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Of course the Senator is not cheering because Robert's political career is partially financed by anti Castro Cubans in Florida. He nearly blew a gaskit when CNN opened a bureau in Havanna in 1996. It's time to get rid of these political relics and the stupid embargo. They have no idea how incredibly dumb they look to the people that they represent.

We had decent relationships with the Hungarians, Czechs, Poles, and Slovaks during the cold war and their soldiers faced ours in Europe. All of these countries had "velvet" revolutions because they weren't over isolated.

So does this mean that the illgeal Cubans will now be deported & wont have a chance to stay in the US anymore?

CUBANS HERE: TIME TO SAY ADI?S TO POLICY
Restrictions not working, but openness may, they say

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

UNION CITY - Cuban-born Americans on Bergenline Avenue yesterday applauded President Obama's decision to lift restrictions on them visiting and sending cash to family members on the island.

Felix Alfonso, 41, owner of El Artisano restaurant on the corner of Bergenline Avenue and 38th Street, said his mother deserves the freedom to send money and visit her twin sister as she pleases.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," Alfonso said. "For the past 50 years the policy toward Cuba has not been effective. The restrictions have not helped anyone, not the United States, not Cubans or Cuban-Americans."

The change in policy is in line with what Obama pledged during his election campaign and a significant break with U.S. policy, which has limited travel to two weeks every three years and limited money that could be transferred.

Obama yesterday lifted all limitations on visits and money that can sent to the island for family members.

Obama also expanded the definition of family members to include uncles, aunts, grandparents, grandchildren and cousins.

The president also announced that U.S. telecommunication companies will be allowed to do business with Cuba.

Another restaurateur, Gabriel Rohaidy, 49, who owns the 41 Lounge and Restaurant on Bergenline Avenue and left Cuba when he was 6 years old, said that opinions have changed among Cuban-Americans like himself.

"Twenty years ago, people would have been against it. They were trying hard to throw Castro out of power, but that hasn't worked," Rohaidy said.

"They need to try something different. They (the U.S. and Cuban government) have to start trying to talk to each other instead of ignoring each other. That has only hurt the Cuban people."

Angel Moatagudo, 68, who came from Cuba in 1980 and last visited his family in 2002, said he pays $1.25 a minute for calls, $15 to send a package to Cuba by mail and $1,000 to fly there.

"It's criminal. The embargo only made everything hard for Cubans," Moatagudo said. "It is necessary to be more open with Cuba. They've done it for China and all the other socialist countries."

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Pols with Cuban ties not cheering
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires had decidedly cool responses yesterday to President Obama's announcement that Cuban-Americans will be allowed unlimited visits and cash transfers to family in Cuba.

Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, said yesterday he's fine with family members being allowed to visit family, but he doesn't want travel restrictions lifted for tourists or business people.

He is also against allowing Cuban-Americans to send unlimited cash to the island, saying upwards of 30 percent of that money is skimmed by the communist government.

"The government charges an exorbitant fee for remittances that ultimately funds and fuels the security and military of the oppressive regime," Menendez said.

Sires, D-West New York, who was born in Cuba, is also disappointed with the announced policy changes. He said the Obama administration should have pushed the Cuban regime harder to release political prisoners and demand other civil rights concessions.

"We did not get anything in return for this," Sires said. "I think it is a gift to the regime that I don't think they deserve, especially for a government with one of the worst human rights records in the world."

CHARLES HACK