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Obama Would Ease Cuba Travel Limits

Candidate backs looser rules on money transfers, family visits

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Aug 21, 2007 11:02 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama says that as president, he would reverse the Bush administration's increased restrictions on travel to Cuba, the AP reports. Visiting or sending money to relatives on the Communist-controlled island became more difficult in 2004, a policy change the candidate calls "strategically blundering" in an op-ed published in today's Miami Herald.

No other candidate has advocated easing the restrictions, which isolate "the transformative message carried there by Cuban Americans," Obama writes. Candidates hoping to win Florida have traditionally fallen into step with the Cuban community's hardliners, who support a full embargo. But sentiment is changing, and many want to be able to visit relatives on the island.

birthday convalescent at an unknown location.(AP Photo/ Javier Galeano) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., is seen during a campaign stop in Portsmouth, N.H., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007.(AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Associated Press)

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., signs copies of his book "The Audacity of Hope (Associated Press)

A man fishes from a piling in the community of Regla, facing the City of Havana, Monday, July 30, 2007. Life has remained little changed in communist-run Cuba since leader Fidel Castro announced he had... (Associated Press)

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Obama Would Ease Cuba Travel Limits

Candidate backs looser rules on money transfers, family visits

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Miami Cubans Toe Softer Line on Embargo

'Waving the bloody shirt of anti-Castro politics' may be out of date

Obama Plans to Ease Cuban Travel Rules

Will remove Bush's restrictions on cultural, academic trips

Mac Still Taking Weekends Off

But with 29 days to go, neither candidate is exactly galloping to the finish line

Clinton, Obama Oppose Primary Leapfrogging

Candidates bow to pressure from states protecting their early primaries

Castro Casts Lot With Clinton-Obama

Ailing dictator reminisces on presidents past

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Obama Would Ease Cuba Travel Limits

Candidate backs looser rules on money transfers, family visits

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

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Blog reactions

Related coverage

Bush administration • Florida • Barack Obama • Travel • presidential campaign • Cuba • foreign policy • Little Havana • Cuban embargo • Election 2008 • presidential election

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Miami Cubans Toe Softer Line on Embargo

'Waving the bloody shirt of anti-Castro politics' may be out of date

Obama Plans to Ease Cuban Travel Rules

Will remove Bush's restrictions on cultural, academic trips

Mac Still Taking Weekends Off

But with 29 days to go, neither candidate is exactly galloping to the finish line

Clinton, Obama Oppose Primary Leapfrogging

Candidates bow to pressure from states protecting their early primaries

Castro Casts Lot With Clinton-Obama

Ailing dictator reminisces on presidents past

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?