The leading Cuba hawk in Congress slammed President Obama for shaking the hand of the communist island’s leader during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa on Tuesday.
“Sometimes a handshake is just a handshake,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). “But when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raúl Castro it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant. Raúl Castro uses that hand to sign orders to oppress and jail democracy activists.”
{mosads}Ros-Lehtinen made the remarks during a House Foreign Affairs panel hearing where Secretary of State John Kerry was discussing the nuclear deal with Iran. She asked Kerry to reassure her that the handshake doesn’t indicate a weakening of U.S. policy vis-à-vis Cuba.
Kerry said nothing has changed.
“Today is about honoring Nelson Mandela,” he said. Obama “didn’t choose who’s there — they’re there to honor Nelson Mandela.”
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