After red Florida Tsunami, Biden should restart Cuban détente

One of the best things Joe Biden did as VP was support his boss’ 2013 détente with Cuba. Re-establishing diplomatic relations and committing to end America’s 53 year old embargo gave hope to 11 million Cubans that America’s dastardly economic war on Cuba would be ended.

One of the worst things Joe Biden did upon becoming president 8 years later, was to do a 180, continuing his predecessor Trump’s reversal of détente. It was a revolting pivot by Biden that had nothing to do with US national self-interests and humane treatment of Cuba.

It was due solely to electoral politics. With Florida’s 30 electoral votes, the fourth highest state total, Biden saw renewed Cuban détente as an impediment for Democratic chances in ’24. Trump’s Florida’s margins of 1.2% in ’16, and 3.3% in ’20, were not sufficient to deter Biden from dreaming of taking Florida, in part by pandering to the sizeable anti Cuban voting block there.

But Tuesday’s Florida vote was a virtual red tsunami. Gov. DeSantis and Senator Rubio overwhelmed their highly credible opponents by 19% and 16% respectively. Republicans won every state office and now have majorities of 85-35 in the state house and 28-12 in the state senate. Democrats in Florida have flat-lined.

Biden could personally go to Cuba, kick out the hated socialist rulers, return the country to United Fruit, and still get shellacked by the GOP candidate in 2 years. Knowing this, he should use his last 2 years to undo his cruel, heartless betrayal of the Cuban people. They were overjoyed at his election, assuming he’d keep his campaign promise to return to détente upended by Trump. He not only reneged on that promise, he ratcheted up sanctions on Cuba even further.

Biden could live to a hundred and not expunge the shame he brought on himself and America, sacrificing the economic well-being of 11 million Cubans to possibly win Florida in ’24. But there is never a bad time to do the right thing.

Come on Joe…say it’s so.