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Jorge Mas Santos is Chairman of the Board of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). As chairman, |
Mr. Mas directs the CANF’s general programs in support of freedom, democracy and human rights for Cuba...read more |
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Andro Nodarse-León is co-founder and Managing Partner of LEÓN, MAYER |
| & Co. (LM) a Miami and New York based private equity firm. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Cuban American...read more | |
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Aldo M. Leiva represents clients as counsel in domestic and international disputes in |
in state and federal courts. His litigation practice covers a wide range of subjects, including complex business disputes, insurance law, professional liability, construction law and municipal law...read more |
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Fradyn Suárez is a finance attorney with Mayer Brown, LLP in Chicago, Illinois and a |
| member of the Board of Directors of the University Council of the Cuban American National Foundation...read more | |
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Pablo Lafuente currently works as a case manager at WilmerHale LLP in |
| Washington, DC. He also serves as member of the Board of Directors of the University Council of the Cuban American National...read more | |
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Axel Lapica is currently a manager with a global management consulting firm. |
| He also serves as member of the Board of Directors of the University Council of the Cuban American National Foundation ...read more | |
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Lincoln M. Vidal is an Assistant General Counsel with a major international cruise line with headquarters |
| in Miami, Florida and a member of the Board of Directors of the University Council of the Cuban American National Foundation....read more | |
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Tony Gomez is founder of Gomez Technology Solutions a South Florida based technology consulting |
| firm. He also serves as member of the Board of Directors of the University Council of the Cuban American National Foundation (UC-CANF)....read more | |
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16 comments:
Unlike his typical rallies (but like his stop at a synagogue yesterday), Sen. Obama will be facing a much more skeptical crowd today. He's a smart, formidable candidate, with a silver tongue, but if he hopes to sway some in the audience (and the exile community at large) he'll have to clearly elucidate his Cuba policy and show that while he might tweak things a bit here or there, he won't kowtow to Raul Castro (or fringe elements in his own party) by unilaterally lifting the embargo and/or normalizing relations, and therefore giving the Cuban regime the breathing room it needs to continue its human rights and labor abuses.
Only when there's true and permanent political and economic reform in Cuba will the exile community begin to support wholesale changes in US-Cuba Policy. So, for now, he should chant "No Se Puede!"
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and young and up and coming Cuban-American politician Marco Rubio addressed the crowd with a moving speech very much targeted at the predominantly Cuban-American audience.
He spoke against engaging in discussions with Raul Castro and the Cuban government and received a good response from the crowd. Non Cuban-Americans in the audience are obviously a harder sell on that stance. We’ll see how the discussion progresses throughout the event.
A great performance of "Legacy", and interpretation of jorge Mas Canosas words by the students of the Jorge mas Canosa Middle School wrapped up with the words "Adelante! Adelante! Adelante!" received a rousing standing ovation.
Senator Obama was introduced to the chant of "Yes we can" from the crowd.
President of the Cuban American National Foundation Jorge “Pepe” Hernandez addressed the attendees. His speech centered around two main points:
1. That CANF is a non-partisan organization as Jorge Mas Canosa intended. It’s not about “red or blue, or white or black, but about a free and democratic Cuba. This point received a rousing round of applause from the crowd.
2. That his personal wishes are to pass along to the children and grandchildren of the Cuban-American people that their families hail from a “beautiful land that deserves to be free.”
Random point: With all of the national press in attendance this event is a HUGE patform for the speakers. So far it looks like the most is being made of the oppertunity.
It’s Jorge Mas Santos turn at the podium. He is focusing on the legacy of CANF and it’s role as an institution. He restates Pepe’s point that CANF is non-partisan. The audience responded positively to his statement that CANF will both “criticize and praise” when called for. “Non-partisan but patriotic” he described the foundation.
He also spoke to CANFs relatively new strategy to focus on aiding dissidents within the island. The foundation clearly believes that changes will come from within the island.
Obama speech looks to be focused on the Latin American Region in general. The biggest applause comes when he references Cuban specific issues. His stance is pretty consistent with his overall message.
He calls diplomacy with the Cuban Government but states that Cuban-Americans WILL participate in these talks. He doesn’t call for an end to the embargo but does want to life lift limits on remittance and travel to Cuba by Cuban-Americans.
Interestingly he asked all political prisoners present to join him for a private meeting after the speech.
I can't believe that we wasted our time with someone that wants to talk to raul castro. If we vote for some one that the hamas supports- what will be next for our great nation? Just saddness.
It is my sincere opinion that this is an embarrassment to our heritage, and our political steadfastness to invite such a person - who considers sitting at the same table with a Castro - the man who is responsible for the foundation of this organization, the man who destroyed lives, the man who killed our families yet most importantly their dreams. It is a disgrace to my grandfather and grandmother, may they rest in peace, it is a disgrace to the memory of all who died fighting for the cause, and a sincere disgrace to have men like Garcia and Hernandez who would look to "new ideas on cuba" - there is only one acceptable idea, and that is freedom (but not promised freedom, true democracy/free speech/ideas/ etc). While I respect Mr. Obama, the idea of meeting with Castro (raul, fidel, any of his cronies) is like FDR meeting with Hitler.
My financial donations have ended to this organization, and for those who read this blog - appropriately named - i am not an 80 year old man, nor an insane maverick. I believe in freedom, democracy, and the possibility of doing what one wants without fear. As I watched from on CNN today as he refered to opening travel and no limits on money (yes my friends) this is crazy. I do not want people going on vacation to Cuba, or seeing their families, or financing the government - Cuba has been at the brink of collapse yet saved by its friends in USSR, or Venezuela our embargo has not worked for this but if lifted Cuba will become China - great benefits no rights!
To those of us who are in our early twenties and grew up with the closeness of our family - we must always stand united, and today I saw a disgrace, a true divide amonst those who claim to LEAD the community and hold steadyfastly against Communist Cuba.
Que Los Estados Unidos, y Cuba Vivan!
anonymous,
I was in the room. His statements regarding opening up talks with Cuba did go over with some skeptisism. You are definetly not the only one that feels that way.
I'm not sure why you got the impression the rest of us are not as unconfortable with the notion as you are.
Here, check out this herald article:
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/545275.html
I certainly don't agree with Sen. Obama's policy positions on Cuba, and that fact that he repeated them again yesterday probably means his coattails won't strech down to South Florida (good news, no doubt, for Ileana, and the Diaz-Balart Bros. who face Democartic challengers this Fall).
However, I thought it right for CANF to invite Obama to speak (and it should extend the same courtesy to Sen. McCain), because not only is it a non-partisan organization, but as the polling data suggests, Democrats will probably hold on to both houses of Congress and might win the Presidency, as well. If CANF doesn't remain open, it's voice can get shut out and marginalized during any future policy discussions about Cuba, during what is sure to be a very pivotal time. Imagine a scenario under which Wayne Smith and Chris Dodd are the shrillest voices in DC, and imagine it well because that could be where we're headed if we start abandoning ship at a time like this.
Paul - I heard that CANF invited all three candidates to the luncheon. I do agree with you that an effort needs ot be made to get McCain to address the Cuban-American community in a similar fashion. Maybe they can get him out ot their annual congress or some other big event before the elections.
I came to yesterday's luncheon as a skeptic of Senator Obama's position on Cuba in particular and Latin America in general.
Whilst it is clear that Mr. Obama is a compelling public speaker -- his historical references to our grand apostle Marti, Bolivar for Venezuelans and Colombians and Hidalgo for Mexicans were well placed, accurate and emotive inducing -- I would echo the comments of fellow poster Pablo/Paul as I found Mr. Obama's bullet point proposal for a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba to be paradoxical in theory and suffice it to say difficult to imagine in practice but it was very much consistent with his "mile wide six inch deep" position on other issues.
Pablo/Paul, you're spot on in your closing -- I shudder to think what a change in US policy toward Cuba would look like under the guidance of former US Cuban Interests Section head Wayne Smith and those of his ilk, suffice it to say that the revisiting of the Carter era diplomacy toward Cuba would be "chilling" to the cause and at odds with some of the very reasons that gave rise to the creation of CANF in the early 1980s in the first place.
Obama gave a substantive policy speech where he promised to refocus our attention on the Americas before the Chinese and the Iranians take over. I don't care if he talks to Raul Castro as long as he brings dissidents to sit at the table with them. I trust the guy enough to think he won't be swayed by Raul and his cronies.
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