Jorge Mas Santos, Chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation has written an WaPo Op Ed condemning Bush Administration Cuban Policy – and endorsed Barack Obama’s "forward-looking and proactive approach toward empowering the Cuban people."

damn.

Mr Santos is not a member of the younger generation of Cuban Americans who are going for Obama in overwhelming numbers. This is the organization for Cuban exiles in Miami and South Florida. They have faithfully supported the Republican Party for almost 50 years.

"As a direct result of President Bush’s strategic blunder in 2004 restricting contact with the island, Cuban dissidents have experienced a significant reduction in material and humanitarian assistance. They are also subject to a ban on receiving cash remittances that help them and their families survive. The isolation of these and other Cubans has increased while Fidel Castro’s departure from office caught the Bush administration off guard. Together, these developments have helped Raúl Castro consolidate control over the Cuban people"

ya don’t say

As most of you know, the RNC has been hemorraging Latino support in Florida as a direct result of the Tancredo-Sensenbrenner Hate Fest 06. Older South American and Central American exiles cut the Party loose. I expected something different from the Cuban Americans, but the Obama endorsement was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

Will this endorsement have any collateral effects on downticket races in Florida – Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, or the forever crooked Diaz-Ballart brothers ??

Is there a connection here with Governor Crist’s decision to extend Early Voting Hours ?

oh and…

A full page ad of notable Cubans for Obama will appear in this Sunday’s Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Palante Cubans for Obama! SI SE PUEDE!

Be sure to check out the comments over at WaPo

more mojito my dears ?