WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, Senator Rick Scott wrote an op-ed for the Sun Sentinel on how the appeasement policies of the Obama/ Biden administration did nothing to help the fight for freedom and democracy in Cuba and throughout Latin America. Senator Scott is focused on securing a stronger and more vibrant Latin America – with the understanding that ending the Cuban dictatorship will lead to greater stability and freedom for the entire region.

In the op-ed, Senator Rick Scott wrote, “For years, the United States, a country founded on freedom and liberty for all, turned a blind eye to what is happening right here in our hemisphere. We had career politicians like Joe Biden, who defend the Cuban regime and supported policies that provide a financial windfall to Cuba to support their crimes. Just last week during a campaign stop in Miami, Biden criticized the Trump administration’s Cuba policy and tried to rewrite history by saying, ‘For my entire career, I stood for democracy and human rights, for freedom of the press, assembly and religion against dictators of the left and the right.’

Politicians like Joe Biden have stalled the fight for freedom in Latin America. Obama’s appeasement did nothing to help the Cuban people. They were just as oppressed as always, but the Cuban regime profited more from Americans. Contrast that with the Trump administration, which is standing up to murderous regimes around the world. President Trump has imposed significant sanctions on the Maduro regime, and the administration has recognized that the root of the instability and chaos we see in Latin America stems from Cuba. They are taking action against Cuba, which is the most powerful force behind the Maduro regime in Venezuela, largely because of the free oil they receive in return. President Trump is taking historic steps and rolling back the appeasements and Obama-era policies that allowed the regime to profit from Americans.

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It is time for the international community to recognize Cuba for what it is. And it’s time for the American people to stand against elected officials who choose appeasement over sanctions. Appeasement doesn’t work. The growing instability in Latin America is evidence of the failure of appeasement. Claiming to support freedom for Venezuela while also supporting appeasement in Cuba is the height of hypocrisy.

As a nation, we must stand united in the principles our country was founded on — freedom and democracy for all. We must stand against candidates like Joe Biden that choose appeasement over sanctions.

The security of our hemisphere and our identity as a country depends on it.”

Read the full op-ed in the Sun Sentinel HERE.

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