by Katie Fretland
Eight Cuban American exile groups are demanding that presidential hopeful Barack Obama remove two campaign advisors who were involved in the Elian Gonzalez case.
Representatives of the organizations wrote a letter to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz with a call for Obama to get rid of senior foreign policy advisor Greg Craig and vice presidential vetter Eric Holder.
The groups said the men's role in the campaign is a "great offense" to the Cuban American community.
"As you well know, both these men played prominent roles in what we consider a very dark page in the history of the Cuban exile community - the forced return of Elian Gonzalez to the communist island to live in tyranny," the letter states.
Craig represented Elian's father in a battle over custody of the child. Holder was deputy U.S. attorney general when Elian was ordered to return to Cuba.
In 1999, Elian crossed from Cuba to the United States in a small boat, losing his mother during the trip. In 2000, gun-wielding government agents removed Elian from his relatives' Miami home.
Read more in the Swamp about how Elian Gonzalez remains a factor in Florida.
Continue reading for a copy of the letter to Nelson, Menendez and Diaz:
Open Letter to Florida Senator Bill Nelson, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and Miami Mayor Manny Díaz
As representatives of Cuban American exile organizations, we reach out to you as our friend and elected representative to bring your attention to a situation that is of profound concern to us. We are deeply troubled by the continued presence of senior adviser Greg Craig and vice presidential screener Eric Holder on Senator Barack Obama's campaign. That one of these men is advising Barack Obama on foreign policy issues and one is helping select his vice presidential running mate is a great offense to the Cuban American community.
As you well know, both these men played prominent roles in what we consider a very dark page in the history of the Cuban exile community - the forced return of Elian Gonzalez to the communist island to live in tyranny.
Just a few days ago, we saw the painful image of a now l4 year old Elian Gonzalez joining Cuba's Communist Youth. It was just eight years ago the same child was forcibly taken from his new home in Miami and sent back to Cuba. While Elian's mother gave her life fleeing Castro's oppressive regime to bring her child to freedom in America, her ultimate sacrifice turned out to be in vain.
Eric Holder defended and played a role in Elian's seizure by the Justice Department, and the unnecessary use of brute force by armed government agents, to send the child back to the country his mother had tried so hard for them to escape from.
Greg Craig is equally, if not more, culpable. Although he might have been officially hired by a church group to represent Elian's father, Greg Craig was actually benefitting Fidel Castro and his regime.
Given the relationship of Greg Craig with the Castro regime and his advisory role with Senator Obama, it is not surprising that Senator Obama would propose meeting without preconditions with Raul Castro, another affront to the Cuban-American community.
What is most concerning is that Holder and Craig remain on Obama's team, even after he was informed of their involvement in the Elian Gonzalez case. It is cause for indignation that these men sit so closely to a presidential contender while our families, friends and neighbors 90 miles to the South are held captive by a tyrannical regime.
Had it not been for the actions of these two men, lending themselves as instruments to Fidel Castro, Elian could today be enjoying the freedom his mother died to provide for him.
You know only too well, how divisive and hurtful the Elian experience was for the Cuban-American community. You also know that it demonstrates a shocking level of political insensitivity towards the Cuban American community for Senator Obama to have these two men play such important roles in his campaign. Taking into consideration Senator Obama's lack of experience and knowledge of foreign policy, particularly as it relates to Latin America and Cuba, the role of advisors becomes that much more important. That those advisors would be of the ilk of Greg Craig and Eric Holder is unacceptable.
We look upon you to speak for us and carry our message. We ask that you condition your support of Senator Obama and any activities on behalf of his campaign on Senator Obama, immediately severing ties with Eric Holder and Greg Craig.
When asked recently whether Elian should have been deported to Cuba, Senator Obama brushed the ordeal off as being in the past, stating "that was eight years ago and obviously it was a wrenching situation for the families involved. But I'm running for president in 2008... " Sadly, Elian Gonzalez is not the past. His mother's sacrifice is not the past. The millions of people who still today live under an oppressive government that daily violates their human rights, is not the past. We fight for Cuba's freedom today and every day. The fight for freedom for the Cuban people is for us the here and now, part of our daily lives.
We ask you to step forward and demonstrate the respect you have always shown us, the respect that Senator Obama has neglected to show our community and the rest of the country. It is our hope that Senator Obama would show you more respect and deference than he has shown our community until now. He would be well served to take your advice and not that of Eric Holder and Greg Craig. It is our sincere hope that you will counsel him to immediately ask for the resignations of Eric Holder and Greg Craig.
Miami, Florida
July 8, 2008
Máximo Cruz
Brigada de Asalto 2506
Sylvia Iriondo
MAR por Cuba
Alfredo García Menocal
Consejo del Presidio Político Cubano
Mario Echevarría
Municipios de Cuba en el Exilio
Dr. Alberto M. Hernández
Consejo por la Libertad de Cuba
Rodolfo S. San Román
Presidio Político Histórico
Casa del Preso
Julio Cabarga
Junta Patriótica
Frank Alonso
Unidad Cubana
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Comments
Who the heck do these Republicans think they are? This is America, not Cuba!! It is understandable, why they want to dictate to Senator Obama, who they want on his staff and who they don't !! As a matter of fact, as bad as the Republicans looked in trying to separate a son from his father, for political points, I don't blame them from trying to remove the evidence of their real anti-family position on that and many more issues !!! Want more of this fascism and incompetence, vote Republican!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | July 10, 2008 2:51 PM
I find it comical that the GOP has such rabid contempt for Spanish speakers unless of course they are told they are from Cuba. After being told this they shut up their "This is America, speak English!" rants aimed at other Spanish speakers.
Posted by: jo | July 10, 2008 3:01 PM
As well they should. Obama's, of course, free to keep these two Casto-enablers on his staff, just like every Cuban-American voter is free to vote against him because of his insensitivity. His mother's sacrifice so that her son could enjoy the American dream away from a totalitarian dictatorship is not the past.
Posted by: Jeff | July 10, 2008 3:03 PM
My Father-in-law just passed away and he was an exiled Cuban lawyer and dentist - part of the great "brain drain" post-Castro. We well remember the Elian debacle and the part the Clinton Adminsitration and Janet Reno and her jack-booted thugs played in sending him back to a Communist country. Elian's Mother sacrified her life to bring Elian to freedom, yet the thugs sent him back to a life of brainwashing, little red militia and life of suppression. The Cubans in America have a long memory, and my family will never be voting for any Democrat, especially Obama.
Posted by: Christy | July 10, 2008 3:22 PM
I'm against oppressive regimes, but I am also baffled those who spout hot air and don't go back and fight the oppressors. I just wonder how many of those Cuban "nationalists" would go back to Cuba if the political climate changed? Not a chance any of them, since they have already created a Spanish-speaking "little Havana" in America.
Obama should not be pressured by these self-serving, so-called patriots of Cuba. Why weren't they concerned with Elain in the last 8 years, or is this an opportune moment to try to get some clout for their own agendas? Obama - a word of advice - a child belongs with his parent, whether that parent is in America, Cuba or the North Pole. Unless the parent shows that he is unfit to parent, then intervention is warranted; otherwise, these busybody "power wanna-bes need to take care of their own families in this blessed country and let Obama run his own campaign as he sees fit.
Posted by: the truth | July 10, 2008 3:31 PM
If Obama is comes down to Miami, as he has, claiming his policy toward Cuba will be about "Libertad" in attempt to get Cuban votes then those Cuban voters have a right to ask why he has such close advisers that collaborated in turning a boy over to the castro regime so that fidel could have a propaganda victory and a human trophy.
If McCain had an adviser that was an enabler of apartheid south Africa would there not be outrage?
Get over yourself Don.
Posted by: Henry Gomez | July 10, 2008 3:46 PM
Republican family values: The state terminating parental rights for political reasons.
How outraged would they be if Castro kept an Cuban-American child in Cuba against the will of it surviving parent living in America?
Posted by: Meg | July 10, 2008 4:55 PM
Elian's Mother sacrified her life to bring Elian to freedom, yet the thugs sent him back to a life of brainwashing, little red militia and life of suppression.
Posted by: Christy | July 10, 2008 3:22 PM
democrats don't get it. They never do. Freedom is such a nebulous concept for them. Thanks, Christy.
Posted by: Django Scott - Houston Tx | July 10, 2008 5:11 PM
democrats don't get it. They never do. Freedom is such a nebulous concept for them. Thanks, Christy.
Posted by: Django Scott - Houston Tx | July 10, 2008 5:11 PM
***********************************
Like the freedom the Repugnants brought to Iraq, so filled with righteous motives - tell that to the thousands of orphans that don't even have a father or mother to go home to. Where is your righteous indignation for these children ?
Repugnants definition of freedom: keep the wealthy in charge; damn the poor, and exploit third world nations promising democracy while pillaging their natural resources (oil) for gain..
Posted by: the truth | July 10, 2008 5:47 PM
Here's what we should do. Any child that enters the US from any country with a repressive government should be taken away from their parents in the name of freedom. If a Saudi couple with kids comes, seize the children. If a youth sports team from China comes, we should not allow any of the children to return to their parents. Venezuala, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, take all their kids the minute they step foot in the US. Nothing says Freedom like holding children against the will of the parents.
Posted by: Jon | July 10, 2008 5:53 PM
Here's what we should do. Any child that enters the US from any country with a repressive government should be taken away from their parents in the name of freedom. If a Saudi couple with kids comes, seize the children. If a youth sports team from China comes, we should not allow any of the children to return to their parents. Venezuala, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, take all their kids the minute they step foot in the US. Nothing says Freedom like holding children against the will of the parents.
Posted by: Jon | July 10, 2008 5:53 PM
Jon- you seem to have trouble with nuance- if any of your examples include a parent that intentionally brought their child here and died in the attempt then you may have a point..
Elian's mother brought her child here to live-she died in that attempt. Sending him back to Cuba was against her will...
Posted by: heartburn | July 10, 2008 6:07 PM
Elian Gonzalez' mother was a kidnapper. Sorry, but that's the reality of this situation. His father had joint custody of the child. She took Elian out of the country with out the fathers permission or consent. That's kidnapping. It's tragic that she died, and her heart may have been in the right place, but that just doesn't change the fact that she was kidnapping the child.
Posted by: Marshall | July 10, 2008 7:06 PM
abaho los gusanos
Posted by: America | July 10, 2008 10:08 PM
Please, the intent of Elian's mother was crystal clear. Somehow the "parent's rights" democrats always leave that parent out of their argument. Her relatives here in the US were willing and able to carry out her will, too. Sure, separating a child from his only surviving parent is a shame, but today that child is a card-carrying communist because of the decision the Clinton administration made. That's not the opportunity his mother risked her life and died for and it's not what an entire half of his family wanted to happen to him. Cuban-Americans, especially the ones that live in Miami, have every right to hold Holder and Craig culpable for their actions at the ballot box.
Posted by: Jeff | July 10, 2008 11:33 PM
Greg Craig and Eric Holder are the kind of Marxist sympathisers that Obama prefers.Christy is right she knows these Communists from Cuba.
The DNC took Elian back to Cuba to make Fidel feel better.The National Mehtodist Church another liberal group paid Craigs legal expenses think about that if they ask you for money Sunday.
This case was not about parental rights it was about Janet Reno and Bill Clinton's macho to bring Federal marshals to use guns to take Elian from his kind and loving uncle. Ellen Gonzalez was a wonderful woman who loved her son and brought him to freedom and away from Elian's Communist fahther a lackluster Commie in Cuba.
This is what B Hussein Obama stands for. I'm glad he has Greg Craig and Holder so we can see an Obama Presidency a rerun of a liberal Presidency. In1993, the highest tax increase in History was signed into law including taxing American seniors on Social Security income the first ever tax that FDR said would never ever happen in the best interest of seniors. Clinton like Obama was an Indian giver taking back in tax from Social Security benefits. Obama keep these guys we can keep an eye on you much better with them on your staff.
Don't be fooled by Caroline Kennedy Obama is no JFK. JFK cut taxes.With Obama there will not be a Camelot. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | July 11, 2008 9:55 AM
An offense to the Cuban-American Community?They better say an offense to the Cuban anti-family community.Elian was supposed to be with his father and his family if his mom was no longer in this world not with some relatives that were only looking for fame and money..That's a reality and anyone that think differently is because they have no kids and are not thinking from a parent point of view.That's a reality.
Posted by: Estela | July 14, 2008 8:23 PM