Political Quotes

“What offends me is the assumption that it is the U.S. embargo policy, whether it is against Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or whatever rogue state, that is the cause of that impoverishment. This is a return to that classic ``Let's blame America first'' argument. Let's find out what is wrong with the world and then let's blame the United States of America for being responsible. The person who is responsible for the economic conditions in Cuba is not sitting in this room and is not residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The person who is responsible for Cuba's impoverishment is named Fidel Castro and he lives in Havana. Whether we do or do not adopt this amendment tonight, he still is going to be living in Havana and he still is going to be following discredited economic policies. He is still going to be following a personal attitude of disrespect to his own people. He still is going to be following authoritarian dictates-- because he wants to stay in power.”