The sanctions against Cuba’s Castro regime should remain in place, says political activist and former Marine officer Paul Crespo, who is running for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 25th Congressional District.
Crespo, the son of Cuban immigrants, tells Newsmax.TV the nearly 50-year-old sanctions against the communist island should remain until it opens itself to democracy and free markets.
“We should also support any and all dissident and opposition groups in Cuba, as we should anywhere else where they are fighting for democracy ̶ in Iran and other places,” Crespo says. “We should help all of these people and help them bring democracy to Cuba.”
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He entered the race to represent the district ̶ covering Florida’s southwestern tip ̶ in March after incumbent Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart announced he would be running in a neighboring district.
“As a captain in the Marine Corps, I served overseas on four different continents, and I swore to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and I did that for 12 years and have been … trying to do that ever since,” Crespo says. “Over the past couple of years, I have been concerned for the Constitution and the future of my country.”
Crespo describes himself as Reagan conservative on “a mission” to clean up Washington and save it from the special interests says he decided to run because he did not like the “caliber” of the other candidates running in next Tuesday’s primary.
He faces state Rep. David Rivera and district resident Marili Cancio for the nomination.
“My primary concern is David Rivera. He’s a career politician. He’s been a statehouse insider in Tallahassee for many years,” Crespo says. “He spends a lot of time basically cozying up to the lobbyists and special interests.”
Crespo says he would be different and would only serve eight years in Washington if elected.
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