W.H.: Why Won’t Rubio Vote to Fund U.S. Embassy in Havana if He Did in China?

"Range of engagement that American diplomats have with Cuban government officials will expand as a result of this decision and as a result of our efforts to begin to normalize relations with Cuba. One of the leading proponents of this strategy of shutting off funding for the construction of an embassy and the appointment of an ambassador to Cuba is Senator Rubio, of course.

And thinking about this, it occurs to me that it seems odd that senator Rubio would be reluctant, and in fact actively seeking to block the appointment of an ambassador to Cuba, when earlier this year he voted to confirm the ambassador to China that the president nominated, his former colleague, Max Baucus, who is doing an excellent job representing United States in China I may add. The other thing that I noticed is that in the context of those hearings, senator Rubio said something that this administration wholeheartedly agrees with.

Let me read it to you ... Senator Rubio said, and I quote, 'I think you'll find broad consensus on this committee and I hope in the administration'-- he does -- 'that our embassy, the American Embassy should be viewed as an ally of those within the Chinese society that are looking to express their fundamental rights, to speak out, and to worship freely.' We think the exact same thing can be said of the new American Embassy in Cuba."