Jun 2, 2008 8:11 pm US/Eastern
Doctored Photo Shows Castro Holding Obama Picture
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
The original photo showed Fidel Castro holding a copy of the state run newspaper in Cuba "Granma", but someone superimposed Barack Obama's picture and the Republican party of Florida circulated it on the internet.
CBS
An e-mail that has been circulating since last week has Democrats and even some Republicans up in arms, accusing the Republican Party of Florida of using racism in the presidential campaign--specifically against Barack Obama's Campaign.
The e-mail contains a doctored photo of Fidel Castro holding a poster of Barack Obama. At the top of the photo are the words, "I love this guy." The caption below the picture says, "Fidel Castro Endorses Obama." A South Florida Democrat running for Congress is accusing the state GOP of invoking the race card into the presidential contest. Joe Garcia, of Miami, is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. Garcia claims the e-mail seeks to exploit Miami's history of racial tensions between Hispanics and Blacks.
Jim Greer, who chairs the Republican Party of Florida, insists the e-mail has nothing to do with race.
"It appears to me the only people that are talking about race and the only people that are applying any issues relating to race seem to be the Democrats," said Greer. "The Republican Party has not addressed race; it's not relevant. I have said we are not gonna participate in that and the only ones who seem to keep talking about it are the Democrats."
CBS4's Jawan Strader spoke to local voters, who had a variety of takes on the matter.
"Everybody there is praying for this guy to be elected," said Roberto Esparza. "Why should I have a problem with it?"
JAWAN: Because it's not real.
"I know, but it's a reality," answered Esparza.
But even some Republicans took offense to the picture as well.
"I would say it is wrong," said Republican Annie Acuna. "Politicians need to be honest from the beginning, so if this is done by a Republican, I truly think it's wrong."
The head of the Florida Democratic Party isn't ready to call the e-mail racist, but she does think it's an act of desperation by the Republicans to try to win over Hispanic voters.
"I think they're just grasping at something to try to make a divide and it's not working," said Thurman. "I mean look, we just saw the new numbers of the Hispanic voters in this state. They have fought from being Republican to Democrat and they're just looking for anyway they think they can make some hay over something and I don't think it's going to work."
Since 2006, Republicans have gained 7,500 Hispanic voters in the state. The Democrats have registered 64,000, giving Florida more Hispanic Democrats than Republicans.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments