Conservative commentator Michael Reagan tells Newsmax that in light of the recent decision to normalize relations between Cuba and the United States, that he's surprised the embargo still exists.
"The only reason that the embargo has been for so many years is because of Florida, because of the Cuban population in Florida and the importance of Florida in the presidential elections," Reagan told J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV Friday.
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"Maybe the best way to take care of this whole thing with Cuba is if you're going to relax the embargo, if you're going to allow things to happen that haven't been happening for years, then you have to trust but verify," he explained.
But, "that's where you have to worry about this administration because they trust everybody and verify nothing," he added.
The embargo has “been there a long time not because we want to punish Cuba so much, but what we want to do is placate and make the Cubans that live in Florida vote correctly on Election Day every four years," he explained.
"I'm surprised it's kind of lasted this long," he said.
"I don't have that much of a problem with what the president has done, but I do have a problem with much of the negotiation — that all we got out of it basically was rum and cigars," he added.
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While Obama has struck a deal with Cuban President Raul Castro to normalize relations between the two countries by easing travel, banking and investing restrictions, it is still up to Congress to lift the embargo.
Reagan doesn't "think they'll lift the embargo because it is a game of politics," primarily because lawmakers are "worried about Florida in the next election."
He contends that "neither party wants to go on record as . . . taking down the embargo that is around Cuba at this point in time."
The only way it will get done is if there is "a bipartisan agreement," he said.
According to the son of former President Ronald Reagan, "embargoes don't work really that well and so after 50 years" it's probably time to "take it down."
Reagan contends that "when you open the door, there are great possibilities.
"I don't think that that regime is going to live that much longer anyway, and they're going to have to change some things, and maybe it's the time for us to start relaxing that and start moving forward," he said.
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