Lincoln Diaz-Balart

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Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
In office
1993-present
Preceded by None (District created after the 1990 census)
Succeeded by Incumbent
Born August 13, 1954
Havana, Cuba
Political party Republican
Spouse Cristina Diaz-Balart
Religion Roman Catholic

Lincoln Diaz-Balart (born August 13, 1954), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 21st District of Florida (map). He was born in Havana, Cuba and is the son of the late Cuban politician Rafael Diaz-Balart and a former nephew of Fidel Castro. He was educated at American School of Madrid, Madrid, Spain, New College of Florida, Cambridge University, and Case Western Reserve University. He was a lawyer and a state legislator before entering the House.

In 2000 and 2002, he ran for re-election without opposition. Both in 2004 and now in 2006, he was unsuccessfully challenged by Frank J. Gonzalez[1], a libertarian Democrat. He is a member of the House Rules Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security, and was a sponsor of the Homeland Security Act. Diaz-Balart is married to Cristina Diaz-Balart, and has two children: Lincoln and Daniel. His brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, is also a congressman, representing the 25th district of Florida.

[edit] Cuba

Diaz-Balart plays a prominent role in the Cuban-American lobby, and was active in the failed attempt by relatives of Elian Gonzalez to gain custody of the six year old from his Cuban father.[1]

During his career Diaz-Balart has advocated a naval blockade and military force to be deployed against Cuba, [2] also calling for the U.S. to assassinate his aunt's former husband, Fidel Castro. [3] Diaz-Balart has defended Velentin Hernández, convicted of murdering Luciano Nieves, a fellow Cuban exile who supported negotiations with the Cuban government,[4] and lobbied extensively for the release and pardon of Cuban exile Orlando Bosch, who had been convicted of terrorist acts and has also been accused of involvement in the 1976 bombing of Cubana Flight 455 which killed 73 people, helping organize an "Orlando Bosch day" to gain support for his release.[5] He also attempted to block Jimmy Carter's visit to the island in 2004. [6]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Politicization of Elian Gonzalez Often at Cross-Purposes With Law. CNN transcripts.
  2. ^ Ann Louise Bardach. Cuba confidential. p50
  3. ^ Congressman Diaz-Balart Says U.S. Should Consider Assassination of Fidel Castro. Wayne Smith. CIP senior fellow. March 31, 2004.
  4. ^ Our Man's in Miami. Patriot or Terrorist? Washington Post. April 17, 2005.
  5. ^ The ghost of terror past. Salon.com.
    ‡ Who is a terrorist? South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Wayne S. Smith. May 31, 2002.
    ° Congressman Diaz-Balart Says U.S. Should Consider Assassination of Fidel Castro. Wayne Smith. CIP senior fellow. March 31, 2004.
  6. ^ Ann Louise Bardach. Cuba confidential. p351. "Ignoring the growls of the Reich team and attempts by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart to block the visit, the Bush administration reluctantly granted approval"
    ‡ Will Jimmy Carter Become First President to Visit Castro in Cuba? CNN transcripts.
Preceded by:
District Created		 Representative of the 21st Congressional District of Florida
1993—present		 Succeeded by:
Incumbent


Florida's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators: Bill Nelson (D), Mel Martinez (R)

Representative(s): Jeff Miller (R), Allen Boyd (D), Corrine Brown (D), Ander Crenshaw (R), Ginny Brown-Waite (R), Cliff Stearns (R), John Mica (R), Ric Keller (R), Michael Bilirakis (R), Bill Young (R), Jim Davis (D), Adam Putnam (R), Katherine Harris (R), Connie Mack IV (R), Dave Weldon (R), Vacant, Kendrick Meek (D), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Robert Wexler (D), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R), Alcee Hastings (D), Tom Feeney (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R)

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