Elian Gonzalez 10 Years Later

The second image is a recent picture of Elian Gonzalez (16 years old). If you all don't remember him, let me refresh your memories real quick. Elian's mother and Elian sailed on a boat to the U.S. in order to escape from Cuba, she no longer wanted her & son to live in the country that was ran by a horrible Cuban Government leader (Fidel Castro). Unfortunately, his mother did not survive the trip over to the U.S., but Elian did. He was taken to Miami to stay with other close relatives, but his father who resided in Cuba wanted to bring him back to Cuba. There was a long debate on should he stay in Miami with his other relatives or go back to Cuba with his father. The U.S. government made a final decision to release him back to his father in Cuba, where he still reside today.

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It's funny cuz my International Business professor was just discussing this topic not too long ago. He informed the class that the U.S. government's decision to release Elian to his father was the prime reason why Bush was elected into Presidency. The Cuban Americans usually voted Democrat, but after the U.S. sent Elian back to Cuba, irate Cuban Americans changed their votes to Republican. During this time, President Clinton (whose a Democrat) was in office. They refused to vote Democrat because it was the Democrats who sent Elian back to a country that his mom risked her life to get him away from. The majority of Cuban Americas resided in Miami, FL during the time of the whole Elian controversy, which is why it is not a coincidence that Florida was the state that made the difference in deciding who would become our new President, Gore or Bush. My professor told us that the number of votes in Florida that led Bush to win was the same number of Cuban Americans residing in Miami, FL at that time. Hint Hint. So take another good look at one of the main reasons Bush got elected in office in the first place.