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| GOP lawmakers blast Obama’s Cuba policy shift | GOP lawmakers blast Obama’s Cuba policy shift |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| This post has been updated. | This post has been updated. |
| Key lawmakers criticized the Obama administration for moving to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba on Wednesday, including House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and one Senate Democrat who warned that an arrangement that was a key part of the shift set "an extremely dangerous precedent" that could put thousands of Americans at risk. | Key lawmakers criticized the Obama administration for moving to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba on Wednesday, including House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and one Senate Democrat who warned that an arrangement that was a key part of the shift set "an extremely dangerous precedent" that could put thousands of Americans at risk. |
| Other members of Congress hailed the release of American contractor Alan Gross from Cuban custody on Wednesday and lauded President Obama's decision to end the longstanding divide with Cuba. | Other members of Congress hailed the release of American contractor Alan Gross from Cuban custody on Wednesday and lauded President Obama's decision to end the longstanding divide with Cuba. |
| The clash over the landmark foreign policy development could lead to an extended battle that does not fall completely along party lines. | The clash over the landmark foreign policy development could lead to an extended battle that does not fall completely along party lines. |
| “This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba's opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) of the deal to secure Gross, which was a key component of the broader U.S.-Cuba agreement. | “This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba's opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) of the deal to secure Gross, which was a key component of the broader U.S.-Cuba agreement. |
| Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — returned to the Washington area Wednesday morning on a flight with Gross, congressional aides familiar with the travel said. In a statement, Leahy lauded Gross's release and said Obama "wisely charted a new course" on Cuba "that serves our national interests in this hemisphere and the world." | Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — returned to the Washington area Wednesday morning on a flight with Gross, congressional aides familiar with the travel said. In a statement, Leahy lauded Gross's release and said Obama "wisely charted a new course" on Cuba "that serves our national interests in this hemisphere and the world." |
| Obama said the United States plans to reopen its embassy in Havana and ease restrictions on travel and commerce with Cuba. | Obama said the United States plans to reopen its embassy in Havana and ease restrictions on travel and commerce with Cuba. |
| Even as some lawmakers lauded Gross's release, they expressed deep skepticism about the president's decision to ease restrictions. | Even as some lawmakers lauded Gross's release, they expressed deep skepticism about the president's decision to ease restrictions. |
| House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement saying, "Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom – and not one second sooner." | House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement saying, "Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom – and not one second sooner." |
| Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called Obama's announcement "another concession to a tyranny" by his administration. | Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called Obama's announcement "another concession to a tyranny" by his administration. |
| Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he supports Rubio's views. | Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he supports Rubio's views. |
| "I think he knows more about this than almost anybody in the Senate, if not everybody in the Senate, and I wouldn't differ with his characterization, McConnell said, according to the Associated Press. | |
| Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) took to Twitter after Obama's remarks to say he will "do all in my power" to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. "Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time." | |
| Republican House members representing Miami-area districts railed against Obama's decision. | Republican House members representing Miami-area districts railed against Obama's decision. |
| Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) issued a statement calling Obama's decision an "outrage." Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) released one saying the president's move was "misguided." | Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) issued a statement calling Obama's decision an "outrage." Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) released one saying the president's move was "misguided." |
| The delegation of lawmakers traveling with Gross was greeted in Washington upon landing by Sens. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Flake tweeted a picture Wednesday morning: | The delegation of lawmakers traveling with Gross was greeted in Washington upon landing by Sens. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Flake tweeted a picture Wednesday morning: |
| Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014 | Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014 |
| Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 | Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 |
| — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014 | — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014 |
| An aide to Durbin tweeted this photograph: | An aide to Durbin tweeted this photograph: |
| Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014 | Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014 |
| Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014 | Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014 |
| Levin said in a statement that seeing Gross walk off that plane with his wife "was a sight I'll never forget. His unjust imprisonment and his family’s nightmare are finally over." | Levin said in a statement that seeing Gross walk off that plane with his wife "was a sight I'll never forget. His unjust imprisonment and his family’s nightmare are finally over." |
| Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who put forward a 2012 resolution calling for Gross's release, also praised the move. "Today, news of Alan’s release brings great relief to his loved ones and to every American who has called for his freedom. I admire Alan’s strength and that of his wife Judy, who has worked tirelessly for years to free Alan and reunite her family." | Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who put forward a 2012 resolution calling for Gross's release, also praised the move. "Today, news of Alan’s release brings great relief to his loved ones and to every American who has called for his freedom. I admire Alan’s strength and that of his wife Judy, who has worked tirelessly for years to free Alan and reunite her family." |
| Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, said that he learned recently that the Obama administration and the Vatican have been working together for more than a year to secure Gross's release from Cuba. | Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, said that he learned recently that the Obama administration and the Vatican have been working together for more than a year to secure Gross's release from Cuba. |
| “I’ve spoken to this president many times over the years and I know that it was his goal to change our relationship with Cuba," Durbin said in an interview. "I also knew that the administration was quietly behind the scenes doing a lot to free Alan Gross." | “I’ve spoken to this president many times over the years and I know that it was his goal to change our relationship with Cuba," Durbin said in an interview. "I also knew that the administration was quietly behind the scenes doing a lot to free Alan Gross." |
| The White House also informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and others of the release Tuesday night, but it was not immediately clear whether top Republican leaders had also been informed. | The White House also informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and others of the release Tuesday night, but it was not immediately clear whether top Republican leaders had also been informed. |
| Other lawmakers closely tracking U.S.-Cuba policy said they were given just a 30-minute advance warning that a "major announcement" regarding Cuba policy was imminent. | Other lawmakers closely tracking U.S.-Cuba policy said they were given just a 30-minute advance warning that a "major announcement" regarding Cuba policy was imminent. |
| Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he is taking a wait and see approach. | Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he is taking a wait and see approach. |
| "We will be closely examining the implications of these major policy changes in the next Congress," Corker said in a statement. | "We will be closely examining the implications of these major policy changes in the next Congress," Corker said in a statement. |