ho really flip-flopped on Elián? In adopting the position that a Florida family court must be permitted to determine the fate of Elián Gonzalez, Al Gore is out of step with the pro-Castro caucus of his party, but in agreement with the Clinton Administration's original position on the controversy. What really happened in Elián’s first weeks here has been obscured by a fog of propaganda, so let’s remember some history.

On December 1, 1999, following Elián's Thanksgiving Day rescue, the INS declared that "the issue of custody must be decided by the state courts." The INS recognized that Elián would remain in the U.S. until the custody issues were resolved, and that his Miami-based family had the right to initiate proceedings in state court. The statement reflected the INS's "standard procedure in the case of unaccompanied minors."

On December 5th, Castro loudly protested the INS decision to grant jurisdiction to "corrupt judges," and stationed several dozen soldiers outside the US Interests Section in Cuba. Talks on US-Cuba migration policy were scheduled to take place in Havana in the next few days. On December 7th, the State Department got into the act, issuing a statement that emphasized the rights of the father in Cuba, expressed concern for the safety of US citizens in Cuba, and reiterated U.S. support for the migration accords with Cuba.

Richard Nuccio, a former Clinton advisor on Cuba, explains that the State Department complained to the INS about jeopardizing negotiations with Cuba over migration issues, and urged the immigration authorities to reconsider their position.

The State Department's pressure on the INS was clearly motivated by the Administration's desire to appease Fidel. Al Gore's Democratic critics, who have also adopted Castro's line on the paramount rights of Elián's father, are accusing him of shamelessly pandering to Florida voters. Well, at least he's not pandering to an odious despot — like the rest of the Clinton Administration.