Marco Rubio: Obama Sent a Speechwriter To Negotiate a Deal with a Dictator

"I would say two things. For fifty some odd years the Castro regime hasn’t worked either. Even with Soviet subsidies and thereafter they’ve been a disaster for their country. They have a disastrous economy, no freedom and the people constantly trying to flee. Half the population of Cuba would leave tomorrow if they had the chance to do that. That should be changed as well then. And my second point is the embargo in the 21st century has the different purpose than it had in the 20th century. And the 20th century had to do with the cold war.

In the 21st century, the embargo is about first and foremost, condemning human rights abuses and condemning dictatorships, but beyond it, it's about leverage, about being able to go to the Cuban government and say, 'We know that you desperately want economic relations and diplomatic recognition from the United States. In order for that to happen, you have to take concrete steps toward democracy.' That’s not what the president did here. This was all one sided. That’s what happens when you send the speech writer to negotiate a deal with the experienced dictator."