Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

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Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1989–
Preceded by Claude Pepper
Succeeded by Incumbent
Born July 15, 1952 (age 54)
Havana, Cuba
Political party Republican
Spouse Dexter Lehtinen
Religion Roman Catholic

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (also known as Ileana Ros; born July 15, 1952) is a Republican United States Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district (map), having held that office since 1989. She was born in Havana, Cuba, was educated at Florida International University and was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate before entering the House. Upon her election to succeed the late Congressman Claude Pepper, she became the first Latina and first Cuban American elected to the United States Congress.

Ros-Lehtinen has supported and sponsored legislation for the Church of Scientology [1], attended Scientology events [2], received recognition from Scientology publications [3], and collected numerous sizable campaign donations from prominent Scientologists [4]. Although earlier biographies listed her religious affiliation as Roman Catholic, she no longer makes reference to her religion in her official biography.[5] Her mother was Jewish but converted to Catholicism.

Ros is a moderate who sides with liberal Democrats on gay rights. She supports anti-hate crime laws, anti-discrimination bills, and believes gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces. Ros-Lehtinen voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment.

She is also a frequent guest on Real Time with Bill Maher.

L to R: Art Estopinan (Chief of Staff of Rep. Ros-Lehtinen), Actor John Travolta, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Actress Kelly Preston at Church Of Scientology 35th Anniversary Gala.
L to R: Art Estopinan (Chief of Staff of Rep. Ros-Lehtinen), Actor John Travolta, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Actress Kelly Preston at Church Of Scientology 35th Anniversary Gala.

Contents

[edit] Cuba

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen plays a prominent role in the Cuban-American lobby, which aims to put pressure on the Cuban government and encourage political change on the island. She is the daughter of Enrique Ros, a Florida based Cuban business man and anti-Fidel Castro activist. Ros-Lehtinen also advances strongly held views on Cuba, and has lobbied against ending the United States embargo against that country. In 2004 she formed the Cuba Democracy Group aimed at curtailing U.S. agriculture exports and preventing U.S. banks from doing business with the Cuban government.[1]

Ros-Lehtinen's rise to congress was coordinated by Jeb Bush, who became her campaign manager and was endorsed by Jorge Mas Canosa, former head of the Cuban-American National Foundation. Ros-Lehtinen has defended former fugitive Velentin Hernández, convicted of murdering Luciano Nieves, a fellow Cuban exile who supported negotiations with the Cuban government,[2] In the 1980s Ros-Lehtinen lobbied 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.[3] Ros-Lehtinen played a prominent role in the failed attempt by relatives of Elian Gonzalez to gain custody of six year old from his Cuban father, describing Cuba as "that system of godless communism".[4] She also attempted to block Jimmy Carter's visit to the island in 2004.[5]

[edit] Calls to assassinate Fidel Castro

Ros-Lehtinen again stirred controversy by calling for the assassination of Cuban Leader Fidel Castro. She appears in the British documentary 638 Ways to Kill Castro, saying: "I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people."

After a 28-second clip began circulating on the Internet, the Havana-born lawmaker claimed the filmmakers spliced clips together to get the sound bite. Twenty-four hours after the controversy erupted, director Dollan Cannell sent unedited tapes of his interview with Ros-Lehtinen to reporters.[6] The uncut version contradicted Ros-Lehtinen's repsonse and showed that she had twice welcomed an attempt on Castro's life. Though she attempted to distance herself from her denial, filmmaker Cannell requested an apology which has not been forthcoming.[7]

"Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has made a very serious accusation against the team who made the films. You can't get more serious than that in terms of an accusation of gross professional wrongdoing. Her accusation is completely, totally false. I'd like her to retract what she said and to apologize." [7]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Election galvanizes Cuba embargo backers. Cuba central.
  2. ^ Our Man's in Miami. Patriot or Terrorist? Washington Post. April 17, 2005.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Who Should Decide the Destiny of Elian Gonzalez. CNN transcripts.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Rep. Ros-Lehtinen Admits 'Kill Castro' remark Newsmax
  7. ^ a b Tape contradicts Ros-Lehtinen. Miami Herald.

[edit] External links


Preceded by
Claude Pepper		 U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th Congressional District
1989–		 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), Gus Bilirakis (R), Bill Young (R), Kathy Castor (D), Adam Putnam (R), Vern Buchanan (R), Connie Mack IV (R), Dave Weldon (R), Tim Mahoney (D), Kendrick Meek (D), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Robert Wexler (D), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), Ron Klein (D), Alcee Hastings (D), Tom Feeney (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R)

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