rican government or Elian, but Fidel Castro and his communist regime. Cuban-American Ledia Chavez who supported Lazaro disgustedly stated, "We knew Castro had the power in Cuba, but we didn't know he had it here, too." Janet Reno sympathized with the community's feelings in a statement by calling Castro "a dictator from whom thousands have fled." Governor Jeb Bush showed his recognition of the emotion by commenting, "I think a lot of people are passionate about this because they have suffered at the hands of Fidel Castro." These passions, however, may be the cause of some political unrest between the Miami-Washington alliance. Experts say that Cuban-Americans in Miami stand to lose some of their lobbying power after having notable influence over U.S. policy on Cuba. In the past, Congress tended to look to Cuban-Americans for guidance and leadership. As for the governmental aspect, Attorney General Janet Reno and Vice President Al Gore are at risk of losing favor in the eyes of the Miamians. "The political price for Democrats could be a Florida Senate seat and Florida's 25 electoral votes," explains associate professor Dario Moreno at Florida International University. Cuban-Americans represent a small portion of the electorate, but they vote in large numbers in states that make a difference in close elections. Political experts also credit Cuban-Americans with having constant and intense lobbying efforts. Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore, who tends to lose the most from the unrest in Miami, is at risk of losing much needed support. His views have seemed contradictory as the Elian saga evolved. First, Gore agreed with the INS decision stating that the conflict should be handled by federal officials. Then, fearing declining support from the Cuban-American community, Al Gore reasserted his disassociation with the Clinton administration and Attorney General Janet Reno and the INS. Gore now supported Congress to pass a bill sponsored b...
