Politics

Do Cubans Really Hate Rubio As Much As The NYTimes Says?

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Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Marco Rubio took to Twitter Monday to respond to an article from The New York Times about how Cuban citizens hate him.

“The first Cuban-American to have a plausible chance to become president of the United States is the island’s least favorite son,” the article stated.

According to the article, Cuban citizens fear and dislike the 2016 hopeful despite his parents being from the Communist country. Rubio sees the dislike and mistrust as a byproduct of misinformation from the regime. Héctor Montiel, a Cuban citizen, for instance told the New York Times he was made aware of Rubio from the newspaper Granma which is published by the Cuban Communist Party.

For the record, I'm proud that the Castro regime feels threatened by us. They fear freedom and democracy.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 6, 2015

Rubio has opposed recent attempts to improve the United States and Cuban relationship by the current administration. President Barack Obama even has discussed ending the decades-old economic embargo the United States has imposed on Cuba. The embargo was started during the Cold War when many feared Cuba would be used as a nearby proxy by the Soviet Union. Rubio argues ending the embargo and other similar policies will do more to strengthen the Fidel Castro regime then actually help its citizens.

My goal is a free Cuba. Lifting the embargo with no meaningful reforms will only strengthen Castro regime

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 6, 2015

As Politico reports, Rubio also took the time to respond to other recent criticism from The New York Times. These criticisms included his purchase of a luxury speech yacht which was actually just a fishing boat along with him and his wife’s driving record.

NYT follows up traffic tix & "luxury speedboat" stories with expose of Castro regime's propaganda on me. #nicetry

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 6, 2015

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