Unfortunately for Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek, there is no U.S. Senatorial wild card to be won. Whoever finishes second, loses. Right now Rep. Meek, who’s still running third in the polls and fundraising competition, has been gaining on Gov. Crist to see who will be runner-up to Marco Rubio. Not a politically consoling consolation prize after giving up a safe Congressional seat.
But Meek might yet win if: 1- Crist drops out. 2- It’s discovered that Rubio has a love child by an undocumented alien using Marco’s GOPster credit card. 3- Meek finds a last-minute, media-captivating, game-changing issue that could resonate with core Democrats and true Independents. What could conceivably qualify?
Cue Cuban-American relations.
I know, I know. In fact, yo se. Of course, the prospects seem more daunting than doable. But they’re all a function of politics as usual, which the electorate keeps saying it’s fed up with, not what’s best for the United States, Florida and, if anyone cares, the Cuban people. Why not something that could resonate with voters outside the sovereign state of Little Havana and the disingenuous reach of the usual, exile-community commandos?
With nothing to lose except, well, quid pro quo relations with the Diaz-Balart/Ros-Lehtinen clique, Meek could siphon off much more of the non-Rubio vote, which will be the majority of voters. Turn a three-way fait accompli into a two-way race. Meek vs. Rubio-Crist. Neither of whom would touch the Cold War relic that is the Cuban embargo. Neither of whom would speak up for Americans’ right to travel to Cuba just as they can to, say, Iran. And Meek could go on the record and promise to join Congresswoman Kathy Castor and vote for HR 4645, a bill to lift the travel ban, if it clears the House Foreign Relations Committee. Why not work in some pragmatically gutsy independence instead of relying on party boilerplate, high-profile endorsements and ad hominem ads?
Sure, it’s late in the game, but we would be talking nearly a month of media-dominating red meat and an electorate that largely lives–and votes–in the moment.
And why not grab some low-hanging fruit by doing something expedient to increase economic opportunity in Florida during the Great Recession? Let the other guys defend exile talking points and Cold War atavisms. Among the places that would play well: right here in Tampa Bay, an I-4 Corridor anchor and the political linchpin of the state. The Port of Tampa would be the primest of economic beneficiaries.
Unfettered trade with Cuba would be no panacea, to be sure, but it would help add jobs. Shouldn’t somebody want to be in a position of advocating that?
And if Meek is concerned with appearing soft on a dictator and less than a staunch defender of human rights, there are plenty of counter arguments to provide geopolitical context–and sense.
For openers, note that Cuba doesn’t come close to making our short list of hard-core, democracy-challenged countries that we have normal relations with. From China and Russia to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and virtually every country ending in “stan.” And if we are truly committed to bringing down a dictatorship, the shredding of the Iron Curtain proved instructive. We learned that the best approach was any strategy that maximized the impact of American political and cultural forces on populations yearning for outside contact.
We have issues and history with Cuba, to be sure, but Havana is not a threat, unless it’s drilling for oil in the Florida Straits without any input from us. Our enemy is radical Islam, not dated Fidelismo.
And one other point, which should mean more than ever right now. How important is it to do the right thing?
In terms of playing an economic self-interest card during tumultuous, recessionary times. In terms of sending a positive, geopolitical message to the rest of the world, especially Latin America. In terms of letting Americans regain their right to travel freely. In terms of re-establishing the moral high ground and doing the right, humane thing for all the people who deserve better than luckless life in a time-warped, Marxist basket case.
Surely, this strikes at the core values and enlightened self-interest of real Democrats and open-minded Independents throughout Florida. Surely.