By Jim Burns. CNS News Senior Staff Writer. August 08, 2000.
(CNSNews.com) - While acknowledging that Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) has been a "friend" in their cause against Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the Cuban American National Freedom says Al Gore's selection of Lieberman as his running mate may not win Gore many Cuban-American votes come
November.
"I doubt that the damage that the Democrats suffered with the Elian [Gonzalez] case could really be repaired by anything that Al Gore would do, frankly," said Ninoska Perez, spokesperson for the Cuban American National Foundation.
Six-year-old Elian Gonzalez returned to Cuba in June with his father after a seven-month custody battle that pitted Elian's Miami relatives against the boy's father. Miami's Cuban-American community eagerly took up the cause of freedom for Elian, siding with the boy's Miami relatives.
Perez believes the Elian Gonzalez case will continue to haunt Democrats in the upcoming fall election.
"I think that it's very hard that Gore could break away from...the blame which lies on the Clinton administration," Perez said.
However, the Cuban American National Foundation commends Lieberman for his votes in support of Cuban exiles, who are united against the Castro regime.
"To us here at the Cuban American National Foundation, Sen. Lieberman embodies what a decent politician is all about. He's someone we greatly admire. Certainly, Sen. Lieberman has been a great friend to the cause of Cuba's freedom," Perez said.
Over the weekend, Fidel Castro criticized both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. He noted that nine U.S. presidents have tried and failed to topple his government, and he warned the tenth president -- whoever it may be -- not to make a similar attempt.
Speaking at a rally celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cuba's Communist takeover, Castro said that if Bush wins in November, it would be "pointless" to try to use the Central Intelligence Agency to assassinate Cuban leaders, something that was done during the Kennedy
administration in the 1960s.
Neither Bush nor any other politician has publicly advocated such a move in recent times.
"I exhort you to not forget that for each one of those revolutionary leaders you decide to eliminate in that way, there will remain in Cuba millions of men capable of occupying their place," Castro said.
Castro also condemned Republicans for a plank in their platform that rejects any easing of trade and travel restrictions on Cuba until Castro releases all political prisoners. Castro said the plank caters to the "terrorist and annexationist mafia of Miami," a reference to Miami's Cuban
exile community.
The GOP platform also calls for "active American support for Cuban dissidents" and says sanctions will be lifted when Castro legalizes opposition political parties and commits to democratic elections.
Castro did not spare Gore in his critical comments.
"Perhaps never in times so complex and chaotic has there been a competition between two candidates more boring and insipid," Castro said. | 