Senator Barack Obama noted this past weekend that he would meet with Cuban leader Raul Castro "only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States and to advance the cause of Freedom for the Cuban people."  In addition, Obama said "he would maintain the existing trade embargo to use as leverage for winning Democratic change in the Communist island nation."  (Christopher Wills, "Obama Says His Cuba Policy Is Based On "Libertad," Associated Press, 5/23/08)

The only problems with these statements is that they contradict his earlier statements, hence we come to Barack Obama's Cuban Policy based on "Mentiras":


THE FIRST MENTIRA:   

At A February 2008 Debate, Obama Said He Would Meet With Raúl Castro Without Preconditions.  CNN's Campbell Brown: "Senator Obama, just to follow up, you had said in a previous CNN debate that you would meet with the leaders of Cuban, Iran, North Korea, among others, so presumably you would be willing to meet with the new leader of Cuba." Obama: "That's correct. Now, keep in mind that the starting point for our policy in Cuba should be the liberty of the Cuban people. And I think we recognize that that liberty has not existed throughout the Castro regime. And we now have an opportunity to potentially change the relationship between the United States and Cuba after over half a century. I would meet without preconditions, although Senator Clinton is right that there has to be preparation." (Sen. Barack Obama, CNN/Univision Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Austin, TX, 2/21/08)
 

THE SECOND MENTIRA:

"In January 2004, Obama Said It Was Time 'To End The Embargo With Cuba' Because It Had 'Utterly Failed In The Effort To Overthrow Castro.'" ("Top Obama Flip-Flops," The Washington Post, 2/25/08)
 
Obama: "I think it's time for us to end the embargo with Cuba." (Sen. Barack
Obama, Remarks At Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 1/20/04)


AND JUST TO BE FAIR - HERE IS BARACK OBAMA'S MENTIRA ON HIS MENTIRA:

In 2003, Obama Said He Supported The Normalization Of Relations With Cuba. Obama: "I believe that normalization of relations with Cuba would help the oppressed and poverty-stricken Cuban people while setting the stage for a more democratic government once Castro inevitably leaves the scene." (Lynn Sweet, "Obama's 2003 IVI-IPO Questionnaire May Be Getting Closer Scrutiny," Chicago Sun-Times' "Lynn Sweet's Blog," www.suntimes.com, 12/11/07)
 
But As A Presidential Candidate, Obama Has Backed Away From His Earlier Support For Normalized Relations With Cuba. "Democrat Barack Obama supported the 'normalization of relations with Cuba' when he was a U.S. Senate candidate in 2003, taking a more liberal position than he has espoused as a presidential candidate." (Beth Reinhard, "Candidates Toughen Talk On Cuba In S. Fla," The Miami Herald, 12/13/07)
 
Obama Did Not Explain The Shift In His Views On U.S. Policy Toward Cuba. "That position contrasts with the stiffer stance Obama took in a column about Cuba in The Miami Herald in August, followed three days later by a speech in Miami. He called for allowing Cuban-Americans to freely visit and send money to relatives on the island, but said the embargo should remain until there are signs of democratic reform. ... Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki reiterated the candidate's current position but did not explain his shift from 2003." (Beth Reinhard, "Candidates Toughen Talk On Cuba In S. Fla," The Miami Herald, 12/13/07)

It seems that Barack Obama has taken up the flip-flop label that Senator John Kerry left behind.