November 05, 2008
End of the Diaz-Balart Dynasty
That was the laughable headline of a laughable article by Francisco Alvarado in the Miami New Times from October 23rd. The subheadline was even more laughable:
The Republican brothers are headed for defeat, and Cuban-American politics will change forever.But wait! There's more:
In less than two weeks, a South Florida political dynasty will almost certainly disappear. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, fierce anti-Communists who are indeed Castro’s nephews by a failed first marriage, will likely lose — victims of the anti-Republican discontent sweeping America. They are scions of a family that has dominated politics in both Havana and Washington for more than a half-century.Until now, the Diaz-Balarts have skated through elections. But two Democratic challengers seem to have their number. Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and onetime Cuban American National Foundation chief Joe Garcia have raised more than $2 million. Recently released polls by Telemundo 51 and the Rothenberg Report show the Republican siblings trailing the Dems or locked in a dead heat. The November 4 election will tip their way if Obama voters show in force, which is likely.
Giggle, giggle. Senator Hopeandchange's voters did show in force yet Martinez and Garcia hit two immovable objects.
That result will forever alter U.S. policy toward Cuba. And it might signal a shift of the Republican party’s staunchest South Florida allies — Cuban-Americans.
Wrong again, bucko. Let's remember that President-elect Hopandchange came to Miami and proclaimed that he would keep the embargo and that his policies would be guided by LIBERTAD! Of course you can't trust President-elect Hopeandchange any farther than you can throw him so perhaps Alvarado is right on that one count. But that would guarantee that he'd be wrong on the other. Another betrayal of the Cuban community by a Democratic president is exactly what we need to galvanize around Republicans once again.
About Joe Garcia Alvarado says:
During his second tour with CANF, Garcia became disillusioned with the Bush administration and Miami-Dade's Cuban-American Republican representatives. "It was all about creating the appearance of doing something to bring change to Cuba," Garcia says. "It was just about getting votes." That prompted Garcia to register as a Democrat and work for the party.He left CANF to join the New Democrat Network — a Washington, D.C. advocacy group — and manages efforts to recruit Latinos into the party.
He fails to mention that Garcia DESTROYED CANF. And speaking of CANF I will demonstrate in the coming days how CANF no longer speaks for the Cuban-American community in south Florida. I'm sorry to report that Jorge Mas Santos has totally discredited himself and the once-great organization his father founded.
As for Alvarado. He'll be at the New Times a while longer. I don't think the New York Times will be calling anytime soon.
Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at November 5, 2008 03:12 AM
Comments
HA! I may not like the D-Bs but I could not vote against Mario - not when Rangel-lover Garcia was the opponent. I hate the smug self assurance of the cretins who were certain he was going to go down.
Posted by: theCardinal ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 5, 2008 06:49 AM
I already sent Alvarado a friendly email...I love it!
Posted by: CubanKeyRat at November 5, 2008 07:24 AM
What strikes one about the Alvarado article is the enthusiasm and glee with which the mainstream media celebrates anything that they think undermines Cuban Americans. I still remember when Elian was kidnapped by Reno's goons and sent back to Cuba how the New York Times gloated that the Cuban-American power structure had finally [and you could hear their collective sigh of relief] collapsed!
I do feel sorry for our congressmen and senators now that Obama is in power. It's going to be a frustrating and uphill battle for them everyday in the Hill. Also, expect an emboldened and invigorated mainstream media to double up their attacks on us.
I look forward to Henry's posts on Cuban American voting patterns in this election, since the manipulative mainstream media has officially declared [repeatedly, over and over again like a litany] that younger Cubans are no longer voting Republican because they don't care about Cuba.
Posted by: Ray at November 5, 2008 08:07 AM
I do feel sorry for our congressmen and senators now that Obama is in power. It's going to be a frustrating and uphill battle for them everyday in the Hill. Also, expect an emboldened and invigorated mainstream media to double up their attacks on us.
Ray I fully agree with you.
What I’m certain too (and is the only consolation I have) is that Barack Hussein Obama will sink this great country and the free world to it’s lowest depths making a bad situation much worse and at the end so many of those who voted for him are going to regret it big time.
The American people last night signed-on for a very painful and bruising lesson.
Posted by: FreedomForCuba at November 5, 2008 08:19 AM
Joedilocks Garcia and Raul "Luca Brasi" Martinez committed political suicide. Let's hope these clowns are so humiliated that they will lay lown for a while and we don't have to hear their nonsense.
Posted by: mrcs_Concepcion at November 5, 2008 09:07 AM
I hope so mrcs_Concepcion.
My stomach turns every time those clowns show up at Maria Elvira's Live show.
Posted by: FreedomForCuba at November 5, 2008 11:47 AM