Below: Line item response on Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus letter.
The Honorable Barack Obama March 30th, 2009
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Given our commitment to transform America for the 21st Century. I’m writing you in direct response to a letter sent to you by the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. The timing of Vice President Joe Biden declaring the U.S. will not lift the embargo on Cuba seems suspect of old boy backroom politics U.S. citizens want elected to eradicated.
First and foremost, you must know the signers of the letter do not represent the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans in the United State as they claim. They also do not represent the majority of Americans.
I’m a proud US citizen whose immigrant story is similar to millions of people. I was born in Cuba, my single mother raised me, I graduated from Rutgers University and I’m self-employed working to fulfill the American dream providing for my wife and children.
My Cuban exiled mother, Rufina, died in my hands of ovarian Cancer at the age of 54. After 38 years in America, my mother never saw her brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends in Cuba because of US. Cuba policies.
My grandmother, Lazara, is 88 years old. She had to sneak illegally into Cuba three times in one year during the Bush presidency to see her dying son, Ruperto. She saw my uncle a few days before he died. Two of my grandmother’s children died never seeing each other for 38 years. My remaining family is literally separated and destroyed physically due to failed U.S. Policies with Cuba.
We know that millions of people have had their families and friendship broken by Cuban and U.S. politicians alike. People on both sides of the policy have endured the heavy and brutal hand of politics from both countries. With all that, as a country, America can only be responsible and transform our own policies and actions.
Much of the content in The Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus letter provides misrepresentations, misleading statements and in some cases lies crafted to influence you towards continuing another US presidential term of failed policies with Cuba.
The letter signers represent 50 years of failed practices toward Cuba. It is publicly known some of the signers and their colleagues are viewed in the halls of congress for being notorious political wolves, trading and swapping votes to maintain and enforce their agendas against Cuba. It is also well known to the public, the letter signers use lobbyist monies for campaign donations, favors and whatever influence necessary to obtain “outsourced” congressional and senatorial anti-Cuba votes from many representatives. Simply said, the list of politicians who seemly vote against Cuba for a campaign donation is historically long and spreads from coast to coast, north and south.
The bottom-line is the signors have historically high-jacked U.S. Policy towards Cuba, in no way representing the overwhelming anti-embargo on Cuba will of U.S. citizens.
Their deceptive letter demonstrates they do not represent the best interest of the United States, they do not symbolize the best interest of Cuban-Americans and they certainly do not stand for the best interest of the people in Cuba.
The historical and current facts and realities of the U.S. embargo on Cuba demonstrate the many failures. Decade after decade The United Nations votes overwhelming to abolish the embargo against Cuba. We all know your presidential election victory in Florida, especially in Miami proved that local communities also desire an end to the embargo on Cuba.
I ask you to publicly bring your transparency mandate to U.S. Cuba policies and avoid being another presidential administration who is lied to, coerced and high-jacked into supporting and enforcing 50 years of failed US policies toward Cuba.
We the people want the United States to abolish the embargo on Cuba. We ask and trust, that you and your staff, as well as Congress and the Senate will continue toward a new 21st Century integrity for America. Please continue your path to break and transforms a proven 50-year history of failure with Cuba, respect the will of the American citizen and create unity with the world.
Please support others and me in giving our grandparents open access to our families and friends in Cuba during their remaining golden years, our life time and our children’s future.
I look forward to your response. Until them I remain...
“Committed to your Success”
Luis Moro
EveryThingCUBA.com
LuisMoroProductions.com
Below: Line item response on Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus letter.
March 30th, 2009.
To U.S. Citizens.
On March 24th, 2009 the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus sent President Barack Obama a public letter. Below is my line item response.
What gives me a voice on this issue?
I’m a U.S. Citizen. I was born in Cuba, immigrated to the United States via Mexico, raised by my mother, graduated Rutgers University, lettered three years of football. I’m an award winning filmmaker, acknowledged Hollywood writer. I’m the first and only American to make a full-length feature film in Cuba in the last fifty years.
I’m also married, raising five kids and working to fulfill the American dream. My mother died never seeing her family in 38 years because of the embargo on Cuba. My 88 year old grandmother has had to sneak into Cuba three time to see her dying son. He’s also now dead.
I have campaigned and raised monies for both Senator Bob Menendez and Congressman Albio Sires. We grew up in the same community. We have thousands of mutual friends and associates. I support most of their work, but I am 100% in disagreement with their allegiance and representations regarding U.S. Cuba policies.
The bottom-line is, the claims by the Cuba Democracy Caucus members sent to the President of The United states border perjury. They present false claims and assumptions in order to continue their failed 50 years of in effective policies towards Cuba.
As a Cuban-American citizen of The United States, I’m asking our government, media and fellow citizens to stand-up with no retreat to abolish the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
Much more could be said, and will be supported by relentless actions toward transforming our failed U.S. history of policies toward Cuba.
I look forward to your actions towards abolishing the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
Luis Moro
U.S. Citizen
CONGRESSIONAL CUBA DEMOCRACY CAUCUS LETTER
The following are the signers representing the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus.
Lincoln Díaz-Balart (R-FL)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Kendrick Meek (D-FL)
Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)
Albio Sires (D-NJ)
Robert Andrews (D-NJ)
Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ),
My responses are in bold following the congress member’s claims.
March 24, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
1) As Members of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus, who represent the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans in the United States, we would like to briefly share with you some thoughts concerning U.S. Cuba policy.
LUIS MORO REPSONSE: On what factual basis do they make this claim?
The signers of this letter do not represent the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans in the United States. They do not represent any of the Cubans outside the United States and they certainly do not represent the interest or overwhelming desire of the Cubans in Cuba.
America’s mandate for change was clearly demonstrated in Obama’s democratic victory in the Florida Republican districts of Ros-Lehtinen of 58% for Obama, Mario Diaz-Balart 52% for Obama, and Lincoln Diaz-Balart 67% for Obama. These incumbent Florida signers barely won their reelection against under funded, lesser known candidates.
Overall the Florida Cuban-American community voted for Obama’s promise of change with Broward delivering 67% of voters, Miami-Date delivering 58% of voters, Monroe delivering 52% and Palm Beach delivering 62%.
The state of Florida delivered 27 uncontested electoral votes to Obama’s promise of change, with McCain’s continued enforcement of the Embargo on Cuba policies obtaining zero electoral votes.
New Jersey’s Bob Menendez and Albio Sires districts, in particular Hudson County delivered 73% voter turnout for Obama. NJ provided 15 uncontested electoral votes for Obama.
On what factual basis does the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus claim to represent the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans?
Congressional letter continued...
2) Just 90 miles from our shores, extraordinary men and women are struggling daily against a brutal 50 year-old dictatorship and look to this great nation for solidarity.
LUIS MORO REPSONSE: As it’s known, the signers of this letter do not have any immediate family in Cuba as I do or the people effected by their actions. The majority of Cubans in America and Cuba have not received any meaningful solidarity results in 50 years from U.S. Politicians.
Within our own U.S. borders extraordinary men and women are struggling daily against a brutal 50 year-old U.S. policy toward Cuba that has separated and destroyed families and friends who expected Cuban-American politicians to provide solidarity with Cuba.
U.S. politicians have failed and continue to fail with our U.S. policies toward Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
3) Your presidency comes at a decisive moment for Cuba. You will have an extraordinary opportunity to assist the Cuban people in finally achieving their freedom.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: Yes President Barack Obama has this extraordinary opportunity as did every past president for the last 50 years.
It has been the leadership and guidance of the signers of this letter and their counter parts who have equally failed over 50 years. Ultimately the only people responsible for their own freedom are the people living in Cuba.
The U.S. needs to simply get out of the way of Cubans in Cuba governing themselves.
Congressional letter continued...
Cuba Measures in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriation Act
4) We agree with the interpretation of the general license for agricultural travel and the definition of cash-in-advance requiring payment before shipment from U.S. ports, as outlined in Secretary Timothy Geithner's March 9, 2009 letters to U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Bob Menendez.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: Any “agreement of interpretation” from congressional leaders who continue to support 50 years worth of failed policies against Cuba need to be questioned and reviewed with due diligence, especially given their proven history of failed policies, actions and intent toward Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
5) However, in regard to Cuban American travel, we are troubled by the explanation in the "Guidance on Implementation of Cuba Travel and Trade-Related Provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009” that the general license grants "unlimited" lengths of stay in Cuba.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: As American citizens, we have the right to travel around the world as long as we follow existing citizenship/visa travel laws that apply to all Americans. Excluding Cuba from existing U.S. laws is simply continuing the failed policies of the last 50 years.
Congressional letter continued...
6) We believe that this will serve to channel U.S. taxpayer dollars directly to the regime because retirees and Supplemental Security Income recipients could remain on the island indefinitely while collecting U.S. taxpayer-provided benefits.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: America has existing Social Security Laws as well as laws related to retirees and how they decide to spend their lives and earning. We as a country do not need any more politically motivated laws on U.S. citizens, especially with the intent of preventing new U.S.-Cuba travel policy changes.
Congressional letter continued...
u.s. Sanctions
7) The goal of freedom for the Cuban people has long been a U.S. policy of state, supported by Administrations and Congresses of both political parties.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: This statement is an outright lie and it’s appalling that the signers of this letter would present this to President Barack Obama as truth.
U.S.-Cuba policy has been high-jacked by self interest politicians and anti Cuba lobbyist alike. It is no secret to the American people and politicians that U.S.-Cuba policies are dictated by vote swapping, vote trading and cash campaign donations.
The will and desire of the American people has been sold off to Cuban lobbyist. The world knows the leaders of U.S. political abuse towards Cuba are Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart and Robert Menendez.
Congressional letter continued...
8) This U.S. policy of state becomes more important each day with the serious illness of Fidel Castro, the ultimate power in the very personalized totalitarian Cuban dyarchy.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: The U.S. Policy of state with Cuba has always been of most importance for Cuba-Americans who where born in Cuba, have family in Cuba and have lost half a century of life with friends and families due to failed U.S. policies and practices toward Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
9) In a bipartisan fashion Administrations and Congresses have insisted that before the U.S. makes any concessions to the Cuban regime, all political prisoners must be freed, all political parties, the free press and labor unions legalized, and internationally supervised elections scheduled.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: It is false to claim this is a bipartisan demand. It is a wish many people want. But the facts remain, it’s a demand that has not been honored in Cuban history by Castro and previous dictators or Cuban presidents alike. Ironically some of the dictators and associates in power prior to Castro are direct relatives to some of the members of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus.
It must be noted that when Cuban-American Journalist Max Lesnik was able to get a bus load of Cuban political prisoners freed to the United States, the anti Cuban lobbyist (some who continue to be supporters of the signors of this letter), proceeded by bombing Mr. Lesnik’s Miami business, bombing Miami Police offices and delivering and fulfilling on death threats to many more.
Congressional letter continued...
10) Any easing of sanctions, without demanding any concessions lessening the oppression of the people by the regime, will serve to strengthen the dictatorship and demoralize the Cuban people.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: Another false statement with baseless assumptions. One thing that is certain, the Cuban people on the island have not been demoralized by Fidel Castro or the Cuban-American politicians who continue to claim they speak for the Cuban people everywhere.
The fact is American, Cuban and global citizens are not demoralized by the acts of U.S. politicians who continue failed paths. We in fact only have compassion for their own demoralizing behavior which include selling themselves for cash contributions, plus vote swapping and vote trading pretending to embody the people of the United States.
Congressional letter continued...
Aid to the Pro-Democracy Movement
11) As you will recall, Congress, by strong bi-partisan majorities, recently appropriated a significant increase in U.S. aid to the pro-democracy movement in Cuba.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: As a Cuban-American citizen, I would like to know and see how any of the funds ever budgeted for aid to the pro-democracy movement in Cuba actually made a difference in Cuba or The United States.
Congressional letter continued...
12) Congress has also consistently supported funding for Radio and T.V. Marti, which provide the Cuban people with uncensored information that the regime attempts to block, and which also provide pro-democracy activists a vehicle to share their messages throughout the island.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: Again, this document is based on false assumptions that have produced no results. I’ve been to Cuba; Cuban’s are currently watching American programming not self-serving programming from Radio and T.V. Marti.
One would find an audit of the hundreds of millions spent on Radio and T.V. Marti to be a mere profit center for anti-Cuba lobbyist. Radio and T.V. Marti has made no difference in shifting the Cuban government.
Congressional letter continued...
13) Congress was very clear in its intent that the United States should increase aid to the pro-democracy movement inside Cuba. We also look forward to working with you to make certain that U.S. assistance reaches the pro-democracy movement in an efficient and expeditious manner.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: After 50 years of implementing various versions “U.S. assistance to the pro-democracy movement” in Cuba no results have been produced. The money given, the money recipients and the beneficial results are never publicly presented to the people of the United States.
Congressional letter continued...
14) We also look forward to working with you to make certain that Radio and T.V. Marti continue to be funded and improved to better serve the U.S. national interest in a democratic transition for the people of Cuba.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: It is ironic that Radio and T.V. Marti represent capitalism yet get require government funding. It is time to simply cut their funding and let them succeed in an open capitalist market like the majority of Americans do.
Americans who are against the 50 years of failed U.S. Cuba policies are self funded. U.S. national interest will be best served - by U.S. national interest eliminating 50 years of failed policies towards Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
The International Community
15) Too many in the international community are seeking to assist the Cuban dyarchy in its goal of obtaining unilateral concessions from the United States and succeed in its attempt at absolutist succession once Fidel Castro dies.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: The reality is, the majority of The United States citizens are for a transformation of U.S. Cuba policies. The assumptions made on the international communities intent is more of the same by anti-Cuba politicians.
Their claims are not based on facts, but only geared for anti-Cuba lobbyist to control Cuba. The anti-Cuba lobby simply wants to revert back to a Cuba that they and their ancestors controlled. America and the international community want a Cuba that is self determined by it’s own citizens living in Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
16) It is critically important for the international community to receive a clear message that the Obama Administration stands firmly and clearly on behalf of a genuine democratic transition in Cuba, and will not grant the Cuban dictatorship any unilateral concessions.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: Vice-president Joe Biden’s recent comments committing America to a continued failed embargo on Cuba is extremely suspect of continued high-jacking of the will of the American people by back-room politics.
No one is asking for unilateral concessions. The citizens of America and the international community are requesting for a transformation in U.S. Cuba policies.
To do this, we must allow unrestricted travel and commerce with Cuba. We the American people will decide and determine our participation with Cuba. The Cuban people will decide how they will self-determine their own future. We must simply get out of the way – and promote human-to-human contact and commerce between Cuba and the United States.
Congressional letter continued...
17) All our friends in the international community should be urged by your Administration to join the U.S. in demanding free, multi-party elections for Cuba.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: For decades, all our friends in the international community have voted overwhelming in the United Nations to abolish the U.S. Embargo on Cuba. It is the minority Cuban-American politicians and lobbyist that must adapt to the 21st Century. The people of Cuba will determine their electoral destiny.
Congressional letter continued...
Cuba's Political Prisoners
18) The Cuban dictatorship will attempt to use political prisoners as a bargaining tool with your Administration. Please recall how the regime has used political prisoners in the past in this manner, only to detain hundreds more once its immediate goals were reached.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: One can say much about the U.S. and Cuba’s history and recent past when it comes to political prisoners. Please recall how our policies with Cuba dictated by the signors of this letter have failed for 50-years.
We are living in the 21st Century and America, as the greater more developed country must take the first mature step towards reconciliation and transformation with our global relationships. Living, governing and acting based on failed U.S. policies and their negative effects will keep America out of being and providing 21st Century leadership.
The irony of these letter signers “bargaining tool” statement is the degree to which our own U.S. politicians will barter American citizens lives, defer Americas health and well being and devastate the financial security of our nation as a “bargaining tool” against the President of The United States. They will do this in order to maintain 50 years of failed U.S. policies against Cuba.
Congressional letter continued...
19) We will continue to do all we can to bring to light the inhuman conditions suffered by Cuba's political prisoners and to call for their unconditional release.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: We all want this, but should not have it be the reason why millions of people’s families and friendships are destroyed by continuing failed U.S. Cuba policies. The proven road to freedom is uniting, providing and human-to-human contact. Not war, separation or the financial strangling of a nations people.
Congressional letter continued...
20) Your solidarity and advocacy on their behalf is critical, and it can serve as inspiration, not only for the hundreds of thousands of patriots who have been incarcerated for their beliefs, but for the entire Cuban nation.
LUIS MORO REPONSE: We all welcome inspiration for all people, especially warranted patriots of all nations.
It is important to know the signers of this letter consider “Luis Posada Carriles” a patriot even though he confesses to committing terrorist acts in The United States, international terrorism and has bombed a Cuban civilian airline, hotels and murdered hundreds.
To inspire America and Cuba, the U.S. must simply eliminate all the U.S. restrictions that have been instrumental in destroying the Cuban economy, devastating U.S. Cuba relationships between family and friends, and has been the number one platform used to keep the Cuban government in place by it’s own admission.
Congressional letter continued...
21) We would look forward to joining you in a strong demonstration of support for Cuba's freedom.
LUIS MORO RESPONSE: The American people look forward to the signers of this letter joining American citizens and the rest of the world in the 21st Century by abolishing the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
With Best Regards,
Luis Moro
U.S. Citizen
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