The latest split in the Republican Party happened this week after President Obama announced that American-Cuban relations would be reset and 50-year-old sanctions lifted.
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Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) blasted the decision and were joined shortly thereafter by Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisc.) and former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.). They either think the embargo has worked or we have coddled the Castros and are leading from behind.
While there is no consensus about the embargo among even among Cuban Americans—the young tend to support ending the embargo and the elderly keeping it in place—neither is there consensus in the GOP.
Five notable Republicans have been upfront about their agreement with the president.
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.)
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
Rep. Chaffetz reacted on a radio show and mentioned the travel ban of old as something that particularly bothered him:
Well I haven’t fully digested it, but I could tell you, I have been not only to Guantanamo Bay to look at our facility there, but I’ve also actually been to Havana. I had to get a religious visa in order to get to go there — I went with Senator Jeff Flake. I gotta tell you, it bothers me, as an American, I should be able to travel anywhere I want to in the world. It is the only place on the planet that the United States government prohibits Americans from going to. And that seems ridiculous.
So, to me it’s a freedom issue, that I think if you, as an American, you want to go there, you should be able to go there. And, now, there are other provisions that I really need to study and look at, but the idea of allowing Americans their free choice to make their own decision about going to Cuba — I applaud that and support it.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)
Sen. Flake was the lone Republican among a trio of politicians who accompanied Alan Gross back to the United States after he was released from a Cuban prison.
“It’s not often I agree with [President Obama], but I think he was right here,” he said. “[It’s time] to try something different.”
Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.)
Like Rep. Chaffetz, Rep. Sanford was bothered by the idea of government sanctioned travel restrictions on Americans.
“Though I have been a critic of many of the President’s actions I think it is important to give credit where credit is due. Accordingly, I am encouraged by the President’s move today to ease restrictions for Americans wanting to travel to Cuba and the promise of efforts to begin a dialogue with the people of Cuba,” Sanford said in a statement Wednesday.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
Sen. Paul first voiced his approval Thursday when he said that “the 50-year embargo just hasn’t worked,” as it has not resulted in regime change.
“In the end, I think opening up Cuba is probably a good idea,” he added.
He doubled down on this Friday, criticizing Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) after the latter said “[Sen. Paul] has no idea what he’s talking about” on “The Kelly File.”