Gingrich Backs Freedom Pact With Cuba

House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Saturday he is committed to a “freedom contract” with the Cuban people to oust communist President Fidel Castro.

Gingrich also told a Miami rally of some 1,000 Cuban Americans that President Clinton should fire officials who were involved in this spring’s immigration policy negotiations with the Cuban regime.

“President Clinton hires left-wingers who love Fidel,” Gingrich said. “They all say to him: ‘Fidel is not a dictator. Fidel is a fisherman and a baseball player’ and President Clinton gets confused.”

A month ago, following talks with the Cuban government, the Clinton Administration announced a sweeping change in U.S. policy on Cuban immigration. Under the new policy, Cubans attempting to reach the United States illegally are to be repatriated, a reversal of practice since the mid-1960s that allowed virtually every Cuban refugee reaching the United States to settle here.

The announcement has outraged Cuban Americans. The greatest focus of their anger has been Washington’s decision to negotiate with the Cuban government.

Gingrich focused on that subject during Saturday’s rally, although he did not directly address the contention of many Cuban Americans that every Cuban fleeing communism should be granted political asylum in the United States.

“We are committed to a freedom contract with the Cuban people,” Gingrich said to cheers and waving of Cuban flags by the predominantly middle-age audience.

Referring to Clinton’s 1992 campaign promise that he would be tough on Cuba’s regime, Gingrich said: “If President Clinton wants to keep his word--candidly--he should fire every person involved in the secret negotiations.”

He said Clinton might even be reelected if he gets tough on Cuba. “A President Clinton who has the courage to stand up for freedom might well get reelected.”