The Political Voices of Women

Reaction to Fidel Castro’s Resignation – by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

After 49 years of power, Fidel Castro is stepping down. Here is a look at what the presidential candidates, and others, are saying about this news. Let me know what you think about all of this in comments. You can also participate in a Care2 Poll on this issue.

President Bush…

President Bush said Tuesday that the resignation of Fidel Castro “ought to be a period of democratic transition” for Cuba, and said the country must hold free and fair elections to pick a successor after half a century of Communist rule.“And I mean free and I mean fair,” Mr. Bush added, “not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy.”

This is from a post at USA Today, on how the presidential candidates are reacting to the news of Casto’s resignation…

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: Fidel Castro’s stepping down is an essential first step, but it is sadly insufficient in bringing freedom to Cuba. Cuba’s future should be determined by the Cuban people and not by an anti-democratic successor regime. The prompt release of all prisoners of conscience wrongly jailed for standing up for the basic freedoms too long denied to the Cuban people would mark an important break with the past. It’s time for these heroes to be released.

If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades. The freedom of the Cuban people is a cause that should bring Americans together.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.: The new leadership in Cuba will face a stark choice—continue with the failed policies of the past that have stifled democratic freedoms and stunted economic growth—or take a historic step to bring Cuba into the community of democratic nations. The people of Cuba want to seize this opportunity for real change and so must we.

I would say to the new leadership, the people of the United States are ready to meet you if you move forward towards the path of democracy, with real, substantial reforms. The people of Cuba yearn for the opportunity to get out from under the weight of this authoritarian regime, which has held back 11 million talented and hardworking citizens of the Americas. The new government should take this opportunity to release political prisoners and to take serious steps towards democracy that give their people a real voice in their government. The American people have been on the side in the Cuban people’s struggle for freedom and democracy in the past and we will be on their side for democracy in the future.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.: I think that we should make it very clear that once free elections are held, that the political prisoners are released and human rights organizations are functioning in Cuba, that we would be willing to provide whatever aid and assistance that’s necessary.

I fear that anything short of that … might serve to prop up a new regime or Raul or whoever it is that wants to take Castro’s place. So we have to be absolutely confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made before we offer to provide that additional aid and assistance.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: The Cuban people deserve nothing less than free and fair elections which would provide the only hope for a prosperous and democratic Cuba. Until Fidel Castro is dead there can be no significant movement towards reform in Cuba. Raul Castro has proven that he’s as much a tyrant and dictator as his brother Fidel. Simply providing more power to another dictator does nothing to promote freedom and democracy to the Cuban people.

Here is some of what the bloggers are saying.

From Blogs of War…

I don’t expect this to bring significant change. The situation will get a little more interesting when the state announces his death.

Latino Politics Blog…

Despite an economic embargo, Castro has managed to create a highly literate Cuban populace and a universal health care system utilizing the natural resources on the island such as herbs and plants.

It will be interesting to see what transpires in Cuba over the next few months.

From Life In These United States – Castro Resigns…

TRULY a historical event. I have always been amazed at the tenancity of this man to keep such as country as the USA at bay. I wonder what will happen now as this historic leader steps down. Will his brother continue the legacy? Side note–we trade with Vietnam and the former Soviet Union….why not Cuba?

This is from The Buzz – Castro Resignation a ‘joke’

Marco Rubio, the first Cuban-American to become speaker of the House, does not share the celebratory feeling over the Castro news. All it does, he said, is “confirm that Fidel Castro is increasingly senile and out of touch with reality.”

“It’s a joke. This is a complete joke, guys. He’s not the president of Cuba. When was he elected?” Rubio told reporters. “He has nothing to resign because he’s a dictator. What he’s done is he resigns so people can say ‘Oh look in Cuba they actually have a legitimate system of government’”

He continued, “The only news in Cuba that will ever matter is the day they announce they are having free democratic elections.”

Here is a comment from the above post…

Amen Speaker Rubio.

Charlie Crist is a moron. For him to say he “joins Cubans…in recognizing the official resignation of Fidel Castro as President of Cuba” demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding and insensitivity.

Cubans, nor anyone else with a brain for that matter, do not recognize “an official resignation” because there is nothing “official” about Castro’s regime and he has never “recognized” as the President of Cuba to begin with .
He holds no legitimate claim to power over the Cuban people, which is why he still employs secret police, and neighborhood gestapos to keep order.

Also See:

Pam at Pandagon

Castro Resignation Raises Mixed Hope and Concern