Political Quotes

“I ask Members tonight to not be part of what Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick calls the ``blame America first'' crowd, and that is what we have in front of us in the Rangel amendment. The sole mastermind behind Castro's degrading treatment of its own citizens is himself. Fidel Castro. Yet this amendment says if we lift the embargo, all will be swell in Cuba. That means U.S. policy is to blame for all of the misery in Cuba that we have discussed tonight. But our policy does not create the lack of due process. Our policy does not say that independent journalists and independent libraries are banned in Cuba. That is Fidel Castro's policy. Our policy does not maintain a system of remote and unmonitored gulags for prisoners of conscience. That is Fidel Castro's policy. Our policy does not forbid independent labor unions. That is Fidel Castro's policy. Our policy is not the cause of systematic mistreatment of religious believers. That is Fidel Castro's policy. Our policy is not to punish nonviolent opposition movement leaders. That is Fidel Castro's policy. We do not say that community activists and dissidents are going to be harassed, prosecuted and persecuted. That is Fidel Castro's policy. The embargo is not what drives a police officer to beat unconscious a political prisoner who is on a hunger strike. That is Fidel Castro's policy. That is not U.S. policy. Our policy does not mandate the summary execution of independent journalists and conscientious objectors.”