Fidel Castro to Congressional Black Caucus members: 'How can we help President Obama?'

How's this for hope and change: U.S. officials flying to Cuba, not to interrogate prisoners at Guantanamo Bay but to meet with the Castro brothers in order to ease the 50-year tensions between the two nations.

The aging, ailing, cigar-smoking icon Fidel Castro had three members of Congress visit with him today in Havana, which resulted in the bearded one asking, "How can we help President Obama?"  In an effort to improve the relationship between Cuba and the U.S., Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) and Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) were the first U.S. officials to meet with the 82-year-old former dictator since his intestinal surgery in July 2006.

Greg Adams of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana confirmed that the three members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with Castro, who handed the communist torch to his brother Raul in early 2007. Cuban state television is expected to release more details of the meeting tonight, Adams said.

Six members of the caucus met with Raul Castro on Monday for more than four hours. That meeting was also a first, as he had not yet met with any U.S. officials since he became the Cuban in charge.

"I'm convinced Raul Castro wants a normal relationship with the United States," Lee said after the meeting with the 77-year-old, the Associated Press reported. "He's serious."

"I think that what really surprised me, but also endeared me to him, was his keen sense of humor, his sense of history and his basic human qualities," Rush said. "I intend to do everything that I can when we get back to the States to make sure that normalization with our relationship with Cuba is given proper consideration both within the House of Representatives and the neighborhoods of America."

According to Lee's official website, the other members of the delegation were Reps. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.), Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), Michael M. Honda (D-San Jose) and Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach). 

-- Tony Pierce

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Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) speaks during a news conference in Havana today. Cuban President Raul Castro met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus for more than four hours, his first face-to-face discussions with U.S. leaders since he became Cuba's leader last year. Back, from left to right, Reps. Emanuel Cleaver II, Barbara Lee and Marcia L. Fudge. (AP Photo / Javier Galeano)

Comments

[Flippy]

Cuban Communists loving the Communists of the Democratic Black Caucus - how heartwarming.

[Brilliant 47-Year-Old]

You can tell me how to get communism "right." You know the way Fidel and Raul have in Cuba.

[Bruce]

Why not? Obama is a Communist and we are turning into a Communist country. Just look at the cameras everywhere, just like in Cuba. I see people at work, unionists, interchangeably wearing Obama t-shirts and Che Guevera t-shirts. "Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand!"

[Darrell]

Fidel, you could help Mr. Obama by passing on and leaving your position to him.

[Cubby]

I guess socialistic regimes like communist regimes.

[David]

How am I represented, by the Black Caucus, as a white American. Where is the diversity and transparency? It's nice to see the dialogue, but how am I represented? Latino's, Chinese, Hmong? I see this as affirmative action, in reverse

[BBob]

"I think that what really surprised me, but also endeared me to him, was his keen sense of humor, his sense of history and his basic human qualities," Rush said. "I intend to do everything that I can when we get back to the States to make sure that normalization with our relationship with Cuba is given proper consideration both within the House of Representatives and the neighborhoods of America."

Right, the commie dictator had nukes to threathen the US in the early 60s. The world was on a brink of war. The Ruskies dumped him when he could not play their fool any more. Cuba still has tons of political prisoners and executions.
Ask the folks in Miami first you clowns.

[kimmy61]

What an embarrassment. Change you can believe in, hanging with dictators The new POTUS and his people. I have just floored. Wake up America. Do we want to look like Cuba? If these guys are so great why not leave our great country and go to Europe, Cuba, Venezuela. Just leave our Republic alone.

[Terrence]

Wow, the same Castros that lined up and shot school teachers, government officials, and anybody that didn't agree with their regime. Amazing that American would praise such dictators. Incredible...

[oakknoll]

Perhaps I am mistaken, I thought the constitution clearly defined who did what. Congressional representatives were NOT the ones to negotiate with foreign states. Then, I've only read it a few times.

[Kenny West]

A man who had business in Havana said he didn't need an alarm clock - every morning he was awakened by the firing squad executing political prisoners. How great to have a new openess with such a fine country - thanks, Obama.

[William]

These are the dumbest three people in Congress. They should be arrested for going to Cuba and then making a big deal out of it. How in the world do these imbeciles get elected, anyway? Our foreign policy is a difficult enough endeavor without three 62 IQ congressmen sticking their noses into it. Isn't there a law that says these morons can't become involved in foreign policy? Of course, Barry may have sent them down to see the murderer who was the "leader" of the Cuban people, hoping for a chance that we might all join hands and sing Cumbaya.

[EricBrodin]

What the black community needs to choke down is that the poorest sons of slaves in America live better here than their free cousins across the pond in Africa.

Ergo...

They should learn to appreciate the fact their ancestors were taken as slaves in then first place, and maybe be even a little thankful.

Once that realization is reached, only then shall they overcome.

I mean c'mon. Is anyone really going to argue that living in a place where women have their breasts cut off is better than here?

[TYPGWB]

This is a SAD state of affairs!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jon]

How can Fidel help Obama? Try helping the U.S. Economy!

This is Obama’s Katria moment: thousands and thousands of people wait help from the U.S. government—because Barack Obama promised—and they get passed over for big corporate companies that deserve to fail and a Europe trip that cannot wait.

Really, if you are going to spend trillions on helping the economy, should it not attack what most experts consider the root cause of this finanical meltodwn: foreclosures.

It’s like going to war in Iraq when the terrorists are in Afghanistan.

[Joe Whiteguy]

When is the Congressional White Congress going to meet with the communists?

[Brad]

Where were the Republicans? Invited or not? Also, why Black Caucas? Is there a White Caucus? Jesus, when are we going to be defined by color. Electing a Black President didnt sent the message.....dissapointing to say the least.

[General J.D. Ripper]

So, why aren't these Congressmembrs arrested for violating the travel ban?

[Josey]

Amazing how that yellow rag douchebag website, Douche Report, link to this worthless blog.

[Mike Mundy, Houston, TX]

Hey LA Times, you trying to get under Gloria Estefan's skin? The Messiah Obama, nor ANY member of congress, should bargain with this Devil Castro under any circumstances! He needs to free his people first!

[george american]

This is why the black caucaus is considered nuts.

[welovetheUSA]

Yes...You can help. Take Obama to Cuba and let him run your country. We are done with him, Thanks for asking.

[moronpolitics]

Oh how wonderful. Castro will be our friend. Let's all have a party and celebrate. This is why the Guiness World book of records has no entries for gullibillity. New records are set too fast to ever make it to a printing.

[Kathryn]

The FULL question actually was: How can we help President Obama take more freedoms from the American citizens?

[jwristen]

The real question is whether these "congress-people" should be given a military tribunal or simply revoke their passports and seize their assets, because clearly they are traitors to the people of the US, the innocent Cubans who have been deprived of freedom for nearly 50 years, and the mere government that pays their salaries. To go hat in hand to Dictator like Fidel shows us what is coming to the US. These people are outright communists. They should be forced to live like an average Cuban