Senator Dodd issued the following statement on Fidel Castro’s decision to step aside:

“The United States’ embargo on Cuba is one of the most backward and ineffective foreign policies in history. Today, America has an opportunity to finally turn a new page. We must begin the process of opening up diplomatic and commercial relations with Havana, and help Cuba and the United States transition to a new era and relationship – one of freedom, democracy, and prosperity for the Cuban people, and one of mutual respect between our two nations.”

Dodd’s Cuba policy received great praise on the campaign trail. You can read it here.

Steve Clemons has issued a challenge to the Democratic presidential candidates to offer a transformational vision to US-Cuba policy.  Clemons writes:

This is a huge potential pivot point in US-Cuba relations. Will Hillary Clinton step up to the plate — and will Obama move beyond the somewhat timid proposals he offered previously and go to the gold standard in US-Cuba relations articulated by Senator Chris Dodd?

It would be great to see Clinton and Obama adopt similar Cuba stance to Dodd’s.  Obama comes closer to offering a change in policy, but Clinton has essentially promised to continue our current nonsensical policy towards Cuba. At this point, neither seem sufficient for shaping what direction America should go in our relationship with Cuba.