Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Grills John Kerry over Obama-Castro Handshake

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry testified before the U.S. House on Tuesday and drew heat from Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, after President Barack Obama shook the hand of communist Cuban tyrant Raul Castro.

Mr. Secretary, sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, Ros-Lehtinen said. But when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant.

Raul Castro uses that hand to sign the orders to repress and jail democracy advocates. In fact, right now, as we speak, Cuban opposition leaders are being detained and theyre beaten while trying to commemorate today, which is International Human Rights Day, Ros-Lehtinen added. They will feel disheartened when they see these photos.

Could you please tell the Cuban people living under that repressive regime that, a handshake notwithstanding, the U.S. policy toward the cruel and sadistic Cuban dictatorship has not weakened? she asked in conclusion.