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Elian Spotlight Shows Obama Weak Spot

Legacy of 8-year-old dispute haunts Fla. campaign effort

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2008 11:58 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Eight years after the Elian Gonzalez standoff contributed to Al Gore’s defeat, the row is back in the headlines and causing trouble for Barack Obama. Obama’s stance on Cuban issues, not to mention the prominent roles Elian’s father’s lawyer and a Clinton deputy AG play in his campaign, have angered many members of Florida’s Cuban exile community, Politico reports.

But the renewed controversy has also exposed a growing generational gap between older, hard-line Cubans and younger members of the community more concerned with issues beyond Cuba policy. “What you are seeing is that the problems that are affecting average Americans like the economy or the war in Iraq are also affecting Cuban Americans,” said an Obama rep.

Cuban youth Elian Gonzalez, right, receives from Julio Martinez, first secretary of the UJC, Young Communist Union of Cuba, an UJC's identity card during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of Cubaâ%uFFFD%uFFFDs revolutionary hero, Argentinean Ernesto Che Guevara in Havana, Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Cuban youth Elian Gonzalez, right, receives from Julio Martinez, first secretary of the UJC, Young Communist Union of Cuba, an UJC's identity card during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the...   (AP Photo/AIN)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., shakes hands as he boards the campaign charter plane in Albuquerque, N.M., Monday, June 23, 2008. Obama faces a political threat from Cuban Americans angered by his stance on Cuban policy issues.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., shakes hands as he boards the campaign charter plane in Albuquerque, N.M., Monday, June 23, 2008. Obama faces a political threat from Cuban...   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Elian Gonzalez delivers a speech during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban National hero, Argentinean Ernesto Che Guevara in Havana, Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Elian Gonzalez delivers a speech during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban National hero, Argentinean Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Havana, Saturday, June 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/AIN, Marisol Ruiz Zoto)
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