For her Thursday show on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell highlighted rare joint anti-drug trafficking operations between the United States and Cuba and invited Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio Dominguez on to discuss. The long sound delay was not the worst of the segment as after the part of the initial part of the discussion concluded, Mitchell opened up the forum for the communist diplomat to air a long list of grievances against the United States without much objection.
Mitchell noted that “The state of U.S.-Cuban relations is not good with the Biden Administration and perhaps you had thought it might improve” and wondered “What do they want you to do regarding prisoners, human rights, and other issues that remain unresolved, especially since the protests of some years ago?”
It’s never good when your interview with actual communists is softer than your interview with a Republican presidential candidate, because Mitchell did not even bother to mention what the protestors were protesting: communist incompetence.
Fernandez, meanwhile, went full commie, “And they speak of prisoners, they only speak of prisoners in Cuba, they don't speak of prisoners in the United States. Would be an issue that we could have a reciprocal conversation if it were the willingness of the United States. We could speak of human rights between the two countries. We have serious concerns about the respect of human rights in the United States.”
He also insisted that Havana is ready for a “comprehensive conversation,” but “It is very difficult to conduct that while the United States has a policy of strangling the Cuban economy.”
Mitchell did not push back on the assertion that the United States is on the same level as a one-party police state or that the U.S. is to blame for communism’s economic failures. Instead, she simply asked, “Have you had any conversations about the sanctions and lifting the sanctions?”
After Fernandez said no, some technical difficulties, Mitchell asked the question a second time, “Are there any other steps that you could take regarding elections or some of the concerns that they have raised -- or do you think they have any willingness to lift these sanctions?”
Fernandez again said no, which led Mitchell to throw President Biden under the bus while attacking him from the left, “Do you think that that is because of election politics?”
After some additional technical difficulties, Mitchell re-phrased her question, “Do you think that is because of -- of politics here in the United States? Do you think that President Biden is not willing to take any steps at this time?”
While Fernandez claimed that “it seems so” it is definitely so that Mitchell has a soft spot for Cuban communism as can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.
This segment was sponsored by Charles Schwab.
Here is a transcript for the August 10 show:
MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports
8/10/2023
12:35 PM ET
ANDREA MITCHELL: The state of U.S.-Cuban relations is not good with the Biden Administration and perhaps you had thought it might improve. What do they want you to do regarding prisoners, human rights, and other issues that remain unresolved, especially since the protests of some years ago?
CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO DOMINGUEZ: I don't believe that there's truly a willingness to improve the relationship. And that's a reason why they put excuses on the road and on the way so that we could not improve the relationship. And they speak of prisoners, they only speak of prisoners in Cuba, they don't speak of prisoners in the United States. Would be an issue that we could have a reciprocal conversation if it were the willingness of the United States.
We could speak of human rights between the two countries. We have serious concerns about the respect of human rights in the United States. It's an issue which we are ready to discuss, but it has to be a comprehensive conversation.
A conversation that puts everything on the table to solve the problems between the two countries. It is very difficult to conduct that while the United States has a policy of strangling the Cuban economy.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Have you had any conversations about the sanctions and lifting the sanctions?
FERNANDEZ: There are no conversations on that. It's -- they are unilateral sanctions. There is no sanction from Cuba to the United States. They're all unilateral sanctions, unilaterally imposed by the United States. So it depends on the willingness of the U.S. government to lift them.
MITCHELL: And have you tried to take any other steps to meet any of their concerns?
FERNANDEZ: I couldn’t get your question. Could you repeat, please?
MITCHELL: Are there any other steps that you could take regarding elections or some of the concerns that they have raised -- or do you think they have any willingness to lift these sanctions?
FERNANDEZ: We are ready to take steps on the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship. What is difficult is to believe that Cuba needs to take steps when the United States, contrary to what it has proclaimed, contrary to what was the official promise of this government when it came to power, it got elected, has not taken steps to improve the relationship with Cuba and is posing excuse-- one excuse after the other so that it remains in place basically the position that was put and the policy that was put in place by the previous administration.
MITCHELL: Do you think that that is because of election politics?
FERNANDEZ: I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. Could you -- there's a sound problem.
MITCHELL: Yeah, sorry. No, I'm sorry. Do you think that is because of -- of politics here in the United States? Do you think that President Biden is not willing to take any steps at this time?
FERNANDEZ: It seems so. I think the question is -- has to be made to the White House, but it makes us believe so. That for some political reasons, the strategic approach of the United States in terms of Latin America, in terms of Cuba, is not the one governing the policy of the government.
