Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) slammed President Obama’s decision to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba on Wednesday, calling him "the worst negotiator" since Jimmy Carter.
Rubio said Obama’s notion that opening trade relations with Cuba would lead to democratic reform was "absurd."
"They’re creating no economic openings; there's no concessions on freedom of speech, no concessions on elections, no concessions on the freedom to have alternative political parties, no concessions on ever having elections or anything of that matter. What democratic concessions?" Rubio said.
"This notion somehow being able to travel more to Cuba, and send more money to Cuba, and sell more consumer products in Cuba: The idea that leads to democratic opening is absurd, but it is par for the course and administration possibly giving away unilateral concessions--whether it’s Iran or, in this case, Cuba--in exchange for nothing."
Rubio said Obama’s move shows that global tyrants can hold U.S. prisoners hostage, negotiate an exchange and give no concessions in return, making him a candidate for "the worst negotiator" in modern American history.
"Now all of these tyrants around the world know the U.S. can be had, that’s it’s a pretty easy deal," Rubio said.
"At a minimum, I would say this: Barack Obama is the worst negotiator that we’ve had as president since at least Jimmy Carter and maybe the modern history of this country."