Mitt Romney was asked what he would do if he received the proverbial “3 a.m.” phone call — telling him that Fidel Castro has died, and national security professionals believe that as many as half a million Cubans may take the opportunity to try to flee to the United States.
“Well first of all, you thank Heavens that Fidel Castro has returned to his Maker, and will be sent to another land,” said Romney. He then said he would strongly engage the new regime, and take the side of dissidents who have demonstrated against the government died in hunger strikes.
He then turned his fire on Obama: “This president has taken a very dangerous course with regards to Cuba, saying we’re going to relax relations, we’re going to open up travel to Cuba…we want to move that effort forward, not by giving in and saying we lost, but by saying we will fight for democracy.”
Newt Gingrich then moved to one-up Romney: “Well Brian [Williams], first of all the only thing I’d suggest is Fidel’s not going to meet his Maker — he’s going to go to another place.”
Gingrich then accused Obama of being falsely fixated on the “Arab Spring,” while ignoring the true “Cuban Spring.”
