Even More Flip-Flops: McCain's Shifting Positions on "Roadmap" for Cuba

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 00:44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08tXAb6Uwzs   Posted on YouTube: May 20, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 20, 2008 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 886

 
In Florida on May 20th, 2008, Senator McCain went on the attack instead of squaring his old positions on relations with Cuba. McCain accuses Senator Obama of "shifted positions" and criticizes him for favoring "easing the embargo, not lifting it." Then McCain said, "He also wants to sit down unconditionally for a presidential meeting with Raul Castro. These steps would send the worst possible signal to Cuba's dictators -- there is no need to undertake fundamental reforms, they can simply wait for a unilateral change in US policy. I believe we should give hope to the Cuban people, not to the Castro regime. My administration will press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions, and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections. The embargo must stay in place until these basic elements of democratic society are met."

Bur on Hardball on May 1st, 2000, McCain was asked by Chris Matthews what he thought about relations with Cuba, and he said he was open to concessions and a "a road map for negotiations," saying that only the first thing that he would demand would be that the Cuban regime empty its political prisons...

MATTHEWS: "What do your friends -- you're big on relations with Vietnam and economic and diplomatic ties and really good ties. What about Cuba? Where should we go with that other communist country?"

MCCAIN: I'd be willing to do the same thing we did with Vietnam. We offered the Vietnamese a road map that if they did certain things, we'd do certain things. If they got out of Cambodia, we would lift certain restrictions. If they...

MATTHEWS: What would be the first demand on Cuba? Elections?

MCCAIN: No, I think the first demand would be to empty their political prisons.

MATTHEWS: Why? If they do that, then we could talk?

MCCAIN: Yes. I think so. I think we could at least set up a road map for negotiations. But I'm not sure Castro wants to do that. The Vietnamese were desperate for economic betterment. Castro doesn't seem to be that interested."