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Cuba. The Cuban Exiles and US Politics. Exiles. Who are they? “Political Refugees” Wealthy families Anti-Communists “Undesirables”. Why they left Cuba. Castro to Power 1959 1960-1962 - 14,000 children Pedro Pan Freedom Flights http://www.wpbt2.org/suitcase/. Bay of Pigs.
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Cuba The Cuban Exiles and US Politics
Exiles • Who are they? • “Political Refugees” • Wealthy families • Anti-Communists • “Undesirables”
Why they left Cuba • Castro to Power 1959 • 1960-1962 - 14,000 children • Pedro Pan • Freedom Flights • http://www.wpbt2.org/suitcase/
Bays of Pigs and Kennedy • April 17, 1961 invasion of Cuba • 1200 exiles detained • 118 killed • Considered unsuccessful • Strained relationship between Kennedy/Dems and American Cubans
Mariel Boat Lift • Started April 20, 1980 • Proclaimed by Fidel Castro • 125,000 Cubans fled to Florida • Problems for Pres. Jimmy Carter • 17,000 exiles jailed • 587 detained • New tension between U.S. and Cuba
Mariel Boat Lift cont’d • Carter and Castro wanted improved relations • U.S.: Interests Section in Havana • Cuba: Interests Section in Washington • Ended October 31, 1980
Elian Gonzalez • Came to U.S. November 1999 • Clinton and Janet Reno authorized raid • Sent Gonzalez back to Cuba 2000 • Strained relationship between Clinton/Dems and American Cubans • Sent back to Cuba June 2000 • Raid
Cuban American Political History • Cuban Americans vote Republican. • 1988 election - 78% voted for Republican candidates. • 1992 election - 70% voted for then-President George Bush.
CANF is most important Cuban American political organization. • Cuban Democracy Act in 1992. • The Helms-Burton Act in 1996. • CANF sponsors research on Cuba and Cuban Americans, raises money for political purposes, and lobbies elected officials.
Cuban Committee for Democracy • Founded in 1993 by a group of progressive Cuban–Americans in Miami and Washington, D.C. • CCD is not a political party. • The Committee is non-partisan and welcomes supporters from any political party.
Miami-Dade County Results • 62% Hispanic Population • 2004 • George Bush - 46.6% • John Kerry – 52.9% • 2008 • John McCain – 41.6% • Barack Obama – 58.1%
Cuban American vs. Rest of LATAM Cuban American Interests Latino Interests Liberal/Left Immigration Policy Geographic West of US Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, California The rest • Conservative/Right • Economy/jobs • Geographic East of US • Miami Dade County (Southern Florida) • 5% of total Latino vote
Marco Rubio, next VP? • Senator of strategic Florida • Butterfly Ballot recount (Bush vs. Gore election) • Romney loses to McCain four years ago • Influence within the Rep. Party • Spoke out against Gingrich attack against Romney
References • http://hispanic.cc/why_cubans_vote_republican.htm • http://www.maryferrell.org/wiki/index.php/Cuba_Timeline • http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21421.html • http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1983705,00.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_exile • http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/pedro.htm • Video cite: http://www.wpbt2.org/suitcase/
References • http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Cuban-Americans.html • http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/fl.htm • http://www.neoliberalismo.com/mission_en.htm