But I support Sen. Obama in this instance.

It was right to reunite the boy with his father, and it is right to stand up to those who would insist otherwise.

I think that the Elian Gonzalez thing was about 11 years ago or something like that, and perhaps it's not something Obama really needs to "deal" with at all?

should have gone under the bus with Johnson two weeks ago when they made a sideshow on the Hill.  The guy has to deal with the Marc Rich pardon, in addition to this Gonzales headache.

You don't just take away the rights of the Father because you don't like where he lives.

This is a political minefield. I really have no great advice for him here other than to ignore it. The key would be to rally the other immigrant groups. Quite frankly, the older Cuban community in Florida can go f*** themselves. Along with AIPAC, it's amazing how politicians will kowtow to them They have had way too much influence on our foreign policy considering their tiny size. They need to be put in their place.

It's not an issue except for people who won't be voting for Obama anyway.

There is no law here or anywhere else that allows a son to be removed from his father because of the father's political or religious beliefs. That would open up a pandora's box if it was allowed. Children being kidnapped from their parents to 'save them' from the religious or political beliefs of their parents or where their parents chose to live.

Cubans in Cuba who hate Castro were shocked at the thought that they could lose their kids simply because they were Cubans living in Cuba. As if the politics of the government made them bad parents.

Should govt be in the business of taking a child away from a natural parent merely because a bunch of right wing fascists in Miami don't like the father's politics?

Let us know if the answer is yes and then you can consent to having your child taken away from you merely because others don't like your politics either.

they put forward a position short of ending the embargo that allows for much more family visitation and fund transfers to Cuba. We should advocate the right of families to visit their family and friends on the Island. This would be popular amongst all but the most stalwart Cuban right wingers.

Whew!  When you said he was on the "wrong side of the Elian Gonzalez saga" I assumed you meant he opposed repatriation!  As a parent, the whole idea that a state could decide to take my child from me is abhorrent.  

It seems to be a pretty loaded use of language to say that he was on the "wrong side" of the issue. From my perspective, he might have been on the side that was unpopular in parts of Florida, but he was clearly on the right side and should stand by the principle.  The boy had a living parent who loved him, just as his mom had loved him.

Is there some kind of concern-troll-spam order up over chez FlowBee today?

Obama should do what he believes in. I believe that it was too bad that Elian's mother died. However, once she died, it was best for Elian to be reunited with his father.