In his weekly Friday column, USA Today founder Al Neuharth hailed Fidel Castro for how “he outfoxed 10 consecutive U.S. Presidents” and, recalling a meeting with him 20 years ago, Neuharth wrote that he found him “brilliantly briefed” with a “quick, slick comment” after Neuharth told him that profits from Gannett’s other papers subsidized losses at USA Today: “Aha, your company and my country are both socialistic!” Neuharth’s reaction to the oppressive communist dictator's contention:
I paused, said “touche” and lifted a glass of Cuban rum. Then we talked capitalism and socialism and sports until 3:55 a.m.
How cozy.
(Screen shot is from a 2004 Smithsonian event carried by C-SPAN, MRC CyberAlert article.)
Neuharth argued that “our government could have captivated Castro with smart communication rather than castration.”
“USA Today Founder Al Neuharth: Limbaugh 'Idiotic,' Bloggers Full of 'Stupidity,'” read the headline over my June 18, 2007 NewsBusters posting.
For dozens of examples of journalists hailing Castro's achievements, check the MRC's Special Report, with many video clips, "Fidel's Flatterers: The U.S. Media's Decades of Cheering Castro's Communism."
Amongst the featured quotes, this from a ludicrous August 13, 2004 USA Today story, "Cuba pursues a 120-year-old future," by reporter Eric Sabo:
There’s a good chance that Fidel Castro, who marks his 78th birthday today, could keep going for another 40 years, the Cuban leader’s personal physician says....Cuban officials say the same revolutionary zeal that has driven nearly five decades of socialism can overcome the ravages of time....At least 40 different Cuban research groups are said to be at work unlocking the secrets of aging. The research ranges from studying special diets to basic research on genetics.
In his February 22 column, “Fess up: We messed up with foxy Fidel,” Neuharth called for normalized relations, trade and travel with Cuba before he reminisced:
Personal insight into what a shrewd, slick guy Castro has been in outsmarting us:Brilliantly briefed, he opened our 10 p.m. meeting with this question:
"Mr. Neuharth, I understand your new newspaper lost a lot of money. How did you pay the bills?"
My honest but naive reply: "Our Gannett company has more than 80 very profitable newspapers. They helped out financially."
Castro's quick, slick comment: "Aha, your company and my country are both socialistic!"
I paused, said “touché” and lifted a glass of Cuban rum. Then we talked capitalism and socialism and sports until 3:55 a.m.
My hunch then and now is that our government could have captivated Castro with smart communication rather than castration. It's time to talk to Cuba's new leaders.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Castro's quick, slick
February 22, 2008 - 21:29 ET by USA4freedomCastro's quick, slick comment: "Aha, your company and my country are both socialistic!
How true then as well as now.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
USA Today
February 22, 2008 - 21:32 ET by botgSocialists:
explains a lot doesn't it?
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Next Day's news story
February 22, 2008 - 22:55 ET by mikeinmdWhile returning to the United States aboard his private jet, Mr. Neuharth passed over 14 rafts, 22 speedboats, and 6 leaky bathtubs full of Cubans seeking what he seems to hate.
While the number of "dissidents" cannot be confirmed at this time, the pilot estimated that Jimmy Johnson passed fewer people all last year.
Mike
February 22, 2008 - 23:11 ET by BlondeIn December I took a trip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas (70 miles west of Key West).
They had some of the "boats" the Cubans recently used to escape Castro's Cuba. Unfortunately, my camera battery went TU five minutes before we got there....those little boats made me cry. Seriously.
What a testament to the great Fidel & his commie Cuba....that 20 or 30 people would risk their lives and their children's lives in a handmade craft (some were oil barrels covered with canvas...tied together with ropes, with a cobbled together engine, hand-made tiller, etc.)
Oh how I wish I had a picture to post here. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words....and a picture of one of those pathetic little boats is all the indictment necessary for Fidel.
P.S. I'm still waiting for the Fidel es Muerte party in Miami.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Thanks for sharing
February 23, 2008 - 10:49 ET by mikeinmdThanks for sharing that story. People dismiss evil all the time when it's not them being affected. It makes me sick to my stomach everytime I hear some Hollywood zombie gush over him. They all act like they're SO damn passionate, all the time not giving a rat's ass abouth the Cuban people, but hey, they've got State Sponsored Health Care, isn't Fidel wonderful ??
How quaint...
February 22, 2008 - 21:37 ET by c5thenCastro took a shining gold bar of the Caribbean and turned it into a turd with some gold flecks still left over. The MSM? They point out the gold flecks and say "how pretty".
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Neuharth needs a reality check
February 22, 2008 - 21:39 ET by Lame CherryThe reason Fidel was brought into power was because Cuban mafia were not cutting in the Rockefellers and the Rockefellers needed an offshore base to control contraband legally outside the United States.
These globalists always love communists as communists centralize MONEY so it is easier to haul it in.
So Castro did not outfox any American President. Rockefellers almost started a nuclear holocaust by bringing their buddies from Moscow into Havana.
The entire purpose of the deal was simple:
They got a carte blanche that Castro would be kept in power and the Soviets would not put nukes into Cuba.
The immoral of the story being simple. Castro has been forging dollars and passports, promoting cocaine terrorism and laundering billions in drug traffic all for Neuharth's buddies.
The blood is on Neuharth's hands.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
"I paused, said
February 22, 2008 - 22:03 ET by muh-oonLove of totalitarians
February 22, 2008 - 22:24 ET by needleI have always theorized that with people like Al Neuharth their obsessive hatred of the Nazis was not so much out of genuine abhorrence, but as a way of “nuancing” their love of totalitarians.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Notice how all of these
February 22, 2008 - 22:26 ET by bws53Notice how all of these Castro-lovers seem to live some place other than Cuba?
Are they smart?
February 23, 2008 - 10:33 ET by ThisnThat"what a shrewd, slick guy Castro has been in outsmarting us".
Yeah, let's focus on Castro, not on the Cubans, Neuharth you dolt. Castro has turned Cuba into a hellhole, and Neuharth thinks its grand that "He has outsmarted 10 presidents". Drink another toaste, Neuharth, and watch some more people die today in Cuba's Socialist Utopia.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Thats great Bw, I said the
February 23, 2008 - 14:05 ET by USA4freedomThats great Bw, I said the same thing to my wife just the other day. Notice how great Cuba is when you are off the island.
People vote with their feet, or flippers...
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party,the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Neuharth in a usual tiresome
February 22, 2008 - 22:30 ET by ConservativeRexNeuharth in a usual tiresome expose on nothing new. He is just another in a long line of Neo-Stalinist infecting our nations editorial offices. So Fidelito is his hero? I'm not suprised, Raul will be now.
There’s a good chance
February 22, 2008 - 22:34 ET by mikeinmdThere’s a good chance that Fidel Castro, who marks his 78th birthday today, could keep going for another 40 years, the Cuban leader’s personal physician says....Cuban officials say the same revolutionary zeal that has driven nearly five decades of socialism can overcome the ravages of time....At least 40 different Cuban research groups are said to be at work unlocking the secrets of aging. The research ranges from studying special diets to basic research on genetics.
The reports of my demise are, um, well.....pretty damn accurate,actually
Buy USA Today-no way. I will
February 22, 2008 - 23:46 ET by NortoBuy USA Today-no way. I will think twice b4 buying another.
All it's good for
February 23, 2008 - 00:00 ET by RiharI believe Jim Rome is on to something when he calls USA Today the "tri-color fishwrap".
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
Subscription stopped
February 23, 2008 - 10:36 ET by ThisnThatYeah, I stopped my subscription years ago, and haven't regretted a single day.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
We all new how warm, cuddly
February 23, 2008 - 01:01 ET by CJK51We all knew how warm, cuddly and huggable ole' Fidel was, but now we find out he's witty and well-briefed. I think it's about time we add his smiling, cigar-chomping visage to Mount Rushmore since his accomplishments clearly dwarf those of the four presidents now there.
Hard to believe a bright, colorful piece of crap like USA Today was founded by this guy, isn't it?
tongue-tied
February 23, 2008 - 07:56 ET by Mica the MagnificentNow I know why I never read about the women of Fidel or Al.
Sounds like Al went from starry-eyed to dewey-eyed to tongue-tied.
Get a room.
The face of our real
February 23, 2008 - 11:37 ET by buddycThe face of our real enemy. He has embraced communism for others, not for him, he is a traitor to our military and he has totally corrupted and destroyed the concept of a fair and impartial press.
He is the scum of the earth.
Scum
February 23, 2008 - 12:11 ET by iveseenitall"He is the scum of the earth"--hear,hear!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
"Outfoxed"? No. We always
February 23, 2008 - 15:01 ET by rbosque"Outfoxed"?
No. We always had the power to kill that tyrannt along with the rest of the island. He lived because we let him live. (unfortunately)