Journalists paid to blast Castro

[Et in Arcadia ego]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/09/08/journalists.paid.ap/index.html">www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/am...index.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>*excerpt:</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br><br>"MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Ten South Florida journalists were reportedly paid thousands of dollars by the federal government for broadcasts aimed at undermining Cuban President Fidel Castro.<br><br>Pablo Alfonso, who reported on Cuba and wrote an opinion column for El Nuevo Herald -- the Miami Herald's Spanish-language sister paper -- was paid almost $175,000 since 2001 by the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting to host shows on Radio and TV Marti, according to government documents obtained by The Miami Herald, which reported the story Friday.<br><br>Olga Connor, a freelance reporter who wrote about Cuban culture for El Nuevo Herald, received about $71,000, and staff reporter Wilfredo Cancio Isla, who covered the Cuban exile community and politics, was paid almost $15,000 in the last five years, The Miami Herald reported.<br><br>Alberto Mascaro, chief of staff of the U.S. Cuban broadcasting office, confirmed to The Associated Press that all 10 journalists had received payments but said he did not have the details and declined to comment further."<br><br>My favorite part:<br><br>"Hart said most guests receive payment, adding, "<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>for decades, some of the most prominent journalists in America have been paid to be on Voice of America.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->" He acknowledged that in recent years the practice has become far less common.<br><br>The Cuban government has long accused the United States of paying South Florida journalists to promote anti-government propaganda."<br><br>Yeah, and I got to grow up right in the middle of the shitstorm these asshole government shills generated in Miami every time they opened their mouths inflaming the highly inflammable Cuban population in Miami.<br><br>They did a heckuva job, lemme tell you.. <p>____________________<br>Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night.</p><i></i>

[sunny]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Yeah, and I got to grow up right in the middle of the shitstorm these asshole government shills generated in Miami every time they opened their mouths inflaming the highly inflammable Cuban population in Miami.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br><br>Some years ago, my husband was offered a job in Miami and he really wanted to go, but I'm like, hell no, I ain't living in the Banana Republic of Miami. I once heard a fellow on the radio talking about the extreme intimidation of people like him, a journalist who had written some positive things about Cuba's education and health care systems. He claimed people had been killed for perceived support of Castro, and said if you wanted to live in peace down there, it was best to keep your mouth shut.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[Et in Arcadia ego]

I had no idea just how insane Miami was as a place to live until I moved to Ft Lauderdale; throughout my childhood, I just thought it was life in the city(I grew up within 10 miles of Carter's 'Tent City'.<br><br>The difference of being just 30-40 miles to the north of Miami was a profound one. <p>____________________<br>Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night.</p><i></i>