That recent thrust-and-parry on Cuba between incumbent Gov. Rick Scott and challenger ex-Gov. Charlie Crist spoke volumes. About political expedience–as well as what’s best for Florida.
It was initiated by Crist, who, while making his book-hawking rounds, told HBO’s Bill Maher that he favored ending the embargo. He said it was time for real leaders to “stand up to” the usual South Florida suspects.
He also underscored that Florida would be an obvious beneficiary if the embargo were lifted. Such an occurrence would, indeed, “boost Florida’s economy and help businesses create more jobs in our state,” he emphasized.
Of course it would, although Crist was not exactly outspoken on the subject when he was governor.
Anyhow, Scott definitely didn’t respond with the “jobs, jobs, jobs” mantra that he typically pivots to whatever the campaign issue. That’s because in this case, it would align him with Crist and alienate a still formidable, South Florida special-interest demographic. So, he appears to view the counterproductive, Cold War-relic embargo through the same vendetta lens as Cuban hard-liners (Rep.) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (Rep.) Mario Diaz-Balart and (Sen.) Marco Rubio. What an unlikely fourth amigo.
“The suggestion that Cuban Americans need to be ‘stood up to’ is insulting,” rebuked Scott. Then he doubled down by warbling from the exile-community hymnal.
“The importance of maintaining the embargo is that it stands for the Cuban people’s right to be free,” he said. Use of the word “free,” of course, is expected to carry the rhetorical day–no matter the context, including an embargo policy that’s been an abject failure for more than half a century.
Just so that we have this straight. “Let’s get to work,” as all encompassing as that theme has been for Scott, doesn’t trump partisan political expedience on a policy that disadvantages this country, this state and this port city. Jobs, jobs, con jobs.
¡Qué hipócrita!