NDN Blog

FIU releases survey of Cuban Americans

Florida International University released a new poll of Cuban Americans today. According to an article in the Miami Herald covering the survey, this is the eighth such poll in 16 years, and organizers have tried to ask questions consistent over time to get a clearer picture of how attitudes are evolving. From the poll's findings:

The survey showed 55.2 percent of those polled favor "unrestricted" travel to Cuba, though a majority of those registered to vote opposed the option, and support for the embargo was at the lowest level since the survey was launched in 1991.

The results also show a community divided in opinions on Havana depending on the year of arrival, skeptical that a quick change will happen on the island, and attitudes that seem contradictory: A narrow majority favors a U.S. invasion of Cuba, but a bigger majority supports a restoration of diplomatic ties between Havana and Washington.

The FIU poll reveals similar findings to a poll NDN conducted in October of 2006. You can view that here.

On immigration the GOP chooses politics over progress

In this time of deep partisanship in Washington, there has been one issue where the President, Senator McCain, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, the Catholic Church, the Chamber of Commerce, numerous labor unions and many other grassroots groups were able to find common cause and work together: the McCain-Kennedy approach to comprehensive immigration reform that passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support in 2006.

Unfortunately, we've now learned that once again Republican leaders have chosen politics over progress, and have walked away from this remarkable coalition and sensible approach. In news articles that have run this morning it is clear the Senate Republicans and the White House will now offer a new bill, one that abandons the smart principles of McCain-Kennedy, and that makes clear the President's support for comprehensive immigration reform has only been a spirited set of hollow promises.

Years of work went into crafting the McCain-Kennedy approach. It has made great progress through Congress. It has a deep and broad coalition behind it. Democratic Congressional leaders in both chambers have made it clear that passing this bill this year is a very high priority (see video from our recent event with leaders from both chambers reiterating their support). The new and flawed Republican approach unravels this coalition, and has dealt a severe blow to those hoping to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year.

The Republicans lost power in 2006 because their government did not produced the results they had promised and had left many important challenges left unmet. At NDN, we believe the American people sent a clear message to Washington to stop playing politics and start focusing on solving a daunting set of 21st century challenges. On this issue of immigration reform, once again the Republicans have chosen to listen more to their partisans than the American people, and have walked away from a good and sensible bipartisan solution to a difficult national challenge.

AP: Richardson's roots separate him from other candidates

In case you missed it, I was quoted in this AP article on how Governor Bill Richardson's Hispanic roots help separate him from the other 2008 presidential candidates, saying:

Joe Garcia, executive vice president of the nonprofit NDN, formerly known as the New Democratic Network, said Richardson is "what the new Democratic Party will look like" as it works to attract Hispanics and make inroads in the West.

"I think he offers tremendous opportunity for the growth of the party in areas where the party needs to grow," the Miami activist said.

For more information on NDN's coverage of the 2008 Presidential election, click here.

Pictures from today's Forum

Thanks, everyone, for coming to this morning's event. I thought it was very successful and wanted to share some pictures with you. Below are two and the rest are here.

 

Finding a middle ground

Check out this article in The Hill which features a quote from me on how easing travel restrictions on Cuban Americans is a good way to find middle ground with them:

Garcia said Democrats need to find common ground with Cuban-Americans, noting that easing travel restrictions is a way to do that. Lifting the entire travel ban would be overreaching, he said. “We’ve got to do this incrementally,” he said.

Update: New Congress emboldens Cuban Democrats

Following up on the article that ran in the Miami Herald, here's the interview I did on the Jim Defede Show.

Also, I am quoted in an article from today's El Nuevo Herald discussing legislation introduced by Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA). The bill, entitled "The Cuban-American Family Rights Restoration Act," would allow Cuban Americans to visit family and loved ones in Cuba, without restrictions. As I say:

"Cubans themselves must be the agents of change. Almost five decades of status quo politics have only served to divide families and ensure the stability of the regime."

For information on how these travel restrictions are viewed in the community, check out NDN's poll of Cuban Americans. Also, be sure to check out After Fidel: A New Day for America's Relations with Cuba and Latin America? an NDN forum to be held next Wednesday, February 7. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

New Congress emboldens Cuban Democrats

Be sure to read this article from the Miami Herald that takes a look at how Democratic Cuban-Americans, like me, are engaging our community. I'm quoted, saying:

Joe Garcia, vice president of the New Democrat Network, said the Bush administration hobbled the Republican Party by ``selling itself out to the ultra-right.''

''What I think you are going to find from Democrats is they are going to look to engage the Cuban-American community for the solution,'' Garcia said.

NDN conducted the poll discussed in the article. To view it, visit our website. Also, if you're in DC next week, be sure to come to our forum, After Fidel: A New Day for America's relations with Cuba and Latin America? And if you have a chance, log on to Jim Defede's website later today to hear an interview I did this morning.

Post-Castro Cuba: A New Day for American Relations with Cuba and Latin America?

With Fidel Castro’s health failing, questions about Cuba’s future are being asked throughout the world.

To take a look at whether the imminent end of the Fidel era means a new day for America's foreign policy for this hemisphere, NDN’s Hispanic Strategy Center has put together a panel of experts including Congressman Bill Delahunt and Director of the Latin America Studies Council on Foreign Relations Julia Sweig.  

Joe Garcia, Director of NDN's Hispanic Strategy Center, will also be discussing the results of a poll NDN has recently conducted, the first on Cuban-Americans since Castro handed over power to his brother, which has insight into the views of this important community.

Post-Castro Cuba: A New Day for American Relations with Cuba and Latin America?

Wednesday, February 7th

8:30am-10:00am

Phoenix Park Hotel

520 North Capitol Street, NW 

Click here to RSVP.  Please contact Tracy Leaman at tleaman@ndn.org or 202-842-7213 with any questions.

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