Cuban-American voters are wary of the ‘thaw’ in U.S.-Cuba relations

Cuban-American voters are wary of the 'thaw' in U.S.-Cuba relations

Cuban-American voters in Miami-Dade are divided over President Obama's
decision to change the course of policy towards the island
Cuban-American voters oppose the opening of a Cuban consulate in the county
Gaby Kreavat
NORA GÁMEZ TORRES
ngameztorres@elnuevoherald.com

Almost 1 1/2 years after the historic announcement that the U.S. would
restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, the Obama administration has
been unable to vanquish the reluctance of many Cuban-American voters in
Miami-Dade to embrace its policy of rapprochement with the
Communist-ruled nation, according to a poll conducted by the Bendixen &
Amandi firm.

51% of Cuban-American voters in Miami-Dade are against normalization
with Cuba.
Although the new policy has the support of most voters in the county (63
percent overall and 88 percent among African Americans), Cuban Americans
remain divided, with 51 percent against normalization and 46 percent in
favor. That split, although not within the poll's margin of error of
plus/minus 3.99 percentage points, is close.

The division among Cuban-American voters is also apparent as it relates
to President Barack Obama's trip to Havana in March. Of the Cuba-born
voters queried, 48 percent said it was "a bad idea" versus 44 percent
who described it as "good." By comparison, 63 percent of all voters who
took part in the poll had a favorable view of the trip.

The Cuba issue was the final part of a telephone survey of 600
registered voters in Miami-Dade conducted between May 1-4 by Bendixen &
Amandi International and sponsored by el Nuevo Herald, the Miami Herald,
Univision 23 and WLRN.

The results could be significant for the presidential elections because
Cuban-American voters continue to have electoral power in South Florida,
even as state demographics have changed and some experts doubt that Cuba
will be a central issue for voters.

Although a national survey by the same company in December 2015 among
Cuban Americans (not just registered voters) found that 56 percent
supported Obama's decision to normalize relations, those living in
Florida had a less favorable opinion — a finding that is consistent with
the results of the new survey.

Several Republican Cuban-American voters who took part in the poll and
were interviewed by el Nuevo Herald expressed displeasure mainly with
the limited results of the change in policy nearly 18 months after
Obama's announcement.

Rafael González, 72, who came to the United States during the 1980
exodus, said he was opposed to the way the new policy of engagement has
been carried out and he expressed concern about the "concessions" made
by the U.S. government. He also questioned the cost of a presidential
trip to the island, which, in his opinion, "did not solve anything."

His opinion was echoed by Flavio Martin, who arrived in the U.S. in
1961, at the age of 4. Martin, also a registered Republican, said he was
opposed to normalization because the Cuban government "has not given
anything." Obama "should have imposed conditions," he said.

Among Democrats, blacks and young voters, a majority support
normalization, the poll found. However, there is a surprising finding:
While they support closer ties, Miami-Dade voters are still not
convinced about traveling to Cuba.

"77% of Miami-Dade voters have no plans to travel to Cuba in the near
future."

Although travel restrictions to the island have eased, 77 percent of
respondents said they did not intend to visit the island next year. The
figure is even higher among Cubans, 87 percent. Among the few who do
want to go to Cuba, most want to do so on a cruise, as tourists.

The finding is paradoxical at a time when travel to the island by
Americans and Cuban Americans has skyrocketed. In the case of Cuban-born
voters, Fernand Amandi, who conducted the survey, attributed the results
to the large presence of exiles from the early exodus from Cuba who have
fewer ties to and family on the island.

None of the Cuban Americans interviewed by el Nuevo Herald said they had
any intention of traveling to Cuba in the near future.

Maria Teresa Pérez, 76, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2008, said she
would not travel to Cuba until there is a change in government: "I lived
many years there; why should I go back if I left because of them?" she
said, referring to Cuban leaders Fidel and Raúl Castro.

Although registered voters of Cuban origin queried for the survey — most
of whom are Republican and older — are more likely to oppose the Cuba
policy than most Miami-Dade voters, there was an event that brought them
in line with the overall opinion: Obama's speech in Havana.

Three-quarters of Cuban Americans queried said they watched the speech.
Among those, 81 percent said they liked it. Coincidentally, 81 percent
of all voters who watched the speech also had a favorable opinion of
Obama's address before an audience that included Raúl Castro.

Isabel Molero, 53, praised Obama's speech because "nobody had said the
things he said."

Molero came to America in 1995 and despite being a registered
Republican, she said she was in favor of rapprochement with Cuba. "If
you have not solved anything in 50 years, you have to do something
different," she said, echoing one of the central arguments of those who
have defended the new Cuba policy.

But Cuban-American voters clash again with general voter opinion on
another issue, one that concerns them directly: the possibility of a
Cuban consulate in Miami-Dade.

"58% of voters of Cuban origin oppose the opening of a Cuban consulate
in Miami-Dade."

Most (58 percent) reject the idea although 52 percent of all respondents
say they favor it. The consulate proposal also is clearly rejected by
Republican voters (58 percent), the same result as overall
Cuban-American voters.

Pérez is among the minority of Cuban Americans (38 percent) in favor of
opening a Cuban consulate in the county. Although she does not want to
travel to Cuba, she recognizes that "there are many Cubans here and they
have a hard time getting a passport; they have to travel to do any
paperwork."

On the recent controversy about Carnival Corp.'s cruise to the island —
the first in half a century — the survey shows that the public relations
effort by the company was effective.

What could have been a disaster for Carnival's image, following protests
by Cuban Americans when the company refused to accommodate Cuba-born
passengers to comply with a ban by the Cuban government, had a
relatively happy ending.

Of those queried on this issue, 69 percent of all respondents and 60
percent of Cuban origin said they were "somewhat" or "very satisfied"
with the way the company handled the controversy. Still, the
controversial journey seems to have put a dent in the popularity of
Carnival among Cubans: 36 percent said they had a "somewhat" or "very
unfavorable" image of the company.

The sample was designed to be representative of Miami-Dade County's
voter profile: 56 percent of those queried are Hispanic and women; 38
percent are of Cuban descent; 41 percent are registered Democrats, and
31 percent are Republicans.

Source: Cuban-American voters are wary of the 'thaw' in U.S.-Cuba
relations | In Cuba Today -
http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article77049117.html