Yesterday, we saw Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart freak out over Obama's referring to that island nation south of Florida as "Cuba". (No joke or exaggeration.)
But while that was bizarre, it wasn't offensive, like what his brother Mario tried to pull a few days ago -- comparing all who disagreed on ending the 50-year-old embargo as Nazi collaborators. Today, a group of prominent south Florida leaders, including the president of the Cuban American National Foundation, fired back:
Mr. Diaz-Balart, it is one thing to respectfully disagree with someone over policy issues. In fact, among those of us signing this letter there have been honest disagreements in the past and even spirited debates. But it is quite another for you, an elected federal official, to launch personal attacks against your own constituents by likening them to Nazi supporters and the unscrupulous businessmen who conducted business with Adolf Hitler simply because they don’t share your views.
As Cuban-Americans and leaders and members of some of the largest exile groups in the United States, we emphatically reject your characterization of the Cuban-American community and those who send humanitarian aid and support to their parents, children, relatives and friends on the island. If anything, these people are more akin to the generous men and women from around the world who shared the tremendous burden of aiding the Allied forces and provided humanitarian support to the Jews being persecuted throughout Europe during World War II.
It is simply unacceptable for you to use the privileged bully pulpit that comes with the office voters have entrusted you with to make such a harsh and insensitive portrayal of so many in our community that just want to help their family.
We respectfully call upon you to immediately repudiate your inaccurate and irresponsible remarks, which do not reflect the views or values of the overwhelming majority of people in our community, regardless of their ethnicity, party affiliation or views on US-Cuba policy. If there ever has been a time when this kind of outlandish rhetoric is counter-productive to the cause of advancing Cuban freedom, and the image of South Florida, it is now when the eyes of the world are upon us.
As noted earlier today, the Cuban American community overwhelmingly favors ending the travel embargo, not just for Cuban-Americans, but for all Americans. And even on the contentious issue of the economic embargo, embargo foes have lost the advantage, with just 42 percent wedded to the failed policy.
As the Cuban American community slips away from their clutches, with the older hardline generations fading away and younger generations changing their minds on the issue and becoming more rational, Democratic and progressive, the Diaz-Balarts are beside themselves with rage. Wether it's accusing their constituents of being Nazi collaborators or freaking out bizarrely at Obama's references to Cuba as "Cuba", it's clear that these last few days, weeks, and months of the Cuban embargo won't bring out the best in them.