GOP Candidates on Cuba

From our Florida correspondent, Kirk Nielsen:

With the four main contenders for the Republican presidential nomination all vying for Florida’s crucial Cuban-American voters, each is looking for a way to distinguish himself. All of them have bashed Fidel Castro and Cuba’s dictatorial system. But even Democratic candidates have done that.

Rudy Giuliani has distinguished himself by supporting calls for federal indictments of Fidel and Raul Castro for the shoot-down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996 as they flew over international waters, resulting in the deaths of four anti-Castro activists. This would represent a departure from Bush Administration’s stance. Giuliani has logged more appearances in Miami’s Cuban-American sectors than any of rivals; earlier this month he made stops in Hialeah and Little Havana while his rivals concentrated on earlier primary states.

Beyond the indictment, Giuliani’s Cuba policy platform relies on his claims to having a long-standing loyalty to the anti-Castro cause. He repeatedly cites the same two examples. As New York mayor in 1995 he excluded Fidel Castro from the guest list of a dinner for international dignitaries attending 50th anniversary celebrations for the United Nations. And, a year later he supported changing the name of a street in front of UN headquarters to Brothers to the Rescue Avenue. Giuliani spent last week trying to rally non-Hispanic backers in central and northern Florida. He heads south again this week. Read more …

Tags: Cuba, GOP