One step forward, one step back… The negotiations between the US and Cuba for an opening in some areas have been jumpy since Obama came to power. Because of the inflexibility of Cuban regime and because of internal movements within the US political life. These hard negotiations show that peaceful relations are not so easy and that people have interests in a status quo in both camps.
A report from the nonpartisan group Public Campaign underline these dark relations. It shows that about 400 politicians, members of Congress, candidates have received money from supporters of the US embargo against Cuba for their campaigns. Almost 11 million dollars since 2004. So that they block efforts to weaken sanctions against the island.
Most of the recipients of the cash are Republicans (9,9 million dollars) but Democrats also received about 850,000 dollars, especially the 53 who signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing any change to U.S.-Cuba policy. The top 5 recipients are three Florida’s Cuban American Republican members of Congress, presidential nominee John McCain and Cuban American Democrat Robert Menendez, from New Jersey.
But for the supporters of the embargo, no problem. “I will not apologize for the Cuban-American community practicing its constitutional, democratic right to support candidates who believe in freedom and democracy for the Cuban people over business and tourism interests”, the director of the U.S.-Cuba PAC Mauricio Claver-Carone said. Though polls suggest that most Americans believe the policy towards Cuba should be lifted. And the Cubans in all this?
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