Cuba Trip Comes with Lots of Baggage

By Warren Rojas

Posted March 21, 2016 at 2:21pm

As unfamiliar ground as he might find himself on while in Cuba, it should come as no surprise to President Barack Obama that detractors have taken to social media to rail against the historic trip.

Commentary about the diplomatic mission, which marks the first time a sitting president has toured the Caribbean nation in nearly a century , is trickling out from both sides of aisle.

Democrats, including some of those chosen to accompany Obama during this whirlwind visit, are continuing to build their case (commercial growth, travel opportunities) for normalizing relations with the communist regime, while Republicans are busily filling the online ether with reasons to keep the Castro brothers at bay until they address numerous ideological differences. The rhetorical tug-of-war has so far touched on:

Managing expectations

In #Cuba for #Obama visit. Naturally beautiful country. Nice,warm people. Very happy. Economy still not good but better. Improvements coming

— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) March 21, 2016

Human rights

Despite #POTUS‘ visit + Palm Sunday, #Castro regime continues 2 savagely repress @DamasdBlanco in #Cuba. pic.twitter.com/YfpnRfIvAR

— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) March 21, 2016

Family life

Eager to hear more from @potus on his historic #Cuba trip & next steps for Cuban Americans looking to freely visit loved ones.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 21, 2016

Shuttering GITMO

#POTUS is in Havana mtg w/ communist dictator Castro. READ my op-ed on why POTUS’ #Cuba, #GTMO policy is dangerous: https://t.co/RgWVGz9KVv

— Mike Pompeo (@RepMikePompeo) March 21, 2016

Bridge building

.@POTUS‘ historic #CubaVisit gives us a momentous opportunity to engage the Cuban people on economic development and human rights.

— Rep. Cheri Bustos (@RepCheri) March 21, 2016

Religious persecution

As Pres. Obama makes #CubaVisit, he should address their poor #humanrights & #religiousfreedom record. #Cuba https://t.co/qICLnuui8l

— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) March 20, 2016

Momentous occasions

This is a trip of historic 1sts. Now another: 1st US National Security Advisor to visit (and Tweet) from #Cuba. Follow along for updates.

— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) March 20, 2016

Free speech

President Obama winning rave reviews in American media for visit to Cuba. Political dissidents in Havana were unavailable for comment.

— Rep. Lou Barletta (@RepLouBarletta) March 21, 2016