Everywhere in the post-election analysis, the support of Latino voters, especially first-time new voters, was seen to be crucial in the victory, helping Democrats win in Western states like New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. 'Latino' is a big brush, including Mexican-Americans (like this writer), Cuban-Americans, Puerto-Ricans, Dominicans, Central-Americans and everyone from South America. But we are a growing demographic and while many of us were disappointed with Barack Obama for a number of issues, Latinos, according to one CNN observer 'were terrified of Mitt Romney.'
Now, that the dust is settling, what will POTUS do to reward Latinos for their support.?Immigration Reform comes up first, but this will be a long, hard slog with an angry Congress which will be just as contentious as Health Care. I, however, propose an action the President can do quickly and which will earn the respect of Latino voters.
End the 50 year old embargo and normalize relations with the Republic of Cuba.
This Executive Act would do a number of things immediately.
-It would be real change that sweeps away an ancient, cold war policy.
-It would be unpopular with the old-guard Cuban-Americans (who voted Romney anyway) but it would resonate with the young Cuban-Americans who want open contact with their ancestral homeland.
-It would be welcomed and respected by the rest of the Latino-American community. It would show that Obama is paying attention to what happens south-of-the-border. Mexican-Americans, from what I have seen of my people, remain sympathetic to the Cuban revolution partly out of memories of their own 1910-1920 revolution.
-It would create jobs on all levels - sales of agricultural goods (already happening), consumer goods, the travel industry, ports like Mobile and New Orleans would profit, airlines would have flights to Havana, Santiago, Varadero, Isle of Pines, the list goes on. (I'm imagining an invasion of Spring Break American teenagers, yes!)
-Yes, 'the Cuban government' would get a big cut, but yanqui dollars would reach the regular population and by enriching the Cuban people, it would prevent a future implosion where another Mariel boat invasion, civil war, or drug cartel take over might be a real future possibility.
-It would end the hypocrisy where a China with a one-party communist state is our biggest trading partner but a small Caribbean one-party communist state is shunned.
Already there are reports that after Obama goes to an ASEAN event in Cambodia next month he will then become the first President to visit Myanmar/Burma! If he could do that, why not reach out 90 miles south of Florida?
Mr. President, give something back to Latinos that will earn you and your party immediate and future rewards. Open relations with Cuba!
5:02 PM PT: If Obama could do this, open up Cuba, while at the same time pushing for Puerto-Rican statehood...1-2 punch!