What's the matter with Cuba? Why is its economy a disaster, its people mired in poverty? Could it be . . . communism? Of course not. Cuba's dire straits are the fault of that hegemonistic entity just to the north of the Florida Straits. Oh, and Cuban youth could care less about being enslaved. Don't believe it? Ask Andrea Mitchell.The NBC correspondent appeared this morning at 7:10 am EDT on a special live-from-Havana edition of "Today," anchored by Matt Lauer.
NBC CORRESPONDENT ANDREA MITCHELL: The island's infrastructure is crumbling, crippled by a U.S. trade embargo that has lasted nearly half a century.That was the sum total of Mitchell's explanation of Cuba's economic woes. Although Cuba is free to trade with all the 180-or-so other countries in the world, she offered not a word suggesting the brutal communist dictatorship could be to blame for what Matt Lauer had earlier acknowledged is the 50-cents per day average wage. True, Mitchell was seen boldly inveighing for change to a government official . A U.S. official, that is. Interviewing Cuban-born U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Mitchell made her case for lifting the embargo.
View video here.
MITCHELL: Couldn't you argue if more Americans could go to Cuba and more information could go back and forth, that the society, the island, would open up that much sooner?
GUTIERREZ: Anyone who goes there to do business is essentially encouraging that system, it's allowing that system to be cemented even more.
Earlier, Mitchell found a strange way to make the case that Cubans aren't interested in freedom, running a clip of a guitar-strumming 17-year old boy wearing a Pink Floyd tee-shirt.MITCHELL: Cuba's next generation, more interested in music than in politics. For the first time in 50 years, their future will not revolve around Fidel Castro. To 17-year old Jose Raul Rivera and his friends, Castro and politics are just not important.It's possible that Jose and his music-loving friends might not care much about politics. Like teenagers around the world, they tend to have other things on their mind. But what of the millions of post-adolescent Cubans? Why didn't Mitchell interview any of them to see if they "just don't care" about having no freedom? And if Cuban teenagers are anything like their American counterparts, and I bet they are, they are many who passionately care about politics. But surely Mitchell knows what would happen to Rivera and his family, or to any Cuban, who announces on American TV his desire to see the dictatorship overthrown. Could Andrea possibly be more cynical?
17-YEAR OLD JOSE RIVERA: Not at all, not at all, never do we speak about it. We just don't care.
This is not the first time Mitchell has laid Cuba's woes at Uncle Sam's feet. As I documented here, just last month she claimed that in Cuba, "there have been no major problems, other than the continuing economic difficulties that of course this country faces because of the U.S. embargo, the economic embargo."
Alan, are you listening? How about a crash course for the missus in Freedom and Free Markets 101?
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Cuber
June 5, 2007 - 08:16 ET by chuckshickOh, but as Matt Lauer said, the education and health care system are the envy of the world. I almost choked on my Wheaties.
Matt, If the health system is
June 5, 2007 - 08:36 ET by florida_chadMatt, If the health system is so good, why did Castro fly in a doctor from elsewhere for his operation? Why didn't he use a cuban doctor?
Cuban Health care
June 5, 2007 - 08:40 ET by Cool ArrowBecause it's rare for a resident Cuban to live as long as Castro.
Hey Riled One. How are ya tod
June 5, 2007 - 08:47 ET by florida_chadHey Riled One. How are ya today?
The cubans die young, but at least they can read. I guess that is a fair trade ;(
Wunnerful chad
June 5, 2007 - 08:52 ET by Cool ArrowWonder why we are the cause of every ill in the world. Must be one of those medrassah things where everybody's poor because the US has all the possible wealth in the world.
Everybody hates #1. I underst
June 5, 2007 - 09:00 ET by florida_chadEverybody hates #1. I understand that, but there are so many American's that blame us first also. That is what I don't understand.
American guilt, chad
June 5, 2007 - 09:03 ET by Cool ArrowIt's as if we need to apologize for our success.
American liberal guilt. I lik
June 5, 2007 - 09:06 ET by florida_chadAmerican liberal guilt.
I liked your other tag line better. Especially when you are on a GW thread.
Pass the airsick bag...
June 5, 2007 - 08:38 ET by goldenthroatChuckshick,
Yes, I heard that remark, too, and it made me want to throw up. Matt Rauer and the Nobody But Clinton network once again is adopting the slogan "our minds are made up - don't confuse us with the facts' while once again pointing the finger at the United States, instead of their socialist dictator, for Cuba's problems.
More left-wing hypocrisy, compliment of our wonderful news networks!
Never dance on an empty stomach unless it's a liberal.
The MSM fears "THE TRUTH
June 5, 2007 - 10:54 ET by ZoneDaiatlasThe MSM fears "THE TRUTH" about Healthcare in Cuba...
TheRealCuba.com
Cuba's dire straits
June 5, 2007 - 08:20 ET by Cool ArrowMark Knopfler's new group.
Maybe Cuba needs to revolt against their fearless leader, or maybe they should rely more heavily on the rest of the world who do have economic ties to them.
Everytime I hear or read the
June 5, 2007 - 08:31 ET by Roger the ShrubberEverytime I hear or read the term "dire straits" I can't get "The Sultans of Swing" out of my head for the rest of the day...
The man's too strong
June 5, 2007 - 08:32 ET by Cool ArrowSome awesome guitar work there.
Roger: Cuban kids don't giv
June 5, 2007 - 08:38 ET by Mark FinkelsteinRoger: Cuban kids don't give a damn about any trumpet-playing band. It ain't what they call rock 'n roll.
They want chicks for nothin a
June 5, 2007 - 08:50 ET by florida_chadThey want chicks for nothin and money for free
Look at them yoyos
June 5, 2007 - 08:55 ET by Cool ArrowI have legalized robbery, called it belief.
I have run with the money, I have hid like a thief.
Wow, maybe Knopfler was channeling William Jefferson
Harry doesn't mind
June 5, 2007 - 08:42 ET by Cool ArrowHe's got a daytime job. he's doin' all right.
Great. Thanks to you guys, no
June 5, 2007 - 08:53 ET by Dave RGreat. Thanks to you guys, now I'm gonna have that song rattling around in my head the rest of the day, too.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
I was thinking about that &qu
June 5, 2007 - 09:06 ET by kathleenirishI was thinking about that "Money for Nothing" song yesterday when it was on the radio...I wondered if anyone would protest it being played now because the word "faggot" is repeatedly used, and that's a no-no nowadays, isn't it?
Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.
Its OK to say faggot. As long
June 5, 2007 - 09:08 ET by florida_chadIts OK to say faggot. As long as it is a term of endearment. You have to be a liberal also. If your a conservative and you say it, well then it is hate speech.
Stop it!!!
June 5, 2007 - 09:25 ET by Roger the ShrubberStop it!!!
Then came the churches then c
June 5, 2007 - 09:35 ET by general companyThen came the churches then came the schools
Then came the lawyers then came the rules
Then came the trains and the trucks with their loads
And the dirty old track was the telegraph road
Again, I have to pose the que
June 5, 2007 - 08:22 ET by BeowulfAgain, I have to pose the question - Why is anyone surprised about this "report"? We've seen several recent reports from US journalists touting Castro's efficient running of the country, even under the brutal embargo from us nasty Americans. Never do we hear about the murder squads, the purges, the poverty, or why so many Cubans have, time and again, been willing to risk their very lives to leave the country in less than safe vessels. We've now seen Mikey Moore expound Castro's medical system and how much better it is than ours. It's only "logical" to once again place the blame for any and all of Cuba's problems squarely on the US.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
Castro benevolent dictator
June 5, 2007 - 08:28 ET by Cool ArrowAfter several years the Left embraces butchers like Castro.
Guess they've forgiven him for killing JFK. In retrospect, it was more than a fair fight.
You are correct.... Just anot
June 5, 2007 - 09:07 ET by BDYou are correct....
Just another example of what I call "Pink Journalism."
Yesterday I was thumbing through an old National Geographic dated 2004 at the barber shop and came across this article on Hanoi that positively GLOWED in its depiction of Communist North Vietnamese life.
No mention was made of the communist dictatorships lack of free elections. No mention of death squads that haul non-conformists away to permanently disappear. No mention of economic tyranny and religious oppression. No mention that the group of indiginous hill people we have known as the Montagnards have essentially disappeared after being hunted to near extinction.
Just lots of glowing reports of how happy the locals are and colorufully dressed at that. And an occasional statement like "THe americans bombed all of Hanoi's Bridges during what the locals call '"THe American War.'"
Maybe I have missed them , bu
June 5, 2007 - 09:41 ET by general companyMaybe I have missed them , but I haven't seen any exCuban citizens parroting these idea's? Although they did take to the streets when they thought Castro was dying, in celebration.
They didn't just take to th
June 5, 2007 - 09:50 ET by sarcasmoThey didn't just take to them, they took the streets over, and it's a preview of what's going to happen once Castro finally keels over for good. The sad part is the US and Cuban governments both seem likely to block the enterprising Miami Cubans who want to take the risk from going back after the 3 day party & trying to turn Cuba into an Estonia. Would doing that be risky for the Cubans I've tried to talk out of it? Yes. But they want to try it, and life isn't a risk free proposition. From experience, I trust the Miami Cubans to bring capitalism to Cuba faster than any big government.
JMR
"Castro does not tolerate dissent in any form"
June 5, 2007 - 08:42 ET by RJUsing teenagers to guage the political feelings of Cuban citizens was about as mature as a sophomore "journalist" going one-on-one with fellow students....but elsewhere in the report the obvious reason for their passive attitude came out: (paraphrasing) "Castro does not tolerate dissent in any form."
Self-preservation precluded any other response.
Between pimping for Islamic f
June 5, 2007 - 09:01 ET by kathleenirishBetween pimping for Islamic fascists and all the world's dictators, communist or not, it must be hard to get any real news in, huh, MSM?
Too bad about the internet. All this free speech to dispute your power. Oh, yes. And your outright lies, never mind the bias and somehow always conveniently leaving out the parts that don't fit your agenda.
No wonder you love tyrannical despots. It's everything you desire to be, too.
What a travesty.
Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.
Perhaps I am being a mite ide
June 5, 2007 - 09:28 ET by Dave RPerhaps I am being a mite idealistic here, but I think it sad that a major American media outlet would not wish for others the same freedoms we enjoy here in this country. If the liberal MSM will not support freedom for those unfortunate souls who are forced into living under tyranny in this world, then how can we expect them to support our own fragile freedoms?
It certainly raises questions about the true motives of our own media, at least in my mind.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
The USSR, North Korea and Cub
June 5, 2007 - 10:34 ET by jay_1975The USSR, North Korea and Cuba. Let's see: poor, check people not allowed to voice their opinion, check, leaders live far above what any person in their country could ever attain to, check. There is one other thing they all have/had in common...oh that's right, they are all Communist f*cking countries. When will the MSM stop telling America that Communism is so swell? Without outside support, Communism brings self destruction, USSR is case in point. Cuba is next and if we ever stop providing North Korea (our enemy who we support more than anyone else) they too would collapse. Kim Jong Il's father, Kim Il Sung told him before he died to open the country to the rest of the world as he saw the failures of communism only too late. Kim Il Sung is still revered in South Korea as a great man, too bad his nut job son is doing all he can to destroy that legacy.
Tell you what lets bring over
June 5, 2007 - 10:38 ET by jcrapes4Tell you what lets bring over 1 family whose kid says they don't care about politics or care above being enslaved to the United States. Give that family 1 month of American freedom then reinterview them and ask them if given a choice would they rather stay here or go back to Cuba. Willing to bet over 90% of the time they would choose to stay in this country. If Andrea Mitchell loves it so much over in Cuba why does she not renounce her citizenship here and apply to be a citizen of Cuba????
jcrapes
June 5, 2007 - 10:45 ET by Cool ArrowUnless you've got Janet Reno stepping in again with guns to terrorize the child. Well, at least she didn't go "Waco" on Elian Gonzalez
jay,I agree completely. Had i
June 6, 2007 - 00:14 ET by Dave Rjay,
I agree completely. Had it not been for the West propping up their sorry asses, communism would not have survived nearly as long as it did.
And why we are practically feeding the Nork's army is totally beyond me.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
How Andrea Mitchell concluded
June 5, 2007 - 14:35 ET by Mica the MagnificentHow Andrea Mitchell concluded Jose didn't care about politics:
Andrea: Jose, tell me what you really think about politics and Castro?
Jose: (Strumming his guitar and whispering) You dumb b**ch! There are more microphones in this house than pictures of Bill Clinton in your American Home!
Andrea: That's a lot! But, can you stop strumming that guitar?
Jose: (Strumming louder) No, never! They will come! They will take me away if I talk to you! Go away you idiot!
Andrea: I guess you just don't care about politics, do you Jose?
Jose: (Stops strumming) Yes, that's it! I don't care about politics - I never, never talk about it.
Andrea: (Turns to camera) There you have it folks. Teenagers here in Cuba love it so much here, they don't even talk about politics.