To those who want to trade: It's not only about money - it's about human decency and respect.
Here's a report on the speech with the usual media bias
Front Page Editorializing: "Bush holds line on Cuba" *** MIAMI -- Playing to a constituency that was crucial to his White House win and may be key to his brother's re-election, President Bush vowed Monday to block efforts to ease restrictions on Cuba until its longtime leader Fidel Castro institutes major economic and political changes.
….. But Bush never mentioned Carter's outreach in a speech that was intended to reassure a vocal element of the Republican base in this politically important state. At the rally, Bush was introduced by his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is depending on the strong support of Cuban-Americans in his re-election campaign this November. After the rally the president attended a $25,000 a couple fund-raiser sponsored by the state Republican Party that will primarily benefit Jeb Bush's campaign.
The event, which was expected to raise $2 million, was held at the home of Armando Codina, a former business partner of the governor. A number of Democrats are vying to face Jeb Bush, the most prominent being Janet Reno, President Clinton's attorney general.
President Bush also is indebted to Cuban-Americans for their support in his narrow victory in Florida that enabled him to claim the White House. About 82 percent of the state's estimated 400,000 Cuban-American voters went for Bush over Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 race.
And since his election Bush has rewarded this constituency by appointing Cuban-Americans to influential posts. He picked Mel Martinez as secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Otto Reich, an anti-Castro hard-liner, as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemispheric Affairs. ***