Bush: Kerry Soft on Cuba

Bush: Kerry Soft on Cuba

NewsMax Wires
Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004

MIAMI -- President Bush wooed the state that decided the 2000 election with a pledge Friday to seek $2 billion more for hurricane recovery, and launched a fresh attack on Sen. John Kerry's commitment to ousting Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Thousands of Cuban-Americans filled the indoor arena where Bush spoke, part of a subtle effort by Bush to back the Senate candidacy of Mel Martinez, his former housing secretary. The Cuban-born Martinez is in a contest with fellow Republican Bill McCollum. The primary is Tuesday.

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The audience erupted in cheers when the president declared: "The people of Cuba should be free from the tyrant. And I believe that enforcing the embargo is a necessary part of that strategy."

Speaking at a rally, the president said Kerry had flip-flopped on the Helms-Burton Act signed by President Clinton in 1996 that tightened the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.

Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said Kerry had voted for Helms-Burton twice but voted against the final bill because he objected to certain provisions. Singer did not elaborate on the language Kerry opposed.

Friday was Bush's third Florida visit this month, and another is planned after the GOP convention.

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