Posted on 04/22/2002 5:00:24 PM PDT by michigander
Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer Practices 'baked Bean Diplomacy' With Castro
By Anita Snow Associated Press
Published: Apr 22, 2002HAVANA (AP) - The latest weapon in the arsenal of American politicians who want warmer relations with Cuba: the humble baked bean.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer came to Cuba with a delegation packed with Californians who brought California-grown beans - and then ate them at a dinner with Fidel Castro that lasted until 3 a.m. Monday.
The California Democrat pronounced her plate of beans "wonderful" and said it was a symbol of the benefits that can be gained when Americans and Cubans cooperate.
"There are certain things that pull people together," including food, said Boxer, who criticized the 40-year-old U.S. trade embargo against the communist island.
"We have all come away with a single point of view on America's travel ban and America's embargo: We oppose it because we believe that it is an old policy for a new day," she said.
She suggested increased exchanges and cooperation would do more to improve democracy and human rights in Cuba than the existing restrictions.
"We are doing nothing to move this country toward more freedom and more rights," Boxer, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a news conference.
Boxer indicated she would support legislative changes that would let Cuba use U.S. financing to buy products under a 2-year-old law that loosened the embargo somewhat by allowing direct sales of American food to the island.
Currently Cuba must pay cash or obtain financing through a third nation to buy U.S. agricultural products under the law.
Boxer said Cuban officials seemed very interested in products from America's biggest farming state, including beans, rice, turkey, fruit and wine. "My state has many products to sell to Cuba," she said.
The 24-member delegation included Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation.
It also included British actress Julia Ormond, who Boxer said spoke with Castro at dinner about the possibility of producing a documentary on ties between Americans and Cubans.
She said that Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, also in the delegation, talked about a project that would bring musicians from the two countries together.
Boxer said she also met with Vicky Huddleston, chief officer of the U.S. Interests Section - the American mission here - and with several Cuban dissidents.
"I think that the dissidents should be heard here, that they make very important points on human rights," the senator said.
She said the dissidents told her about their effort to force a referendum that would re-examine some aspects of Cuba's system, from an amnesty for political prisoners to opportunities for Cubans to run their own businesses.
Activists say they have gathered enough signatures for a referendum but have not yet submitted them to the National Assembly for approval.
AP-ES-04-22-02 1909EDT
FMCDH!
However, in Boxer's case, the beans are probably half-baked--just like Barbara.
My thoughts exactly. These commie fruitcakes ought to be shipped to Cuba to stay.
Exactly! I immediately visualized Barb and Fidel sitting around a campfire with tin plates...sick minds think alike, I guess.
NO NO NO NO SAY IT ISN'T SO!!! I love her SO much...
Congressman Billybob
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Man! Can you imagine what that place smelled like by the end of that carnival?
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