Could be.

However, her activities are being misrepresented, and they are being misrepresented to make her look bad and to somehow link her to Castro.

I don't know enough about Cuban-Americans to say how a connection to Castro would be received, but it's clear that these 3 reps are trying to suggest it would be a negative for Teresa, and they are LYING to make the connection. Somebody voted them into office, and these reps seem to think they can wound Teresa with this.

As far as I'm concerned, the issue is not what policies THK and JK should support. This press conference is, to me, similar to the swift boat smear team's appearances. It is an effort to make someone look bad by lying. Maybe a connection to the Tides Foundation's work in Cuba WOULDN'T make Teresa look bad to many Cuban-Americans, but these reps clearly think it will. They are the ones engaging in rabid denunciations (of THK). Democrats and the Tides Foundation are setting them straight on the FACTS. I don't consider that pandering. She's being attacked and misrepresented and has the right to respond with the truth. I don't remember seeing anything but a denial in the response to the accusations; that is, I haven't seen comment on the charitable work in Cuba or whether it's a good idea.

[Mika]

27. Moderate Cuban-Americans know the "Castro is Cuba" line is BS

Hi July :hi:

I dig where you're coming from, but the Teresa-->Castro taint isn't for Cuban-American consumption. They know how this demonization is used for political slander, but they don't believe it because its not true. Its propaganda for Americans.

Moderate Cuban-Americans (the majority) know that the "Castro runs everything and is the be all/end all of Cuba" line of propaganda is for uninformed American consumption.

Keep in mind that even the majority of uninformed Americans still don't support the status quo regarding the US embargo on Cuba, and neither do the majority of the Cuban-American community.

Suggesting that the Miami Cuban-American community doesn't know any better than the "Castro runs everything" reveals how little you are aware of the moods and attitudes here in Miami.

I've posted the poll links showing American and Cuban-American positions against the embargo. I've posted the charts showing support for the Dem party by the Cuban-American community. Put that together with the knowledge that Cuban-Americans were the only group of Americans allowed to go back to the island.

Then ask yourself... Why do the majority of Cuban-Americans not support the tired old line of BS, and why do they not support the status quo?



On edit: Added the charts and polls in case July missed them.

charts from opensecrets.org. Search = Cuban-Americans




Poll: Americans don't support Cuban Sanctions
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=770
-
Poll: Cuban-Americans focus is local, not on Cuba or Castro
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/6269237.htm

[July]

28. Hey, and let's talk.

I really DON'T think that Cuban-Americans "don't know any better than 'Castro runs everything." And I'm fully aware that many Americans, Cuban or not, don't support the embargo. I don't support it, either.

Everything I've posted on this THK topic has to do with the apparent belief by the 3 reps that they can harm THK by trying to connect her to Castro. That's all.

I will be the first to admit that I don't know the mood or beliefs of people in the Miami Cuban-American community. But isn't there a division in views (generational or otherwise)? I was very taken aback at the time of the Elian saga to see people in Miami supporting keeping the boy from his own father, apparently because of an anti-Castro view. I followed that issue closely, and read about people in Miami who were supporting the father being drowned out, and, I believe, even threatened (a radio or TV columnist?). Am I mistaken that there is support for the hardline anti-Castro view? Isn't that taken as conventional wisdom in political analysis (e.g., discussion of Bush's support in the Cuban-American community in 2000)?

I suspect we're on the same page, but coming from different places. Feel free to enlighten me, as long as you don't assume any bad motives on my part.

[JI7]

4. that's the type of stuff which helps overthrow governments by the PEOPLE

the soviet union fell because of the PEOPLE who got some access to more info through gorbechevs programs. once they got a taste of it they wanted more, and more and that's what led to collapse of communism there. rather than things like military coups where a small group is responsible for overthrowing the government for their own selfish purposes. these are mostly nonviolent revolutions by the people for freedom of basic human rights.

only fools think reagan single handedly ended communism.although he gets credit for not starting a war there as gwbush probalby would have.

[Mika]

6. Most Cubans in Cuba are better informed than most Americans

Cubans have access to a wide spectrum of media. They can read newspapers and see TV reports from all over the world.

Cubans can tune in to most of the S Florida rabbid right wing anti Castro crap that they want to on their TVs and radios.

Every Cuban has access to the internet via their well built out and supported library system. Every Cuban has access to a free email account.



Most Americans are unaware of this because of our own lack of freedom to travel to see the place for ourselves.

---

Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!

[Judi Lynn]

7. Oh, yeah. As if telling lies were contrary to their natures!

What a jest!

They work together, hand in hand, and have since long ago. Isn't this silly?

Here's a photo of Lincoln Diaz-Balart taken from his House of Represenstatives site:

http://diaz-balart.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=DataPipes.ViewImage&Image_id=30&ImageStoreType_id=1
Please click to see it. Caption under the photo says:
Rep. Diaz-Balart with President Bush
Congressman Diaz-Balart makes a point to President Bush.

Oh, ha ha ha.

I can't wait to see these people all disappear beneath the horizon together.

Here's one the dork seems especially proud of. He's on Air Force One with whomever:

http://diaz-balart.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=DataPipes.ViewImage&Image_id=16&ImageStoreType_id=1

(He's fixed his photos so we can't just post them around anymore. He must have gotten the feeling they were being used for less than purposes of worship!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trying to find a way to turn the Cuban-Americans in Florida who are not impressed by _Bush's anti-family bombs he dropped on them by cutting off ALL their travel to Cuba to visit loved ones for three year chunks at a time, regardless of family emergencies, has lost _Bush votes and they are scrambling to find a way to drive people away from _Bush. This is predictable, and disprespectful of American voters. Couldn't get much filthier.

[noonwitch]

14. I am so sick of the "cuban exile community" dictating policy

I'm not a Castro apologist, but communist revolutions thrive when they are trying to replace brutal dictators like Batista, who was a tool of the american mafia, anyways. Why do we have no relations with Cuba, but China has "most favored nation" trading status?

[guajira]

20. It's OK to trade with China because Castro is not there!!

Miami Batistianos don't want Cuba to improve or have economic security while Castro is there. They want their propaganda about how terrible Cuba is, to be believed by Americans who are kept Cuba-ignorant by our own government!

Hating Castro is BIG business in Miami!!

[Judi Lynn]

21. Here's an article on the hypocrisy of trading with China & shafting Cuba

It's from December 2001, but still very worth reading. Small snip:

"The Administration's idea that we must maintain the embargo in place in order to pressure Cuba to move toward democracy and respect for human rights is totally wrong," says Wayne S. Smith, Chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana from 1979-1982. "As many dissidents in Cuba point out, the more we pressure, the more defensive the Cuban government becomes and the less propitious the atmosphere for positive change. We could do far more to encourage the kind of liberalization the American people want to see by easing tension, beginning a dialogue with the Cuban government and moving to dismantle the embargo."
(snip)

Many non-profit organizations also question the inconsistent economic policy toward these two nations. Bob Boehm, co-chair of the Fund for New Priorities in America, states that "the contrast between the treatment of Cuba and that of China is extreme. The arguments favoring the embargo have been demolished on all sides. We advocate the total abolition of the embargo and all its oppressive and anti-human aspects."
(snip)

In a recent editorial, former California Gov. Jerry Brown wrote that "political maturity demands that the U.S. exercise its capacity to trade and coexist with nations of whose systems it does not approve." He also reminded readers that almost two decades ago, the U.S. promised it would lift the embargo if Castro fulfilled 3 requirements, which he did. The U.S. response, however, was not to lift the embargo but to tighten it through the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act in 1996.
(snip)

Equally important, no matter where one stands on either China or Cuba, one should be outraged that a small group of people are dictating foreign policy for the entire nation and are able to do so largely because of their access to large sums of money. In the case of Cuba, there are other reasons, of course, including presidential candidates' willingness to do anything to gain Florida's 25 electoral votes. But money is still the overriding factor.
(snip/...)

http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/cuba/sustainable/impactPress120101.html

[radwriter0555]

15. What's wrong with supporting bringing internet access to Cuba?

Did they do something wrong?

[daa]

16. What the hell has Barbara Bush done

besides LIE about stem cell research?

[Judi Lynn]

17. They are running in circles, trying to figure out which accusation to use.

It appears the same people who claim Mrs. Kerry has been trying to hook up Cuba to the internet have forgotten they have been telling ordinary Americans (especially on message boards!) that the Cuban government doesn't want Cuban citizens to be able to use the internet, because it wants to keep them isolated!

Oh, ha ha haaaawww.

[Mika]

22. Like roaches when the lights are turned on

Teresa wouldn't want to be tainted with helping Cuba. It could be used "against" her as an "accusation".

:wtf:


Instead, she panders to these types,

[Judi Lynn]

24. Take a moment to hope Cuba and South Florida make it through o.k.

since there's a hurricane bearing down on them. There are D.U. posters living in Maimi, one on this thread. There are D.U. posters who live in South Florida who also have friends in Cuba:

UPDATE 1-Hurricane Charley approaches Cuba, Florida
Thu Aug 12, 2004 08:42 AM ET
NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Charley, moving between the Cayman Islands, will cross Cuba Thursday night before advancing on the Florida Keys on Friday, likely missing the oil and natural gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest forecast on Thursday.
At 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), the storm was centered about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Grand Cayman.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for portions of the Florida Keys, the Florida west coast, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours. The warning for Jamaica will likely be discontinued later this morning.

Meanwhile, western Cuba remained under a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions were possible within 36 hours. This watch will probably be changed to a hurricane warning this morning.
(snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=5955329

There's also someone around there who reads D.U. but doesn't currently post. Don't want him washed out to sea, either.

Democrats in South Florida, take care of yourselves. We're sure thinking about you.

[Judi Lynn]

25. Just heard on NPR news that Hurricane Charlie is due to pass

right over Havana this evening. Cubans are all collecting and going to their shelters for safety. (This may bring a temporary answer to their horrid worst drought in 40 years, however, if anything is left standing.....)

Cuba has an excellent program developed which has always kept human loss to a remarkably low level. They are very well organized in their hurricane survival plans so far. Hope they maintain.)

[Judi Lynn]

26. Heinz Endowments denies charge its funds aided Cuba

Heinz Endowments denies charge its funds aided Cuba

Thursday, August 12, 2004


Cubans surfing the World Wide Web might have the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments to thank, say three anti-Castro Republican members of Congress from Miami-Dade County, Fla.
Heinz Endowments Chairman Maxwell King immediately wrote off the accusation, made Tuesday during a news conference in Miami, as "a cynical political stunt predicated on a lie." Teresa Heinz Kerry, of Fox Chapel, wife of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, heads the Heinz Endowments.
(snip)

In a statement, Heinz Endowments' King said no Heinz money has ever gone to the Institute for Global Communications.

"We have opened our records to the public and demonstrated clearly that no foundation money has ever gone to these sorts of groups, either directly or indirectly," he said. "At this point, it is clear that those engaged in spreading this fabrication in its various forms are interested only in pursuing the lie for their own political purposes."
(snip/...)

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/regional/s_207828.html

Case closed?

Lincoln Diaz-Balart



Mario Diaz-Balart



Ileana Ros-Lehtinen