A man, a president, a politician, and just about anybody else who cannot keep his word cannot be trusted to look after the welfare of others. If you are president of the United States, you cannot be trusted if you keep flip-flopping on your promises to them. The “audacity of hope” becomes nothing more than empty rhetoric!
President Obama suffers from a credibility problem. Back on October 25, 2014, he said “I am president, I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.” Then, on February 14, 2014, he said “I’m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed.”
Subsequently, on November 20, 2014, he rolled out immigration reform through executive action.
For years, Obama promised millions of Americans with health insurance that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan” under his health care overhaul. He did not keep his promise.
And, as a candidate for president, Obama vowed to Florida voters that his policy toward Cuba would “be guided by one word: Libertad.” He indicated that while he favored engagement, there would be no quid of normalization until there was a quo of democratization: “Don’t be confused about this.” “I will maintain the embargo. It provides us with the leverage to present the regime with a clear choice: If you take significant steps toward democracy, beginning with the freeing of all political prisoners, we will take steps to begin normalizing relations. That’s the way to bring about real change in Cuba.” And, once again, he has not kept his word to the freedom-loving Cuban-Americans and Americans.
As President Obama gets ready to deliver the State of the Union address on January 20, 2015, a group of 78 signatories have sent him an open letter praising him for his new Cuba policy, and urging him to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
Among the signatories, you’ll find the usual suspects within the Cuban-American community: both Fanjul brothers and Saladrigas. But, I want to highlight one in particular: Joe García.
When running against Carlos Curbelo for Florida’s 26th district, Joe García expressed his support for keeping the U.S. embargo. But his actions spoke louder than his words, and the Cuban-American community did not believe him. So, this community rewarded Carlos Curbelo with their votes. And they did the right thing.
You see, now that he is not a U.S. representative and does not need the Cuban-American votes, García has shown his true colors by signing the above letter that calls for the lifting of the U.S. embargo “to reflect 21st century realities.”
Cuban-Americans elected in Carlos Curbelo an honest and ethical man. They elected a representative who supports the U.S. embargo, and who means it.
On the other hand, Obama and García are like Puerto-Rican Poet Lola Rodríguez would say “de un pájaro las dos alas” (the two wings of the same bird). Both are individuals who don’t keep their promises.
To read the letter, click on http://www.supportcubancivilsociety.org/letters/2/
