• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 11 / 18 / 2010

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Tampa travel agency owner Vicente Amor and Washington attorney Tony Martinez are gathering pro-normalization activists for a strategy meeting in Tampa Dec. 10 and 11. Long-time lobbyist Albert A. Fox Jr. is working closely with Amor and Martinez.

The Nov. 2 mid-term elections returned the U.S. House of Representatives to Republican control, and anti-Castro activist Ileana Ros-Lehtinen will be chairing the key House Foreign Affairs Committee, reducing chances of embargo-easing legislation to pass for at least two years.

“The results of the recent Congressional elections taught us some very important lessons,” Amor, owner of the Flor Caribe travel agency, said in an invitation letter for the meeting. “We are not going to change U.S.-Cuba policy by continuing the same arguments of the past. Only through a concerted political effort, working together and speaking with one voice, will we achieve our goal of lifting the travel ban to Cuba and ultimately diplomatic relations with Cuba.” Rep. Bill Delahunt and local elected officials may attend the meeting, according to Martinez.

Topics of brainstorming sessions may include strategies to influence Congress, the White House, Florida and Tampa, and a U.S.-Cuba Political Action Committee. One of Al Fox’s main suggestions has been campaign funding for Congressional candidates likely to take a pro-normalization stance.

The group hopes that if Tampa “breaks ranks with Miami …, U.S.-Cuba relations will be greatly enhanced.”

On Dec. 3, the Cuban Interests Section in Washington will host a reception for a delegation from Tampa.

Source: www.cubastandard.com/2010/11/17/activists-to-ponder-post-election-cuba-s...