Feb 19, 2008 8:53 pm US/Eastern
Reaction To Castro's Resignation
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Fidel Castro, Cuban leader, speaking on Cuban television on June 5, 2007.
AP
As Cuban exiles in Little Havana welcomed the news that Fidel Castro had officially resigned power with shouts of "Free Cuba" – politicians from across Florida and the nation expressed hopeful optimism for change.
"Today I join Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits in recognizing the official resignation of Fidel Castro as President of Cuba. Americans - and Floridians especially - continue to stand in solidarity with the Cuban people as they remain under the oppression of the Castro regime. Regrettably, this dictatorship continues through the succession of power to Raul Castro, and as Floridians, we must continue to call for free and democratic elections in Cuba, freedom for all political prisoners and respect for all human rights as detailed in the Geneva Conventions."
Florida Governor Charlie Crist "
Today should mark the end of a dark era in Cuba's history. Fidel Castro's stepping down is an essential first step, but it is sadly insufficient in bringing freedom to Cuba. Cuba's future should be determined by the Cuban people and not by an anti-democratic successor regime. The prompt release of all prisoners of conscience wrongly jailed for standing up for the basic freedoms too long denied to the Cuban people would mark an important break with the past. It's time for these heroes to be released. If the Cuban leadership begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United States must be prepared to begin taking steps to normalize relations and to ease the embargo of the last five decades. The freedom of the Cuban people is a cause that should bring Americans together."
U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential candidate
"Freedom for the Cuban people is not yet at hand. We must press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections. Cuba's transition to democracy is inevitable; it is a matter of when not if. With the resignation of Fidel Castro, the Cuban people have an opportunity to move forward and continue pushing for the moment that they will truly be free. America can and should help hasten the sparking of freedom in Cuba. The Cuban people have waited long enough."U.S. Senator John McCain, Republican Presidential candidate "The time has come for the Cuban people who long have hungered for a better life than they've known under Castro to demand that his repressive regime be dismantled. The time has come for a peaceful transition to democracy and political and intellectual freedom in Cuba." U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Florida "Today is not the ultimate day of change. It's the beginning of a process
hopefully that will lead to change, real change. At least we have one down and perhaps one to go. The real, the real issue, what I'm trying to say is that it's time for Cuba to have change, for the people to elect their own leaders in a free and open forum. It is just about what every other country in the world does. We shouldn't the cuban people have that opportunity, have that right? So, today as we look forward to the future, we should be thinking about how do we get away from rule by dictator and one dictator passing power to another aging dictator and how do we move forward to the cuban people having the opportunity for a better day and life, not only for democracy but just for the simple things of life. The opportunity to travel freely within their country, the opportunity to choose a job, the opportunity to choose an economic system that would allow them to have the kind of prosperity that every father and mother wants for their children."
"I remember one morning waking up in 1959 on January the 1st with the news that he had taken power. Interesting that in all that interim, almost 50 years, no one ever elected him to office. It's a good day for the Cuban people. They are no longer ruled by a ruthless dictator. The real question is how do we hope for a better day for the people of Cuba so they can elect their own leaders and they can have the freedom to frankly see on the internet that he had resigned that Cuban people are not allowed to freely access the internet. So, it's kind of ironic he would put his resignation on the internet which is not available to the average Cuban." U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, Florida
"It matters nothing at all whether Fidel, Raul or any other thug is named head of anything in Cuba. What the people want is freedom to express their dissent from the oppressive regime. The community machinery is enslaving them so it does not matter who the thug of the moment will be. The focus of international attention today is on the façade orchestrated by Fidel Castro, the Cuban Communist Party and the regime's elite, with little if any emphasis being placed on the crimes committed by the dictatorship against the Cuban people and US. citizens. We are fast approaching the grim 12 year anniversary of another action by the Cuban regime that clearly and unequivocally illustrates the callous nature of the Castro brothers."
U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida
"Today's announcement that Fidel Castro is resigning as President of Cuba formalizes a process that started 18 months. Every step towards the end of a Fidel Castro regime is hopefully an end to Cuba's dictatorship. As a Cuban-American, I dream of a free and democratic Cuba. Earlier today, I spoke with Governor Charlie Crist to assure him that Miami-Dade County is prepared for any issues which may arise. As always, we'll continue to monitor the activities of the Cuban government which are of great interest to our community."
Miami Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez
"We are witnessing the beginning of the end of one of the most oppressive regimes in history. Despite the symbolism of this morning's events, the world community should remain cautiously optimistic and accept nothing less than the absolute freedom of the Cuban people. The transfer of power between brothers is not change, it is nepotism. The Bush administration should act immediately with an effective foreign policy that leads to real change in Cuba, not just empty rhetoric. To help advance democracy we need to allow for the reunification of Cuban families and the direct sending of remittances to the island's brave dissidents. It's time to break from the status quo."
Joe Garcia, former director of the Cuban American National Foundation and now a Democratic candidate for Congress
"Fidel Castro's stepping down mark's the beginning of the end of Cuba's darkest era in its history. Unfortunately, this change is insufficient in bringing freedom to Cuba that will continue to be ruled by dictator who is not democratically elected." The future of Cuba must be determined by the Cuban people and not by a Dictator and his hand picked anti-democratic replacement regime. If the new regime wishes to break from the past and show progress, itshould release all of the political prisoners and prisoners ofconscience who have been seeking freedoms long denied the Cuban people.These heroes and fighters of freedom need to be released. If and when the new Cuban leadership demonstrates meaningful democraticchange, like free elections and the release of prisoners, the United Statesneeds to seize the opportunity to take steps that encourage this andseek more progress. The freedom of the Cuban people is a cause thatshould bring all Americans together."
Congressional candidate Annette Taddeo"Today we see a faint light at the end of the tunnel as Cuban dictator Fidel Castro officially steps aside. However, with his brother Raul remaining in power, the oppression and lack of respect for human rights continues in Cuba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people, and the many Floridians with family and friends still living under the rule of the Castro family regime. We look forward to the end of this horrendous dictatorship, and the day when the Cuban people see Democratic elections and know the freedoms we as Americans are privileged to enjoy each and every day."
Jim Greer, Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida
"As of this time, there is no change in Cuba. Fidel Castro may have "relinquished" some titles, but he is still the dictator and in control. True change will not begin in Cuba until all political prisoners are released, political parties, labor unions and free press are legalized, and the process of free, supervised, multi-party elections begin. We must continue to press for a democratic transition from this oppressive regime."
U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida
"Only when free, fair and democratic elections take place in Cuba will the Castro regime officially end. The resignation of Fidel Castro as President of Cuba is the first movement in a series of steps that must occur before liberty is fully restored to Cuba. Today is a good day for the Cuban people and for Floridians, but better days are down the road."
U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek, Florida"The reign of Fidel Castro has been marked by the efforts of a man to hijack the government of his country and abuse those resources for his own personal agenda and gain. That he promised so much to his people and broke not only his word, but also the hopes, dreams and lives of several generations, is tragic, even criminal in nature. We have watched with deep sorrow how the people of Cuba were betrayed and we eagerly anticipate the day when Cuba will be welcomed back into the society of free nations. I hope and pray that the people of Cuba will action on the resignation of Fidel Castro to force a return to truly free elections, multiple political parties, a free press, and the release of political prisoners."
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum
"For decades, Castro's dictatorship has imprisoned innocent, oppressed many, and has thwarted the will of his people. I hope that we can look back on today as a moment of opportunity in the Cuban pursuit of democracy and in the Cuban collective memory. I look forward to the day when the Cuban people can engage in free and fair elections." U.S. Representative Ron Klein, Florida
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