John McCain

todai __PUNCT__ on cuba independ_dai __PUNCT__ we have occas to celebr the rich cultur_heritag and deep __PUNCT__ root tradit of the cuban_peopl __PUNCT__

cuban american __PUNCT__ mani of whom have ascend to the height of busi __PUNCT__ govern __PUNCT__ and the art __PUNCT__ have enrich and enliven our countri __PUNCT__

in everi field __PUNCT__ and in state across america __PUNCT__ thei bring to our commun their custom of hard_work and person initi __PUNCT__

and for mani of these patriot individu __PUNCT__ while their live and work ar here in the unit_state __PUNCT__ a bit of cuba will alwai endur in their heart __PUNCT__

so must it be for all american who cherish those freedom we so often take for grant at home __PUNCT__

for todai is not a caus for celebr alon __PUNCT__

those inspir freedom_fighter who secur cuba independ over __NUM___year_ago could hardli know that their descend would be engag in a struggl for freedom and democraci a centuri later __PUNCT__

and yet todai __PUNCT__ the cuban_peopl continu to live under tyranni __PUNCT__ and their struggl goe on __PUNCT__

it is not a fruitless struggl __PUNCT__ not by ani mean __PUNCT__

on dai __PUNCT__ america will again have warm relat with a cuban_govern that repres the sovereign will of it peopl __PUNCT__ on that respect their fundament human and polit right __PUNCT__

on dai __PUNCT__ cuba will be an import alli in advanc democraci throughout our hemispher __PUNCT__

make no mistak __PUNCT__ cuba is destin to be free __PUNCT__

todai __PUNCT__ as so mani of you know too well __PUNCT__ the situat is veri differ __PUNCT__

fidel_castro ha pass the titl of power to hi brother in a fashion suit more for a person fiefdom than to a govern purport to repres that proud and dynam peopl __PUNCT__

a few recent new articl have label as __PUNCT__ reform __PUNCT__ the smatter of small chang that have taken place sinc raul castro ha formal taken charg __PUNCT__

such character must sound quit cynic to the polit_prison that fill cuban jail __PUNCT__ to the million who suffer under poverti and repress __PUNCT__ and to all those who wish to choos their leader __PUNCT__ not suffer under them __PUNCT__

the castro regim enforc strict limit against freedom of express __PUNCT__ of associ __PUNCT__ of assembl __PUNCT__ of movement __PUNCT__ of speech __PUNCT__

last year __PUNCT__ as mani as __NUM__ citizen serv sentenc for the vagu crime of __PUNCT__ danger __PUNCT__

yet tyranni will not forev endur __PUNCT__ and as presid __PUNCT__ i will not passiv await the dai when the cuban_peopl enjoi the bless of freedom and democraci __PUNCT__

it is in our nation_interest to support their aspir and oppos those of the castro regim __PUNCT__ on that harbor fugit from u. __PUNCT__ justic __PUNCT__ express unrel hostil to america __PUNCT__ and shoot down unarm civilian aircraft __PUNCT__

i wish the other presidenti_candid felt similarli __PUNCT__

just a few year_ago __PUNCT__ senat_obama had a veri clear view on cuba __PUNCT__

when ask in a questionnair about hi polici toward cuba __PUNCT__ he answer __PUNCT__ i believ that normal of relat with cuba would help the oppress and poverti __PUNCT__ stricken cuban_peopl while set the stage for a more democrat_govern onc castro inevit leav the scene __PUNCT__

now senat_obama ha shift posit and sai he onli favor eas the embargo __PUNCT__ not lift it __PUNCT__

he also want to sit down uncondition for a presidenti meet with raul castro __PUNCT__

these step would send the worst possibl signal to cuba dictat __PUNCT__ there is no need to undertak fundament reform __PUNCT__ thei can simpli wait for a unilater chang in us polici __PUNCT__

i believ we should give hope to the cuban_peopl __PUNCT__ not to the castro regim __PUNCT__

my administr will press the cuban regim to releas all polit_prison uncondition __PUNCT__ to legal all polit_parti __PUNCT__ labor_union __PUNCT__ and free media __PUNCT__ and to schedul internation monitor elect __PUNCT__

the embargo must stai in place until these basic element of democrat_societi ar met __PUNCT__

maintain the embargo is __PUNCT__ howev __PUNCT__ just on element of a broader approach my administr would make to the peopl of cuba __PUNCT__

i would provid more materi assist and moral support to the courag human right activist who brave defi the regim everi dai __PUNCT__ and increas radio and tv marti and other mean to commun directli with the cuban_peopl __PUNCT__

my justic_depart would vigor prosecut cuban offici implic in the murder of american __PUNCT__ drug_traffick __PUNCT__ and other crime __PUNCT__

while our cuba polici will not alwai be in accord with that of our hemispher and european partner __PUNCT__ my administr will begin an activ dialogu with them to develop a plan for post __PUNCT__ castro cuba __PUNCT__ a plan that will spark rapid chang and a new awaken in that countri __PUNCT__

the cuban_peopl have wait long enough __PUNCT__

as we work with our hemispher partner __PUNCT__ we must be clear about the kind of leadership america seek to provid __PUNCT__

for decad __PUNCT__ in republican and democrat_administr alik __PUNCT__ the unit_state ha treat latin_america as a junior_partner rather than as a neighbor __PUNCT__ like a littl brother rather than as an equal __PUNCT__

as a resid of a state that border mexico __PUNCT__ i am acut awar of the extraordinari contribut that our neighbor make to the unit_state __PUNCT__ from trade to cultur to a commit to democraci and human right __PUNCT__

latin_america america_todai is increasingli vital to the fortun of the unit_state __PUNCT__ and american north and south share a common geographi and a common destini __PUNCT__

it is time to embrac thi destini for the benefit of all our peopl __PUNCT__

we have made progress toward thi vision by expand the benefit of free commerc __PUNCT__ through nafta __PUNCT__ the central_american free_trade_agreement __PUNCT__ and our free_trade_agreement with peru and chile __PUNCT__

but the progress ha stall __PUNCT__ our longstand bipartisan commit to hemispher prosper is crumbl __PUNCT__

we see thi most vividli in barack_obama and hillari_clinton opposit to the free_trade_agreement with colombia __PUNCT__

the failur of the congress to take up and approv thi agreement is a remind why __NUM__ percent of american think we ar on the wrong track __PUNCT__

congress can find time to pass a pork __PUNCT__ fill farm bill __PUNCT__ but it cannot stir itself to support a kei alli and further american prosper __PUNCT__

the colombia fta would benefit american_worker and consum __PUNCT__ the u. __PUNCT__ intern_trade administr estim that over __MONEY___billion in tariff have been impos on u. __PUNCT__ export to colombia sinc the fta wa sign __PUNCT__ tariff that would be elimin onc the agreement take effect __PUNCT__

here in florida __PUNCT__ trade ha creat new market for the sunshin state world __PUNCT__ class produc __PUNCT__ manufactur good __PUNCT__ and profession servic __PUNCT__

florida export to canada and mexico rose by some __NUM__ percent sinc nafta wa enact __PUNCT__ and it export to chile grew __NUM__ percent in the first four year of it free_trade_agreement __PUNCT__

colombia todai stand as florida fifth largest export_market __PUNCT__ florida export __MONEY___billion_worth of good there last year __PUNCT__ and now the colombian ar offer to drop their barrier to american good __PUNCT__

yet senat_obama and clinton oppos the agreement __PUNCT__ wish to retreat behind protectionist wall and undermin a kei hemispher alli __PUNCT__

the strateg implic of reject thi agreement ar profound __PUNCT__

colombia is a beacon of hope in a region where the castro brother __PUNCT__ hugo_chavez __PUNCT__ and other ar activ seek to thwart econom progress and democraci __PUNCT__

delai approv of the colombian free_trade_agreement will not creat on american_job or start on american_busi __PUNCT__ but it will divid us from our colombian partner at a time when thei ar battl the farc terrorist and their alli drug_cartel __PUNCT__

it will undercut america stand with our alli in a critic region and across the world __PUNCT__ at a moment when rebuild these relationship ha never been more import __PUNCT__

it will set back the goal of deepen relat with our neighbor to the south and enhanc the stabil __PUNCT__ peac __PUNCT__ and prosper of our hemispher __PUNCT__

if i am elect_presid __PUNCT__ the unit_state will not bow to the special_interest seek to block progress __PUNCT__

instead __PUNCT__ we will forg a new polici toward latin_america and the caribbean basin __PUNCT__ on found on peac and secur __PUNCT__ share_prosper __PUNCT__ democraci and freedom __PUNCT__ and mutual respect __PUNCT__

we will work to prevent venezuela and bolivia from take the same road to failur castro ha pave for cuba __PUNCT__ and we will broaden and strengthen ti with kei state like brazil __PUNCT__ peru __PUNCT__ and chile __PUNCT__

we will make_clear to all countri in the region that if thei share our valu of freedom and open __PUNCT__ thei can count on us as a friend __PUNCT__

we will not abandon our partner to demagogu __PUNCT__ drug lord __PUNCT__ and despair __PUNCT__ but expand the benefit of secur __PUNCT__ trade and prosper to all __PUNCT__

my vision embodi the interest and the valu of america and seek the better of all peopl __PUNCT__ everywher in our hemispher __PUNCT__

and it is a vision that includ the peopl of cuba __PUNCT__

courag men found their call at the begin of the last centuri in win for cuba it independ __PUNCT__

and those brave men and women who stand up for their right todai will __PUNCT__ on dai soon __PUNCT__ win for cuba it freedom __PUNCT__

when thei do __PUNCT__ thei will enjoi not onli the fruit of their own liber __PUNCT__ but also the firm and fast friendship of all american who have stood with them throughout the year of struggl __PUNCT__

on thi cuban independ_dai __PUNCT__ let us take a moment to prai that cuban everywher can on dai soon enjoi the liberti for which their forefath fought __PUNCT__