Cuban policy discussion stays respectful

Florida International University was the host Monday night for a town hall meeting to discuss Cuban-American politics and U.S. policy toward Cuba.

And although the speakers ranged from ardent supporters of the U.S. embargo to some who would like to see more economic, political and social interaction between the United States and Cuba, the tone of the discussion never departed from the respectful.

''Cuba policy today, both on the right and left, is being designed by Cuban Americans,'' said Joe Garcia, a leader of the New Democrat Network and former executive director of the Cuban-American National Foundation.

Garcia, relishing this new role, which allows him to speak more forcefully against President Bush and Republicans with partisan rhetoric, said the biggest threat to the U.S. embargo today comes from Republican lawmakers -- who want to do business with Cuba -- not Democrats, as it once did.

Garcia said that if Castro died during a Kerry administration, ``what we'll see is probably some type of attempt at reconciliation.''

Ninoska Perez-Castellon, head of the Cuban Liberty Council and ardently pro-Bush, was sitting directly next to Garcia. She said next week's presidential election would determine future policy toward Cuba.

Garcia stared ahead with his arms crossed.

''This election is whether we support a president who favors sanctions or one who favors business to extend a lifeline to a dying regime,'' Perez-Castellon said.

Pro-dialogue activist Alfredo Duran said it was no accident of history that Cuban Americans are predominantly Republican.

''It really has nothing to do with U.S. policy toward Cuba,'' he said. ``It's basically street politics. The Democratic party basically ignored a Cuban-American community while the Republican party saw an opening.''

Camila Ruiz, director of government relations for CANF, said the key to power and influence for Cuban Americans is to never allow any political party ``to take our vote for granted.''