Debaters spar over Cuba policy
The Democrats appear in the first TV debate in Spanish.
By DAVID DECAMP, Times Staff Writer
Published September 10, 2007
CORAL GABLES - In any language, diplomatic relations with Cuba can cause sidestepping by Democrats seeking the White House.
At the nation's first televised presidential debate in Spanish, Sen. Hillary Clinton demonstrated this Sunday. Asked about the future of Florida's island neighbor without ailing dictator Fidel Castro, Clinton reflected on her husband's presidency.
Then she deflected the issue to President Bush.
In 1994, she said, "there was only one anti-democratic, anti-American leader in the hemisphere, namely Castro. Look at what we face today because of the misguided, bullying policies of this president."
"So let's reverse it and get ready for freedom in Cuba!" she said to applause.
In contrast, competitor Chris Dodd called for the end to the longtime embargo on the country. He also said he would lift travel restrictions.
"Fifty years of this policy, of the embargo has basically left the same man in power, the same repressive politics, an economy that's been failing in the country," said Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said he might lift the embargo "but only after Fidel Castro releases political prisoners."
Cuba became just one of the Latino focal points during the debate, which was broadcast on the Univision channel, the nation's largest Hispanic network. While seven of the eight Democrats participated - Sen. Joe Biden did not - a similar Republican event was nixed for next Sunday.
Only Sen. John McCain had agreed to attend, though organizers hope to pull off a GOP debate another time.
The Hispanic vote represents an influential bloc, particularly in Florida, because of explosive Latino population growth. About 12 percent of the Florida electorate is Hispanic, enough to swing the state.
Once, the ardent antagonism of Castro by Cuban-Americans in South Florida put the Hispanic vote in the Republican column. But growing numbers of Puerto Rican and other non-Cuban Hispanics have changed the dynamic, giving Democrats hope.
Issues involving Cuba remain central to Florida's Hispanic voters, but so do bread-and-butter topics like education. And immigration law has taken a large role, too.
The event came after the Democratic candidates, with the exception of Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Sen. Mike Gravel, pledged not to campaign in Florida because of the state's early presidential primary Jan. 29.
That date violated Democratic Party rules on the voting schedule, threatening to leave Florida Democrats with no delegates to decide their party's eventual nomination.
The candidates were not asked about the dispute, but supporters said afterward they hoped a resolution could be found. Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman said she was hopeful a "creative" solution would come within the month.
Inside the debate hall at the University of Miami, however, the focus was clearly on impressing Latino voters.
The rules called for the candidates to answer in English. Only two, Dodd and Richardson, himself Hispanic, speak fluent Spanish. Questions were asked in Spanish, then translated into English.
That didn't stop Dodd or Richardson from dropping Spanish into their initial comments. Richardson admonished the debate organizers for not allowing Latino voters to hear answers in Spanish.
The candidates promised immediate action on immigration, promising ways for undocumented workers to gain legal residency. But Dodd, Clinton and Barack Obamawere pressed on their votes supporting the construction of a barrier on the U.S.-Mexican border. Why there, and not Canada, too?
That prompted a display of Obama's own side-step.
"Well, I have been a consistent champion of comprehensive immigration reform," the senator from Illinois said, without addressing the wall. "And keep in mind that my father came to this country from a small village in Africa because he was looking for opportunity."
David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or 800 333-7505, ext. 6232.