{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e51c85c1-a704-4983-b211-590cc053d60b", "ICYMI: Rubio: New Cuba Policy Is A Victory For Oppression", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A Victory for Oppression     By Senator Marco Rubio     The Wall Street Journal      December 18, 2014     http://www.wsj.com/articles/marco-rubio-the-turning-point-in-relations-with-cuba-1418862936?KEYWORDS=rubio\u00a0  \r\nThe announcement by President Obama on Wednesday giving the Castro regime diplomatic legitimacy and access to American dollars isn\u2019t just bad for the oppressed Cuban people, or for the millions who live in exile and lost everything at the hands of the dictatorship. Mr. Obama\u2019s new Cuba policy is a victory for oppressive governments the world over and will have real, negative consequences for the American people.\r\n   \r\nSince the U.S. severed diplomatic relations in 1961, the Castro family has controlled the country and the economy with an iron fist that punishes Cubans who speak out in opposition and demand a better future. Under the Castros, Cuba has also been a central figure in terrorism, narco-trafficking and all manner of misery and mayhem in our hemisphere.\r\n \r\nAs a result, it has been the policy and law of the U.S. to make clear that re-establishing diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba is possible\u2014but only once the Cuban government stops jailing political opponents, protects free speech, and allows independent political parties to be formed and to participate in free and fair elections.\r\n   \r\nThe opportunity for Cuba to normalize relations with the U.S. has always been there, but the Castro regime has never been interested in changing its ways. Now, thanks to President Obama\u2019s concessions, the regime in Cuba won\u2019t have to change.\r\n \r\nThe entire policy shift is based on the illusion\u2014in fact, on the lie\u2014that more commerce and access to money and goods will translate to political freedom for the Cuban people. Cuba already enjoys access to commerce, money and goods from other nations, and yet the Cuban people are still not free. They are not free because the regime\u2014just as it does with every aspect of life\u2014manipulates and controls to its own advantage all currency that flows into the island. More economic engagement with the U.S. means that the regime\u2019s grip on power will be strengthened for decades to come\u2014dashing the Cuban people\u2019s hopes for freedom and democracy.\r\n   \r\nOf course, like all Americans, I am overjoyed for Alan Gross and his family after his release from captivity after five years. This American had been a hostage of the regime, and it was through his imprisonment that the Cuban regime again showed the world its cruel nature.\r\n   \r\nBut the policy changes announced by President Obama will have far-reaching consequences for the American people. President Obama made it clear that if you take an American hostage and are willing to hold him long enough, you may not only get your own prisoners released from U.S. jails\u2014as three Cuban spies were\u2014you may actually win lasting policy concessions from the U.S. as well. This precedent places a new price on the head of every American, and it gives rogue leaders around the world more clear-cut evidence of this president\u2019s na\u00efvet\u00e9 and his willingness to abandon fundamental principles in a desperate attempt to burnish his legacy. There can be no doubt that the regime in Tehran is watching closely, and it will try to exploit President Obama\u2019s na\u00efvet\u00e9 as the Iranian leaders pursue concessions from the U.S. in their quest to establish themselves as a nuclear power.\r\n   \r\n\u2026\r\n   \r\nKeep reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e51c85c1-a704-4983-b211-590cc053d60b"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5492720995098352, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}