White House: Obama to meet with whomever he wants in Cuba

[rooster59]

White House: Obama to meet with whomever he wants in Cuba

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama alone will decide whom to meet with when he lands in Cuba on a history-making trip later this month, the White House said Friday. It sought to dispel any notion that Cuban officials would have a hand in choreographing the president's activities on the island.

"That's a decision that we'll make on our own, without any sort of negotiation with the Cubans," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

Obama will be the first sitting president to visit Havana in nearly 90 years, following President Calvin Coolidge's trip there in 1928.

Earnest was responding to news reports that Secretary of State John Kerry had canceled a solo trip to Cuba before the president's March 21-22 visit, due to disagreements with Cuban officials over which dissidents will get an audience with Obama.

Obama has set meeting with pro-democracy activists on the communist-run island nation as a condition for the trip.

Kerry considered making the trip, Earnest said, but it wasn't scheduled. Kerry instead will accompany Obama to Cuba, Earnest said.

He was adamant that Obama intends to meet with some of Cuba's dissidents during the visit.

"The guest list for that meeting will be determined solely by the White House," Earnest said. "There's no real dispute about this. The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with."

Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro moved more than a year ago to end decades of hostile relations between their formerly estranged countries. Since then, the U.S. and Cuba have reopened embassies in Washington and Havana and have taken steps to restore commercial air travel and loosen other restrictions.

Kerry spoke by telephone Friday with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez to discuss Obama's trip.

Kerry expressed disappointment that he couldn't visit the island for a human rights dialogue the countries planned to hold this week, according to State Department spokesman John Kirby. He cited "scheduling issues" for the cancellation, as well as the heavy burden on the new embassy connected with handling two major visits in short succession.

Republicans and some Democrats have criticized Obama's plans to go to Cuba, calling it an undeserved reward for communist leaders who continue to oppress their people.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-05

[Srikcir]

undeserved reward for communist leaders who continue to oppress their people.

Then shame on Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and GHW Bush for their visits to China to meet with Chinese communist leaders.

[sirineou]

undeserved reward for communist leaders who continue to oppress their people.

Then shame on Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and GHW Bush for their visits to China to meet with Chinese communist leaders.

Nothing else to say^^^

[ggt]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

[sirineou]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

what is normal protocol?

[keemapoot]

<deleted>, If I'm President of the US, I will meet with and do whatever is in the best interests of the US and sometimes the world, and will not have to answer to jack squat. Results count.

[NeverSure]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

what is normal protocol?

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

[sirineou]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

what is normal protocol?

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

That's the normal protocol whom the President chooses to meet?

He should chose to meet with dead people???

[NeverSure]

what is normal protocol?

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

That's the normal protocol whom the President chooses to meet?

He should chose to meet with dead people???

Is that really, truly the best you can come up with?

[NovaBlue05]

Ironically, the only place on the island that Obama can truly dictate the terms is at Gitmo

[sirineou]

what is normal protocol?

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

That's the normal protocol whom the President chooses to meet?

He should chose to meet with dead people???

Is that really, truly the best you can come up with?

I could have said the same about your original reply

[Credo]

There is no protocol which says the President should attend the funeral. The Whitehouse would be remiss if it were not represented at the funeral. The President paid his respects in person. That is sufficient and respectful to the deceased and his family.

[MZurf]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

what is normal protocol?

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

So normal protocol is for the president to attend funerals of white members of the supreme court? What about black members, female members, Jewish members, socialist members, gay members etc?

Sorry, I forgot that Obama is a foreign born, socialist, atheist, Muslim terrorist supporter. My bad!

BTW, Antonin Scalia doesn't sound very American, does it? Was he a spic or a dago?

[chuckd]

Ironically, the only place on the island that Obama can truly dictate the terms is at Gitmo

And the newly reopened US Embassy.

The Democrats in Congress has severely limited his authority at Gitmo.

[Chicog]

The president will meet with whomever he chooses to meet with.

Why is this news?

This has become the Obama legacy...especially in the US where he skips normal protocols and meets with people of like color and religion...leaving the majority of Americans shaking their heads...

Obama legacy, don't make me laugh.

It's his job.

Wasn't it Congress who invited a foreign head of state to address them in an attempt to undermine their own president?

"Normal protocol" is just something you're making up.

[Chicog]

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

Actually it didn't make international headlines.

Just speaking as someone who lives internationally.

This did:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-scalia-idUSKCN0VS0DP

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35618386

http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/02/19/obama-pays-respects-justice-scalia-supreme-court

Best give up on the Trump technique of posting falsehoods and hoping no-one notices.

Added: Were you planning on telling us that he was playing golf instead?

http://www.snopes.com/obama-snubs-scalias-funeral/

[sirineou]

Attending the funeral of a white member of the Supreme Court even if you disagree with his ideology. Not attending makes a statement and brings international headlines simply because attending is normal protocol.

Cheers.

Actually it didn't make international headlines.

Just speaking as someone who lives internationally.

This did:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-scalia-idUSKCN0VS0DP

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35618386

http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/02/19/obama-pays-respects-justice-scalia-supreme-court

Best give up on the Trump technique of posting falsehoods and hoping no-one notices.

Added: Were you planning on telling us that he was playing golf instead?

http://www.snopes.com/obama-snubs-scalias-funeral/

Very good links, But why let facts get in the way of a good prejudice?

Let the good O'll boys have their fun until Trump makes America great for them again. Wink Wink

You know Great like it was in the Fifties when everyone knew their place.

Imagine, a Negro ? be president, and be good at it........ what is this word coming to, next thing you know they would want Medical care and education for every one, And And , wait for it,,,,,,,and equal pay for women.

Obama meet with whom ever he wants? Only Trump should be allowed to do that, I mean Obama don't even have Orange hair.

[sirineou]

^^^^^^Oh wait,

and Obama is not American because one of his parents was not from America while Trump is because his Father was born in the State of NY and his mother was born in the State of UK

and Trump's father was a real american he was even in the KKK

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/28/in-1927-donald-trumps-father-was-arrested-after-a-klan-riot-in-queens/