Senator John Kerry appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday, August 31, and answered questions on Cuba from Tim Russert.
Following is my transcription from a videotape. On the positive side, he supports ending travel restrictions.
On the negative side, his view of the embargo and Cuba in general bears no resemblance to the leadership role he played in establishing
normal diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam. -John McAuliff

Q. This is what John Kerry said a few years ago regarding Fidel Castro in Cuba. [Quote from Boston Globe on screen]
He said in an interview that a reevaluation of relations with Cuba was "way overdue. We have a frozen stalemated counterproductive
policy...There is just a complete and total contradiction between the way we deal with China, the way we deal with Russia,
the way we have been dealing with Cuba. The only reason we don't reevaluate the policy is the politics of Florida."

A. That's an honest statement.

Q. Would you consider lifting sanctions, lifting the embargo against Cuba?

A. Not unilaterally, not now, no.

Q. Would you lessen travel restrictions?

A. Yes.

Q. How?

A. I would like to get people traveling in there. I think that people traveling in there weakens Castro.
I want to do what it takes to weaken Fidel Castro. I don't like Fidel Castro. Some people have cottoned to him in our party and go down
and visit. I went to Cuba once and I purposely said I don't want...

Q. But Senator, we trade with Russia, we trade with China, why not trade with Cuba?

A. I don't think we should do that automatically because I think you want to get something for something. I think you
should reevaluate. I agree, I don't change what I said, but I think we need to move step by step in a way that begins to engage
and see what we can do. But I wouldn't just give him a reward for nothing, no.

Q. Howard Dean said that we should reevaluate but then he now says because of Castro's treatment of dissidents over the last
few months he is reconsidering his position.

A. Well he said he wouldn't lift the embargo.

Q. And?

A. That's what he said. Reevaluating means how do you get rid of Castro, how do you try to begin to push the capacity
for change in Cuba. I think we ought to look at that question.

Q. In travel, what else besides travel?
A. Possibly flow of money, funding; there are things to look at. I think we just have to reevaluate it and that's
what I said. It's an honest statement

Q. And you are not concerned that this may cause you election difficulty in Florida.

A. There are many different view in Florida. Many people feel that Castro uses his isolation, frankly, to have the
most Stalinist tough secret police, eliminate your opposition, regime in the world. I think the more you can put the pressure
and heat on him the better. I'd like to find ways to do it. And that's my policy, to try to liberate Cuba, not leave it in
the hands of a Stalinist police state.