Not only did President Barack Obama’s move to normalize relations with Cuba while brokering a deal for the release of Alan Gross take a hit from Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, also blasted Obama and took a shot at his negotiation skills.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” Rubio, a Cuban-American from Florida, gave Obama the label of “worst negotiator.”
“At a minimum, I would say this. Barack Obama is the worst negotiator that we’ve had as President since at least Jimmy Carter, and maybe in the history of this country,” Rubio said.
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Rubio joined Menendez in saying the exchange, where three Cubans jailed in the U.S. were also released, sets a “dangerous precedent.”
“It puts a price on every American abroad,” Rubio said. “Governments now know that if they take an American hostage, they can get very significant successions from the U.S.”
When asked about Obama’s move, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told the Associated Press he defers to Rubio because he is an expert on U.S.-Cuban issues.