Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Slams Charlie Crist's Position on Cuba Embargo

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the first Cuban-American and Latina elected to Congress, was full of criticism on Monday over former Gov. Charlie Crist and his flip-flopping position on the Cuban embargo.

I mean, the embargo has been there -- what -- 50 years now? I dont think it worked," said Crist on Friday during HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." "It is obvious to me that we need to move forward and I think get the embargo taken away. Really. I believe that."

In a series of tweets posted Monday -- both in Spanish and English -- Lehtinen slammed Crist for flip-flopping on the issue and expressed her disagreement with Crist over lifting the embargo.

"We MUST NOT lift the anti-#Castro embargo until ppl of #Cuba r able 2 have #humanrights," the Republican congresswoman tweeted, calling Crist's policy reversal "absurd."

In another tweet, Ros-Lehtinen said Crist promotes politics that help Raul Castro and not the Cuban people who "suffer under his dictatorship."

Crist's policy reversal has gathered considerable criticism from Republicans, including Gov. Rick Scott.

Florida Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, also pushed back against Crist on the issue. As the son of Cuban exiles, who are the victims of the Castro regime's oppression, I am deeply offended by Charlie Crist's shameful comments, said Garcia. Our community has endured great pain to now have to endure Crist's disrespectful statement. Note to Crist: The U.S embargo on Castro will not be lifted until Cubans are no longer accosted in the streets of Cuba or tortured in Castro's gulag; until the day that Cubans can assemble without fear and a free press exists; and until the day that they can cast a ballot knowing that they will not be physically beaten or intimidated.

It's an embarrassment that Crist has positioned himself on the wrong side of history at a moment when the Cuban people need the most solidarity, Garcia added.