Robert Schlesinger

Cuba Poll: Americans Split on the Embargo, With Almost as Many Not Caring at All

April 13, 2009 RSS Feed Print

By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Americans are split over whether or not to lift the embargo against Cuba, with 36 percent favoring the move and 35 percent opposing, according to the Rasmussen polling group. But what I also find interesting is a third figure: 29 percent don't quite know what to do. It seems to me that this is a good sign for those of us who favor normalizing relations with the tiny communist country, because it presumably indicates that fully 3 in 10 Americans just don't care about Cuba. Lift the embargo? Keep the embargo? Excuse me—I've got real issues to worry about.

And that's good, because our current Cuba policy treats the country in a manner wildly disproportionate from its strategic place in this hemisphere. We treat Cuba as is if it is a peer or serious adversary, when its geopolitical relevance as a threat is completely anachronistic. This seems to be about in line with the number of people who follow news of Cuba. About 38 percent follow it not very closely or not at all, while 58 percent follow it somewhat or very closely.

Another good data point: 46 percent of independents favor lifting the embargo, which is a plurality in that category and is also a larger number than even among Democrats (38 percent). Among Republicans, however, a clear majority (58 percent) oppose lifting the embargo. So to put it another way: Independents are ahead of Democrats on favoring a policy change that Republicans oppose. I like the way those numbers are adding up.

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Tags:
Cuba,
foreign policy,
polls

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First of a all I agree with Mr. Sanchez Parodi 100%

It is high time to change the idiotic policies of the last 50 years.

As far as Democrats and President Obama--you'll lose no votes by making that change-the fanatic and obsessed "professional Cubans" most of which live in Miami will never vote for you anyway.

Andy Cardenas of FL 7:12PM August 26, 2009

CUBA:

"American way of life"

Fidel Castro decided since 1959 to confiscate all American properties and businesses. He executed and jailed Americans and determined he didn't want us there. During the October Missile Crisis of 1962, this American hater wrote a personal letter to then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushev, begging him to "nuke" the United States. Now, this paranoic dictator wants the U.S. taxpayers to finance and rescue his failed oppressive totalitarian regime.

It is estimated that the Castro brothers will pocket 5 billion dollars, if American tourists are allowed to go there for a good brainwash. Many will go to the island to enjoy cuban cigars, cuban rum and to engage in the horrors of child prostitution (jineteras) promoted by the authorities. Others in the extreme left, will go there to reafirm their ideological convictions and to bring back home new orientations and fresh anti- American slogans from "el Comandante". After 50 years of suffrering communism, Cubans see the United States as the "promised land" and the "American Way of Life "as the raw model for their future generations. The consequenses of this mistaken policy will destroy forever our present moral image and stature in the eyes of the oppressed people in Cuba. They certainly need freedom for their country.....but have no use for abusive tropical adventurers, communist fellow travelers or Castro siypathizers. I think it would be extremely wise if all this money, now destined for Castro, stay home to help aliviate our awful economic situation.

postor1 of FL 4:28AM April 14, 2009

From his grave, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. answers the members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 and cannot comment directly about the hypocritical members of the Congressional Black Caucus who went to Cuba to lick the bloodied boots of a dictator that has enslaved 11 million Cubans for 50 years.

But we can quote the leader of the American Civil Rrights movement to show what he would have told those who today proclaim to follow his principles, while doing completely the opposite of what he preached.

Here is a famous quote by Dr. King, that applies perfectly to those members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba to support an evil dictator:

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ... So in order to be true to one's conscience and true to God, a righteous man has no alternative but to refuse to cooperate with an evil system." From Dr King's book "Stride Toward Freedom," Page 51.

postor1 of FL 4:22AM April 14, 2009

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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