Sen. Rand Paul took to the Internet Friday to jab Sen. Marco Rubio on Cuba.
The Kentucky Republican criticized the Florida Republican on his views on President Obama’s new policy toward Cuba.
Obama announced the launch of new diplomatic relations with the country this week, something he called a ânew chapter” in the relationship.
Some lawmakers, like Rubio, were quick to express disproval of the new policy changes â while others voiced optimism.
Paul supported the administration, saying âopening up Cuba is a good idea” during a radio interview. Paul also said the trade embargo on the country âdoesnât seem to be working.â
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, shot back at Paul.
âI would expect that people would understand that if they just took a moment to analyze that, they would realize that the embargo is not whatâs hurting the Cuban people, itâs the lack of freedom and the lack of competent leaders,â he said on Fox News, according to Politico.
Paul jabbed back at Rubio via a Facebook post Friday.
âAfter 50 years of conflict, why not try a new approach?â Paul wrote. “The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. Why not Cuba? I am a proponent of peace through commerce, and I believe engaging Cuba can lead to positive change.”
âSeems to me,” Paul wrote, “Senator Rubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism.”
Paul, who also tweeted at Rubio around the time of the Facebook post, penned an op-ed in TIME criticizing Cuban “isolationists.”
“Even the supporters of the embargo agree that it has not worked. A policy of isolationism with Cuba and engagement with China and Vietnam does not make any sense. Communism canât survive the captivating allure of capitalism. Letâs overwhelm the Castro regime with iPhones, iPads, American cars, and American ingenuity,” Paul wrote.
The sparring undoubtedly has 2016 implications, as the two are said to be viable candidates for the Republican presidential ticket.
According to a RealClearPolitics average of polls, Paul is polling fourth (nine percentage points) and Rubio is polling tenth (four percentage points). Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is first.
