Santana: California State Senators’ Strange, Secretive Courtship of Cuban Communism
California's State Senate has a strange, secretive courtship of tropical communism, having welcomed Cuban diplomats to their legislative chambers three different times since 2017 – among their most repeat international guests .
As I looked into previewing Orange County's race for the 37th State Senate District – the only state senate race in the county – I couldn't help but think back to when I wrote about the chamber's penchant for welcoming the Cuban regime – one of the world's worst human rights violators.
And promises by OC state senators in 2022 that a dissenting view might someday be heard.
[: Santana: CA State Senators Applaud Cuban Regime as Biden Blocks Diplomats From Americas Summit ]
So I followed up.
State Sen. Josh Newman – a Democrat running for re-election this year against former Republican State Assemblyman Steven Choi – at the time told me it was a "moral obligation" to hear the other side after I raised questions.
Same for former Republican State Sen. Pat Bates, who said at the time it seemed reasonable to hear the other side. State GOP leaders also put out a press release criticizing the one-sided conversation.
Other OC Democratic State Senators at the time – like Tom Umberg and Dave Min, who is now running for Congress – put the invite on their Democratic legislative leaders.
"As I think he shared then, he had (and still has) no role in who is invited or recognized on the Senate Floor," said Jackie Koenig, Umberg's press secretary when I followed up.
"When asked by the ProTem he stood with all other Democrats and clapped and he appeared to be in front by virtue of his assigned seat (which is the same for all Floor Sessions)," she said.
"In the future, he/we would be happy to recommend any particular group or individual that you would suggest," she added.
Yet that's exactly what Newman said he tried to do, without success, to the Senate's leadership.
"I appreciate you not forgetting," said Newman, a former U.S. Army officer who graduated from Yale and was stationed in South Korea.
"I actually did ask, very explicitly, toward end of session in 2023," Newman told me, noting that he raised the issue to the chief of staff for the State Senate's leader at the time, Sen. Toni Atkins.
"They said no," said Newman, who has had a wild ride as an elected official in Orange County, running in numerous tight races since being first elected in 2016, recalled in 2018 and elected again in 2020.
After redistricting, Newman – a longtime veterans advocate – declared his candidacy for the 37th state Senate district. The incumbent, Min, is running for Congress.
The district stretches from Anaheim Hills, through Tustin, Irvine and Lake Forest into the coast – including part of Huntington Beach, a large portion of Costa Mesa, all of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.
Newman's challenger this November, Republican Choi , had a quick response when I asked for his take on the State Senate's cozy relationship with a regime known for its horrible human rights record and current repressive wave.
"That's the problem of the supermajority," Choi said, noting the current margin in the state senate lends itself to a one-sided conversation.
"They are not responsive," he said.
Choi – an educator and librarian – has been a longtime Republican local elected official in OC since 1998 when he first ran for the Irvine Unified School Board.
He later served on the Irvine City Council – where I covered him and other officials for the OC Register on a trip to Europe as part of the Great Park board's look at international parks.
In 2010, Choi ran for state assembly, losing to Don Wagner, now a county supervisor.
Later, in 2016 he won a race for the 68th State Assembly District – against former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, who would land himself on the FBI's radar. Choi was re-elected in 2020 but in 2022 lost a race for the 73rd State Assembly against Cottie Petrie-Norris.
Newman, who's been endorsed by a slew of public safety and general labor unions, has a significant fundraising advantage over Choi this year – pulling in $5.1 million compared to Choi's $465,000 .
Newman highlights Choi's stances on women's reproductive rights and guns as a big difference to his record.
Choi was matter of fact when I asked him his positions on those issues.
"I stand on protecting the Second Amendment and protecting human lives" he texted me back when I asked about Newman's attacks. .
Regarding the Cuba issue, "If you ask me, as a leader, I would be more cautious," Choi said about official welcomes for international guests from repressive regimes.
"If the leadership feels they are obligated to receive their request to visit our legislature," Choi said, "then with the condition that they need to have a formal discussion on both sides of the aisle."
"Communism is hard headed," said Choi – who himself served in the South Korean military, next to one of the world's most repressive regimes, North Korea, before emigrating to the United States as a teacher.
"We need to be smarter," he said.
Now, just like in 2022, I tried to reach out to the State Senate's Office of International Relations to hear their side about how these visits come about.
Crickets.
The official silence around the penchant for greeting Cuban communists in Sacramento – speaks volumes about the tricky nature of engaging closed regimes like Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam and China.
While many talk about engagement with these kinds of regimes, few elected officials know how this dance really works.
Closed regimes attempt to do abroad exactly what they do at home.
Silence opposing views.
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