Byron Dorgan: “I do not think it does anything to hurt Fidel Castro to continue an embargo that has failed for 40 years. An embargo…”

“I do not think it does anything to hurt Fidel Castro to continue an embargo that has failed for 40 years. An embargo that punishes Americans for traveling in Cuba, an embargo that makes it impossible, and now difficult, for our farmers to sell into Cuba, is not an embargo, in my judgment, that represents this country's best policy interests. It does not make any sense for me to embrace policies that don't allow Fidel Castro to ever miss a meal. He has never missed breakfast, lunch, supper, or dinner because of these embargoes. It is just poor, sick, and hungry people in Cuba who have been injured by these policies. This 40-year embargo is at odds with everything else we are doing. We say, let's trade with Communist China. Why? Because China is a Communist country, yes. But trading with them will actually open up opportunities and bring democracy to China more quickly. We say, let's do that same thing with Vietnam.”