The (Conservative) Editorial Board of the
Chicago Tribune goes snarky on the Bush Administration. The Board's been wrong, they say, in believing that the American embargo against Cuba is ineffective. In fact, the embargo may be very effective: at turning the reliable Cuban vote
against the GOP in this election.
Here's an excerpt from the editorial:
The Bush administration's latest round of economic and travel restrictions against Castro, which will go into effect June 30, will be extremely effective. But not in the way the administration figures. With an assist from South Florida Republicans, the White House is about to accomplish the inconceivable: turn a sizable portion of South Florida's fervidly conservative Cuban-Americans against the Republican Party.
Cuban-Americans are permitted by U.S. authorities to visit their relatives on the island once a year. But after June 30, they will be restricted to one visit every three years. Even then, they will only be permitted to visit parents, children or siblings. Now they can visit any relative.
The Bush administration's new regulations also sharply limit the amount of money Cuban-Americans can send to relatives on the island. Those dollar remittances have helped relatives in Cuba to buy basic necessities at government stores that accept only U.S. dollars.
A large portion of South Florida's Cuban-American community is enraged and asking Republicans: Exactly whose side are you on?
More of that Bush-the-Uniter magic.