As written by Babalu Legal Counsel Gabe Carrera:
“Babalu Blog Legal Counsel on the Cuban Politico Scene with Sr. Fred!”
I arrived on the spot early and there were only three gatos Cubanos and a few coordinators with the Fred camp. There was this one gentleman from the Pentecostal church dressed in black with a Vietnam Veteran Cap on his head. I later met up with a very talkative fellow who is a GOP Committeeman from Broward county who I later nicknamed “Mr. Lengua.” We shared values and opinions pero coñ como habla ese hombre.
About 8:00 AM the room which lies between the bakery and the Restaurant in Versailles started filling out with media and supporters. I met some elderly (pero sexy looking) AARP ladies dressed in red shirts. They said they were nonpartisan group looking for candidates to address the healthcare issue one way or another. One lady loaned me a black magic marker so that I could secure Fred’s signature on my “official Fred Head” coffee cup. I met a lot of Cubans who were asking the question, in fact they were all asking the same question, Where do I sign up? How is in charge of the grass roots effort?
Well, as you can guess from the position of my great quality phone camera shots I was positioned in the front row. I called Val right before Fred came through Versailles. “Oye Val! Where da hell are you?” Val explained that some (client) needed to see his plans that he was drawing and he would be tied up. His heart was with me but his body was not. I could tell I was rubbing the salt in his wounds as I described the place to him. He told me Henry was there but we never hooked up. Maybe because we never met and he does not know my mug!
Then Fred came and the place was quiet. I yelled out, “There he is….YEAH!!!!!!!” and started clapping with the Babalu Blog fever! Then everyone else started clapping and loosening up. The medias were fighting all over themselves to get the best shot. Fred took one handshake and then, as he reached out for mine I placed my Cuban Coffee stained “Fred Head Mug” into his hand with a magic marker that I got from one of those beautiful AARP signature gathering ladies. “Fred, Please sign my cup?” I asked. “Sure thing bub! And he signed my cup! Mr. Lengua shook his hand pero Fred the Professional quickly noticed Mr. Lengua’s talkative qualities and moved on. The next lady next to me gave him a check for a nice amount. The amount left Mr. Lengua speechless, about time huh? Yeahhhhhh!
Bueno, Fred spoke on health care, freedom, SC Justices, hablo mal de Fidel more than twice. He specifically said that, “Fidel should know that if he sends a wave of boat people as a weapon against the USA (spoken very seriously and intense) that would not be a good thing for him to do!” That he (Fred) would, as Presidente de los estados Unidos, Let Fidel know publically and through private channels, that it would not “be good for Cuba to do that.” When the question was asked about Hugo (el coco de Jugo) he said that he would not let the United States be dependent on Dictators like that. He made comparisons to the leader of Iran and argued against appeasement and making deals with these types of despots. Fred said that has not worked in the past and it will not be practiced in his presidency.
The comment he made that gained the most applause and a standing ovation after speaking about appeasement and false sense of security by brokering deals with dictators was when he stated that this nation has shed more blood for other countries than other countries have shed for their own freedom. I stood up and was left in shock & awe by the powerful resounding authority he used with those words.
Fred resonated with the people and he connected with the Cubanos in Little Habana. He made me feel that he was not a scripted guy but talking from the heart! As he left I shook his hand and asked him to exercise and eat healthy because we needed him around for a long time. Fred responded, “Don’t worry I am, they are taking good care of me.” His warm smile and the gentle light of his eyes made me feel that he is a truthful and sincere man. I will be actively advocating for Fred in the days to come and I will cast my Independent vote for him! I am NPA in FLA (No Party Affiliation).
After he left I met three babalu Blog fanatics who never blog but read the postings every day. I met Aida, Ignacio and Carmen. I wont mention their last names but they are always looking for great article to learn something new on Cuba. We took pictures by Fred’s Big buss that was parked there. Tremedo cabezon tiene ese Viejo. My coffee mug proves he has a big head. It was on the side of the bus. Hey Ignacio, I am waiting for the fotos hermano! Bueno….this is my official report from the front row of the center of what was happening in Little Habana!
Note: Folks, if you need legal counsel, please consider seeking Gabe’s advice.
UPDATE (Henry):
Here are some pictures of the event that I took. First off take a look at the bumper sticker on this van that was parked across the street:
Here’s a good shot of the crowded room in which he spoke:
And here’s one of the two campaign buses:
What fuzz?
This man has no chance whatsoever…
in a 10 horse race he is 30-1 shot in my book
Guys, where’s the beef? please tell me that this WAS NOT all that took place at Versailles, tell me something I HAVE NOT heard before from the F.T. camp, tell me that solid, no light weight, smooch with the man for the sake of getting my pic taken questions WERE asked, otherwise, what was the point of being there?…
Highly pissed off in New Jersey
First thing we have to do, is to stop treating Fred Thompson, or any other candidate, as some sort of demi-god. We are not electing a rock star, but a president whose character and commitment to principle will help him or her lead the country, no matter what comes our way. That, more than their ability to turn a clever phrase on this issue or that, should guide our decision.
I am not sure if Thompson fits the bill, especially if, as it has been reported today, Thompson blamed the controversy about his “suitcase” remark, on Hillary Clinton. The man said what he said, and he should take responsibility for it, and if he believes it, defend it. If anyone deserves credit, it is Clinton for calling BS on Thompson’s obvious pandering to the anti-immigrant crowd in the GOP.
One final thought: Do you think politicians pander so much to us, because it works?
It seems that Thompson’s advisers did not prepare him on Cuban issues before dropping him into the heart of the Cuban exile community. I wonder if he knows what the Helms-Burton Act or the Kennedy-Khrushchev understandings are? Interesting how he would use “private channels” to communicate with Castro. Nothing new there. Bush’s actual Cuba policy is a continuation of Clinton’s policy, with slight modifications. I do not expect whoever wins the next presidential election to force the State Department to radically change course, unless something catastrophic happens on the island.
Marc,
I might be missing something, and I’d like for you to explain this to me. You made a comment about Thompson’s pandering to the anti-immigrant crowd. First I should say that I haven’t committed to supporting him in the campaign, although I do like what I’ve seen, heard and read so far.
Do you mean that he has actually expressed anti-immigrant positions? I have read and heard a lot of his stuff, and I haven’t gotten that impression. Is he anti-illegal IMMIGRATION? Yes, but we shouldn’t confuse anti-immigrant with the former. Aside from Tom “Miami is Third World” Tancredo and a couple of other yahoos on the far right, my impression is that none of the major candidates for the GOP, including Thompson, are anti-immigrant. They just want immigration laws enforced, which seems to be a pretty reasonable thing in my book.
I will admit that his “suitcase” comment, although not meant in a bad way against Cuban-Americans IMO, was stated quite awkwardly and invites people such as Hillary to question it.
Thanks and I look forward to your response.
I was at the event. This is one of 1000 such events he’ll be conducting over the next year. The only candidate that has presented specifics about what he will do with Cuba is Barak Obama who has said he’d meet with castro and remove the travel restrictions.
So don’t take the lack of specifics as something particular to Thompson.
Secondly whoever thinks he’s a longshot hasn’t been paying attention. This man is more than likely going to be the nominee of the Republican party. I am a supporter of his and have been since he was first elected to the Senate. But if you look at this logically do you think the Republicans are going to nominate a pro gun-control, pro abortion candidate? If you do pass me what you’re smoking. This just became a two horse race that Giuliani can never win unless he changes his position on those two issues and even if he did, it would be disingenuous.
Lastly, About the comments that he made about Cubans coming over with bad intentions and suitcase bombs. How much more ado can you make about nothing?
He DID NOTsay that Cubans only come here seeking to do us harm. He said we have to remain vigilant and secure our borders because there are people out there that wish to do us harm including fidel castro. Just because castro hasn’t sent spies or terrorists over here posing as rafters or smuggled human cargo (that we know of) doesn’t preclude it from happening. These people are all around us. We have the WASP spy ring, Carlos and Elsa Alvarez. We have all of these former regime officials and generals. Hell you can’t turn the TV on without seeing on of them. Why would anyone be surprised that among the thousands of Cubans that seek to come here by raft, visa lottery, or via smugglers that there would be people with bad intentions and under orders of the regime?
Let’s get real and see this for what it is, an attempt to sling mud on the strongest candidate in the bunch. You all can fall for it if you want. I’m not.
I was at the event. This is one of 1000 such events he’ll be conducting over the next year. The only candidate that has presented specifics about what he will do with Cuba is Barak Obama who has said he’d meet with castro and remove the travel restrictions.
So don’t take the lack of specifics as something particular to Thompson.
Secondly whoever thinks he’s a longshot hasn’t been paying attention. This man is more than likely going to be the nominee of the Republican party. I am a supporter of his and have been since he was first elected to the Senate. But if you look at this logically do you think the Republicans are going to nominate a pro gun-control, pro abortion candidate? If you do pass me what you’re smoking. This just became a two horse race that Giuliani can never win unless he changes his position on those two issues and even if he did, it would be disingenuous.
Lastly, About the comments that he made about Cubans coming over with bad intentions and suitcase bombs. How much more ado can you make about nothing?
He DID NOTsay that Cubans only come here seeking to do us harm. He said we have to remain vigilant and secure our borders because there are people out there that wish to do us harm including fidel castro. Just because castro hasn’t sent spies or terrorists over here posing as rafters or smuggled human cargo (that we know of) doesn’t preclude it from happening. These people are all around us. We have the WASP spy ring, Carlos and Elsa Alvarez. We have all of these former regime officials and generals. Hell you can’t turn the TV on without seeing on of them. Why would anyone be surprised that among the thousands of Cubans that seek to come here by raft, visa lottery, or via smugglers that there would be people with bad intentions and under orders of the regime?
Let’s get real and see this for what it is, an attempt to sling mud on the strongest candidate in the bunch. You all can fall for it if you want. I’m not.
I was at the event. This is one of 1000 such events he’ll be conducting over the next year. The only candidate that has presented specifics about what he will do with Cuba is Barak Obama who has said he’d meet with castro and remove the travel restrictions.
So don’t take the lack of specifics as something particular to Thompson.
Secondly whoever thinks he’s a longshot hasn’t been paying attention. This man is more than likely going to be the nominee of the Republican party. I am a supporter of his and have been since he was first elected to the Senate. But if you look at this logically do you think the Republicans are going to nominate a pro gun-control, pro abortion candidate? If you do pass me what you’re smoking. This just became a two horse race that Giuliani can never win unless he changes his position on those two issues and even if he did, it would be disingenuous.
Lastly, About the comments that he made about Cubans coming over with bad intentions and suitcase bombs. How much more ado can you make about nothing?
He DID NOTsay that Cubans only come here seeking to do us harm. He said we have to remain vigilant and secure our borders because there are people out there that wish to do us harm including fidel castro. Just because castro hasn’t sent spies or terrorists over here posing as rafters or smuggled human cargo (that we know of) doesn’t preclude it from happening. These people are all around us. We have the WASP spy ring, Carlos and Elsa Alvarez. We have all of these former regime officials and generals. Hell you can’t turn the TV on without seeing on of them. Why would anyone be surprised that among the thousands of Cubans that seek to come here by raft, visa lottery, or via smugglers that there would be people with bad intentions and under orders of the regime?
Let’s get real and see this for what it is, an attempt to sling mud on the strongest candidate in the bunch. You all can fall for it if you want. I’m not.
I was at the event. This is one of 1000 such events he’ll be conducting over the next year. The only candidate that has presented specifics about what he will do with Cuba is Barak Obama who has said he’d meet with castro and remove the travel restrictions.
So don’t take the lack of specifics as something particular to Thompson.
Secondly whoever thinks he’s a longshot hasn’t been paying attention. This man is more than likely going to be the nominee of the Republican party. I am a supporter of his and have been since he was first elected to the Senate. But if you look at this logically do you think the Republicans are going to nominate a pro gun-control, pro abortion candidate? If you do pass me what you’re smoking. This just became a two horse race that Giuliani can never win unless he changes his position on those two issues and even if he did, it would be disingenuous.
Lastly, About the comments that he made about Cubans coming over with bad intentions and suitcase bombs. How much more ado can you make about nothing?
He DID NOTsay that Cubans only come here seeking to do us harm. He said we have to remain vigilant and secure our borders because there are people out there that wish to do us harm including fidel castro. Just because castro hasn’t sent spies or terrorists over here posing as rafters or smuggled human cargo (that we know of) doesn’t preclude it from happening. These people are all around us. We have the WASP spy ring, Carlos and Elsa Alvarez. We have all of these former regime officials and generals. Hell you can’t turn the TV on without seeing on of them. Why would anyone be surprised that among the thousands of Cubans that seek to come here by raft, visa lottery, or via smugglers that there would be people with bad intentions and under orders of the regime?
Let’s get real and see this for what it is, an attempt to sling mud on the strongest candidate in the bunch. You all can fall for it if you want. I’m not.
OK…..I was there! Fred is not against Immigrants but rather against “Illegal” immigration. If he was anti immigration what is he doing talking to a room of immigrants. I think you got some bad info on Fred. I would double check your source ROBERT.
His suit case comment meant that we cannot fight in a conventional form as we have in the past. He was refering to Iran.
HENRY, remember when he told the reporter that he wanted to bring up Iran quickly but that he would come back to his question of Cuba? That was what he was talking about
He meant that in the age if TV the internet, and suitcase bombs that we have to fight differently than we did during the cold war. I took from the statement he meant win the war of ideas.
Look McCain is anti church, Romney belongs to a cult religeon that believes Jesus and the devil are brothers and God is making love with a bunch of virgins on some weird named planet. Guilliani left office and lived with two Gay guys until he got married. He iss too liberal on the social issues and the……..there is that video of him in drag. Ughhh!!
Look, support who you want because Babalu does not want mind numb robots. By your commments and questions on the blog it shows me your thinking, questioning, being viligint. Eso es lo mejor. That is what makes us different than the Leftists.
In the end you know we vote with our hearts and our patriatism for Cuba. I enjoy arguing the facts and the candidates’ position, but remember…..we are all in the same boat (not me I was born here, he he he!)and we all have the same goals…..lets respect each other and have a great debate during the Primary.
To all you Dems that are trying to divide us Cubans…….it aint working!
As you can tell….Henry and I support the same guy….we are both “Fred Heads!”
OK…..I was there! Fred is not against Immigrants but rather against “Illegal” immigration. If he was anti immigration what is he doing talking to a room of immigrants. I think you got some bad info on Fred. I would double check your source ROBERT.
Guajiro,
I agree with you, and indicated as such in my comment. I was asking Marc a question regarding his comment which mentioned that Thompson has pandered to the anti-immigrant crowd in the GOP.
My mistake ROBERT, sometimes I see too many tress and miss the forest. My apologies. I found great video so click on the links!
Chennel 10 quick video
http://www.local10.com/news/14117412/detail.html
Channel 6 lenthy video
http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=156627
Channel 6 lenthy video
http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=156627
This video is awesome and it looks like the rumors are that Clinton came out with a press release to skew Thompson’s words. This shows that the left is scared of Fred to the point they will muddy the waters with false statements.
Robert, again, I apologize….where you the guy who came to the front with a manilla envelope with pictires of people Castro killed? I wish Fred had seen those fotos!
Guajiro,
No problem. No, I wasn’t there, but I was sitting next to you while you were playing domino at Val’s house the other day! 😉
Here’s Thompson’s remarks about Cuba that they tried to drum up the controversy about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kya5KUHf6ko
His accusing the clinton campaign of misrepresenting his remarks goes back to July and should not come as a surprise to anyone who has seen the democrats operate.
Read this post about how Joe Garcia completely mischaracterized statements made by George W. Bush about Cuba in response to a question at a press conference that had nothing to do with Cuba.
https://www.babalublog.com/archives/003791.html
Garcia claimed the president was saying that exiles had no role in the future of Cuba. Which is absurd if you read the entire exchange and consider the context.
Now let’s talk about what thompson said in the above linked video. He was talking about the southern border with Mexico. He said that 1000 people had been detained coming across that border that weren’t from Mexico, many of them from countries that sponsor terrorism, including Cuba.
Fact: Many of the people that cross the border are in fact not Mexican.
Fact: Some of these people do come from Cuba.
Fact: Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism.
Fact: He wasn’t talking about people that come over here through the visa lottery because he says 1000 and we know that 200,000 Cubans have come via that route in the last 10 years.
Let’s assume that 99.9% of the Cubans that attempt to enter the US through Mexico are nothing more than political refugees and that .1% are spies or terrorists, that means that at least one spy or terrorist got through out of the 1000.
He doesn’t say “Cubans are terrorists.” Please.
Here’s Thompson’s remarks about Cuba that they tried to drum up the controversy about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kya5KUHf6ko
His accusing the clinton campaign of misrepresenting his remarks goes back to July and should not come as a surprise to anyone who has seen the democrats operate.
Read this post about how Joe Garcia completely mischaracterized statements made by George W. Bush about Cuba in response to a question at a press conference that had nothing to do with Cuba.
https://www.babalublog.com/archives/003791.html
Garcia claimed the president was saying that exiles had no role in the future of Cuba. Which is absurd if you read the entire exchange and consider the context.
Now let’s talk about what thompson said in the above linked video. He was talking about the southern border with Mexico. He said that 1000 people had been detained coming across that border that weren’t from Mexico, many of them from countries that sponsor terrorism, including Cuba.
Fact: Many of the people that cross the border are in fact not Mexican.
Fact: Some of these people do come from Cuba.
Fact: Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism.
Fact: He wasn’t talking about people that come over here through the visa lottery because he says 1000 and we know that 200,000 Cubans have come via that route in the last 10 years.
Let’s assume that 99.9% of the Cubans that attempt to enter the US through Mexico are nothing more than political refugees and that .1% are spies or terrorists, that means that at least one spy or terrorist got through out of the 1000.
He doesn’t say “Cubans are terrorists.” Please.
Here’s Thompson’s remarks about Cuba that they tried to drum up the controversy about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kya5KUHf6ko
His accusing the clinton campaign of misrepresenting his remarks goes back to July and should not come as a surprise to anyone who has seen the democrats operate.
Read this post about how Joe Garcia completely mischaracterized statements made by George W. Bush about Cuba in response to a question at a press conference that had nothing to do with Cuba.
https://www.babalublog.com/archives/003791.html
Garcia claimed the president was saying that exiles had no role in the future of Cuba. Which is absurd if you read the entire exchange and consider the context.
Now let’s talk about what thompson said in the above linked video. He was talking about the southern border with Mexico. He said that 1000 people had been detained coming across that border that weren’t from Mexico, many of them from countries that sponsor terrorism, including Cuba.
Fact: Many of the people that cross the border are in fact not Mexican.
Fact: Some of these people do come from Cuba.
Fact: Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism.
Fact: He wasn’t talking about people that come over here through the visa lottery because he says 1000 and we know that 200,000 Cubans have come via that route in the last 10 years.
Let’s assume that 99.9% of the Cubans that attempt to enter the US through Mexico are nothing more than political refugees and that .1% are spies or terrorists, that means that at least one spy or terrorist got through out of the 1000.
He doesn’t say “Cubans are terrorists.” Please.
Here’s Thompson’s remarks about Cuba that they tried to drum up the controversy about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kya5KUHf6ko
His accusing the clinton campaign of misrepresenting his remarks goes back to July and should not come as a surprise to anyone who has seen the democrats operate.
Read this post about how Joe Garcia completely mischaracterized statements made by George W. Bush about Cuba in response to a question at a press conference that had nothing to do with Cuba.
https://www.babalublog.com/archives/003791.html
Garcia claimed the president was saying that exiles had no role in the future of Cuba. Which is absurd if you read the entire exchange and consider the context.
Now let’s talk about what thompson said in the above linked video. He was talking about the southern border with Mexico. He said that 1000 people had been detained coming across that border that weren’t from Mexico, many of them from countries that sponsor terrorism, including Cuba.
Fact: Many of the people that cross the border are in fact not Mexican.
Fact: Some of these people do come from Cuba.
Fact: Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism.
Fact: He wasn’t talking about people that come over here through the visa lottery because he says 1000 and we know that 200,000 Cubans have come via that route in the last 10 years.
Let’s assume that 99.9% of the Cubans that attempt to enter the US through Mexico are nothing more than political refugees and that .1% are spies or terrorists, that means that at least one spy or terrorist got through out of the 1000.
He doesn’t say “Cubans are terrorists.” Please.
The truth is that democrats distort the truth to influence the ignorant but we are all much wiser to their tricks
El tipo no tiene chispa hermano. He’s going to get eaten alive when he eventually has to do some actual debating. Le van a dar tres patas.
Robert, my apologies for taking so long to get back to you on this.
I agree, we need to do a better job of securing our borders. It should be the first, but not the only way, way we overhaul our immigration system. The evidence is clear: In almost all facets, the current system is not working, and changes are needed.
What bothers me is when politicians, subtly or not, use immigration and the concerns we have — some of them very legitimate, and others not — to appeal to the worst of our angels, by suggesting we have something to fear from immigrants, just because of where they come from. For many people — like some of those Thompson was addressing in South Carolina when he made the “suitcase” remark — such talk from politicians only validates their bigotry, their racism, etc.
Thompson said what he said, and despite the protestations written elsewhere on this site, he was wrong. He wasn’t being awkward or taken out of context. Unfortunately, I think he knew exactly what he was doing.
MARC……your not one of those open border people are you? Because every country has border control! Fred is against Illegals not immigrants. And for the record its Alien that cross the borders not immigrants. Immigrants are those that immigrated to the USA legally.
Marc,
I totally agree with you that the current immigration system needs major fixing. But I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on Thompson and other who have raised concerns over immigration. If Thompson makes a statement that we need to put a fence up and watch for people crossing the border illegally to a bunch of racists in South Carolina, that doesn’t make Thompson a racist. Thompson has even said that he wouldn’t necessarily go hunting after illegals already here to deport them. The message here isn’t anti immigrant (which is the essence of racism vs non-racism in this case), but enforcing immigration laws.
Like I said before and has also been said by Henry and Ziva, the “suitcase” comment was a strange but esentially innocent remark. Again, we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
No, I am not part of the open border crowd. I agreed with the president’s plan for a guest-worker program, but I also wanted to see more done to secure the borders. I just think that the debate, especially the part about the borders, exposed an ugly undercurrent in the American polity, i.e., racism, bigotry, etc., that too many politicians, regardless of what they believe, are always willing to exploit for their own gain. That’s not to say Thompson is a bigot, just someone willing to pander to those sentiments to make a point.
I don’t think the significance of Thompson’s original comment has been overplayed, he knew what he was saying, and why. And if it has been overplayed, that doesn’t excuse Thompson’s careless and apparent insensitivities to the Cuban American experience.
I was there with Lucha Libre!!! Somebody should have issued a babalublog call and we could have had a Babalu meet-and-greet. I’m the lady with the long curly hair holding a camera next to a man in a blue shirt. We uploaded the full video of what Fred said on the link below. It’s in 4 parts and is almost 40 minutes:
http://www.blogsforfredthompson.com/fred-versailles-restaurant-miami-exclusive-video-0