WSJ: The Kerry Campaign Seeks Cuban-American Beachhead

[question everything]

Bush's Travel Restrictions Could Create
An Opening for the Democrat in Florida

By JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
September 20, 2004; Page A4

MIAMI -- This month, John Kerry's campaign boldly went where few Democrats have dared to tread since 1992: Little Havana, the heart of Cuban Miami... Since the days of Ronald Reagan, fervently anti-Castro Cuban-Americans have made their community a bastion of Republican support. That affiliation reached a crescendo four years ago, amid fury over the Clinton administration's decision on Elian Gonzalez, a seven-year-old refugee who was rescued from waters near Miami, after surviving a boat journey to the U.S. in which his mother perished. Anger over the government's returning the boy to Cuba helped spark a massive turnout for George W. Bush, who won 82% of the Cuban-American vote.

But that ardor has cooled, and that could spell trouble for Mr. Bush's re-election hopes. Though Bush forces think they enjoy a slight lead in Florida now, thanks to a recovering economy, the race remains tight. Democrats are working to help Mr. Kerry gain a beachhead among Cuban-Americans, who in the 2000 election made up about 7.5% of the Florida vote. Given that 450,000 Cuban Americans voted in 2000, even a shift of 10%, or 45,000 votes, could be pivotal. As in other parts of the country, the Iraq war and the bumpy economic recovery are issues for Cuban-Americans. But so is a policy announced by Mr. Bush this summer that restricts visits by Cuban-Americans to their families in Cuba. Some formerly rock-ribbed Cuban-Americans have picketed the offices of local Republican legislators, while a number of respected community leaders have also blasted the restrictions.

(snip)

Among those who arrived before 1980, who comprise two-thirds of the Cuban-American vote, support for Mr. Bush has risen to 92% in July from 89% in June, according to a survey by pollster Sergio Bendixen for the New Democrat Network, an unaffiliated political group that does Democratic outreach with Hispanics. The poll found that just 6% of these Cuban-Americans plan to vote for Mr. Kerry. But it also showed Mr. Kerry as the favorite among the other third of Cuban-American voters. Among those born in the U.S., Mr. Kerry leads by 58% to Mr. Bush's 35%. Cuban-Americans who arrived here after 1980 favor Mr. Kerry by a margin of 55% to 20%, with 25% undecided.

(snip)

Mr. Kerry opposes the new embargo-tightening measures, which limit Cuban-Americans to one visit to the island every three years, down from once a year. The regulations also don't define relatives such as cousins, uncles and aunts as close family -- meaning that Cuban-Americans can't legally visit those relatives or send money to them.

(snip)

Write to José de Córdoba at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109563503892421878,00.html

[Mika]

1. What about the rights of non Cuban-Americans (the rest of us)?

Kerry believes that Cuban-Americans are some kind of special class, while the rest of us Americans (and residents) have our constitutional rights abridged - equal protection under the law & the right to travel unfettered from government restrictions.

Rolling back Bush's new crackdown still leaves the rest of us violated.


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 of ignorance and hate!

[David Dunham]

2. He needs Cuban votes to win the election first. The he can do the rest.

[Mika]

3. No he won't. He has a policy that bans American's rights.

He has a defined policy that maintains the embargo and on Cuba and sanctions on Americans, in addition to allowing Cuban-Americans to remain a special class of US citizens/resident. He even has the (extremely right wingnut) CANF's stamp of approval.

Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
(req free req).. 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 of ignorance and hate!