"They're the result of extreme political pressure from Cuban refugees living in the U.S. Opposing sanctions against Cuba would mean political suicide in Florida, for either party."
Not really Joe; they are in line with every action that the US has taken in undermining and removing any govenment that might oppose US policy or conflict with its political or economic interests. This includes an uncritical support for 'Batista the Fascista' - much ignored by those who act as apologists for America's David v Goliath attempt to crush Cuba. This policy has led to the US having thrown its political, economic and military, weight behind some of history's greatest monsters - Pinochet, Papa Doc, Marshall Ky, the Contras being prime examples - and carrying out or underwriting horrific human rights abuses in the course of that support.
Even if it were in any way true that US governments had backed the Miami saddos - what an appalling way to run a country and to shape a foreign policy!!
Not long after the Cuban revolution, a great American sociologist, C Wright Mills wrote an excellent and concise analysis of what was happening there, ('Listen Yankee'), in which he described Batista's Cuba as 'America's open sewer' and suggested how the US might help improve things to the advantage of all - you really should have listened.
Jim Carroll