Obama: Be Like W

Maria Anastasia O'Grady's piece posted over at Babalu yesterday brought up many great points regarding President Obama at the recently-concluded Summit of the Americas.

Please allow me to briefly focus on something O'Grady touched on: vocal support for Cuban dissidents. Obama and his supporters constantly reminded us that his campaign - his mere existence even - was about CHANGE. CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. I'm not going to get into the many ways this has been a lie, but there's one area where I wish he would have stood up and been like his predecessor: speak out directly and forcefully against the unjust and inhumane treatment of Cuban dissidents at the hand of the castro regime. In other words, a little more Cowboy W and a little less Obama Cool in front of leaders such as Lula and Bachelet and Ortega and Chavez who don't seem to understand the whole Cuban dissident concept. The difference is that Obama currently has the respect of his peers abroad, and can utilize this as a bully pulpit of sorts to aggressively advocate for Cuba's dissidents. Bush had the gumption and nerve but not the popularity to disseminate the message. Obama may be the exact opposite.

Obama could have mentioned people such as Oscar Elias Biscet and Antunez by name. He could have related their tragic stories for the world to understand, much like President Bush did on several occasions. Cuba considers "everything on the table"? OK, let's start with these two individuals and continue on.

Of course, that would have knocked Mr. Obama's precious halo off in the eyes of many of the Summit attendees. In the light of who the real leaders are, however, that wouldn't have been such a bad thing. And it would have garnered much respect from freedom-loving Americans. Obama had a great opportunity to place a huge chip on the negotiating table by using his popularity to get people on our side when it comes to Cuban dissidents. Too bad he didn't take advantage of this.