[Marxism] AP: Obama, Clinton differ slightly on Castro

[Walter Lippmann]

(We'll have to see the full transcript, but it's obvious from this
that Obama's position on Cuba is superior to that of Mrs. Clinton.
On other issues he's not much different from her, but on Cuba he's
clearly and patently different, and superior. Only the blind would
deny what is transparently obvious on this particular issue.

(He's willing to meet with Cuba's government "without preconditions"
while she refuses to agree to this elementary diplomatic conception.
Cuba is always willing to meet, to discuss, to negotiate. Always!)
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Obama, Clinton differ slightly on Castro  
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent  12 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas - Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham 
Clinton said Thursday night she would not sit down with Raul Castro 
until he implements political reforms in Cuba, but rival Barack Obama 
said he favored a meeting without preconditions.

"A presidential visit should not be offered and given without some 
evidence that it will demonstrate the kind of progress that is in our 
interest and the interest of the Cuban people," Clinton said in the 
opening moments of a campaign debate in advance of the March 4 Texas 
primary.

She mentioned political freedoms and a more open economy as essential 
in a country that Fidel Castro ruled in a Communist dictatorship for 
nearly a half-century. Castro's brother, Raul, is likely to be named 
president by parliament on Sunday.

Moments later, though, Obama said that unlike his presidential rival, 
he would be willing to meet "without preconditions."

"Although Senator Clinton is right that there has to be preparation, 
it's very important there has to be an agenda and on that agenda would 
be human rights, releasing political prisoners," he said.

The two rivals sat next to one another in swivel chairs in a University 
of Texas auditorium for the 90-minute debate, one in a dwindling number 
of opportunities for the former first lady to chart a new course in the 
presidential race.

She has lost 11 straight primaries and caucuses to Obama - including an 
overseas competition for support among Americans living aboard - and 
has fallen behind in the chase for the number of delegates needed to 
become the presidential nominee.

Obama's strong showing has made him the man to beat in a historic 
struggle between a black man and a white woman, and even some of 
Clinton's own supporters conceded she needs victories in both Ohio and 
Texas early next month to preserve her candidacy. Rhode Island and 
Vermont also vote that day.

Clinton and Obama articulated well-worn campaign themes in the opening 
moments of the encounter, she stressing years of experience, and he 
underscoring a need for a change in the way business is done in 
Washington.

"I offer a lifetime of experience and proven results," she said, adding 
that "if we work together, if we take on the special interests," the 
lives of middle-class Americans would improve.

Obama, too, scorned the power of special interests. "The problem we 
have is that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to 
die....They go to die in Washington because too many politicians are 
interested in scoring political differences rather than bridging 
differences get things done."

The Democrats have had at least 18 debates and forums of the campaign, 
a series that has ranged from highly civilized to hotly 
confrontational.

The last time the two met, in Los Angeles, they sat side by side and 
disagreed politely. But in an earlier encounter last month, in Myrtle 
Beach, S.C., each accused the other of repeatedly and deliberately 
distorting the truth for political gain in a highly personal, 
finger-wagging showdown.

In The Associated Press' delegate count Thursday, Obama had 1,358.5 to 
1,264 for Clinton. It takes 2,025 delegates to claim the nomination at 
this summer's convention.

In a further sign of his growing strength, Obama won the endorsement 
during the day of the Change to Win labor federation, which claims 6 
million members. The Teamsters union announced its support for Obama on 
Wednesday.

The debate was sponsored by CNN, Univision and the Texas Democratic Part
On Feb 21, 2008, at 6:36 AM, Walter Lippmann wrote:


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WALTER LIPPMANN, CubaNews
Los Angeles, California
http://www.walterlippmann.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraiso bajo el bloqueo"
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