Will Kerry support Chavez now?

[borat sagdiyev]

or will he claim fraud?

"Hopefully, from this day on Washington will respect the government and people of Venezuela," Chavez boomed from the balcony.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. wait til after he is elected president

then we'll see

[markus]

2. He should hold Chavez up as an example to Castro

How they hell does the GOP spin that? And it would undermine the GOP among the Florida Cubans.

Discuss.

[Vladimir]

3. I disagree

for two reasons: firstly, because I don't think it would be politically prudent - the Florida Cubans are hardly going to like Chavez better than they like Castro. And secondly, I find it misguided to chastize Castro - Cuba is a democracy of sorts, just not a liberal or Bolivarean democracy. Cubans get a lot of say on budgetary matters for example, whether through local assemblies and comittees or through parliamentary elections.

[markus]

4. While that's all lovely, in the context of an American election

stumping for a referendum on the Cuban revolution would be politically wise.

If most Cubans are mostly happey, they Castro et al would win.

If not, then they would have to begin to figure out how the hell they're going to run the country when Castro is gone.

This Cold Warrior staring match between Cuba and the US is doing no one in Cuba much good, except the entrenched politicla leadership.

Cuba could be a democratic, socialist economy nation with a thriving tourist and other industries, if they move past the Cold War.

We need an American president who can make that happen.

[ret5hd]

5. Who needs to move past the cold war?

Lets see, canadian, french, germans, mexicans, hell practically everyone but u.s. citizens can and do travel and vacation there. seems to me WE are the ones that need to get over the cold war.

[Mika]

6. Cubans have overwhelmingly voted their support for the revolution

Since 1976.


Cuba is democratic and does have a thriving tourism industry (its just that Americans are banned by the US gov from seeing the place for themselves).


Its the USA that keeps Cuba at arms length and out of touch from Americans, not Cuba.



Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall of ignorance and hate!

[Vladimir]

9. I don't think its any business

of an American president's to make Cuba move past anything. Its that kind of diplay of arrogance that is making America feared and loathed - not liked - the world over.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Kerry should say:

The people of Venezuela have spoken and have chosen to retain Hugo Chávez as their President. I respect their decision and I call on Mr. Bush to do likewise.

That wouldn't be too hard, would it?

[stickdog]

8. Either way we win. Either Kerry supports Chavez or Kerry claims that BBV

is inherently untrustworthy.

So expect him to say nothing.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. EXpect a statement crafted to be vaporous yet not scare the swing voter

Ask any strategist.