The Cuban-American bakery CAO Bakery & Café, located in Pinecrest in Miami-Dade County, became embroiled in a political controversy after Democratic candidate Eliott Rodríguez released a video of his visit to the establishment alongside Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Minority Leader in the United States House of Representatives.
The visit sparked criticism on social media and led the business owners to publicly clarify that receiving politicians did not mean endorsing any candidate or party. The controversy was reported by NBC6 South Florida.
The origin of the controversy
The visit took place on Friday, October 16, when Jeffries toured South Florida to support Rodríguez’s campaign, the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 27, where he is competing against the Republican María Elvira Salazar.
The images shared by Rodríguez sparked criticism against the bakery, with some users accusing it of supporting socialist politicians for having welcomed Democratic leaders.
In response to the reactions, Yvette Rodríguez Cao, partner and marketing director of the establishment, issued a statement to clarify what had happened.
"I have read your messages and I understand why what happened on Friday has hurt you. I want to explain to you what happened," he stated at the beginning of his statement.
The businesswoman was emphatic: “Opening our doors was not an endorsement of any candidate, party, or platform.”
In an interview with NBC6, he reaffirmed the family's political stance: "We defend freedom and stand against communism."
Rodríguez Cao explained that the meeting was initially organized as an informal visit and that he was unaware of the media impact it would have.
"On Thursday, a congressional campaign team reached out to us to inform us that their Cuban-American candidate would be in the area and ask if he could stop by for a coffee and greet the community," she recounted.
The entrepreneur defended the decision to welcome visitors and explained that the business does not exclude clients based on their political views. "As a business, we do not discriminate against anyone for their political opinions, but at the same time, I didn’t know that it would end up becoming a press conference," she stated.
After the controversy, CAO Bakery posted a statement on Instagram to reaffirm its political stance and its ties to the Cuban-American community.
“CAO supports our Cuban-American community, advocates for a free Cuba, and condemns socialism. That will never change,” stated the establishment.
Rodríguez Cao also recalled his family's history of exile and the sacrifices made by previous generations to settle in the United States.
"Our family is here thanks to everything our parents and grandparents sacrificed to reach this country. We know what they left behind, and everything we have built has been possible because of the freedom this country has given us," he pointed out.
The businesswoman emphasized that the bakery is a space for community interaction, regardless of the political opinions of its visitors.
"CAO has always been a place where people chat over a coffee, where families come together, and where our traditions remain alive," he concluded.
Vicky Bakery clarifies that it is independent
The controversy also reached Vicky Bakery, a chain with historical family ties to CAO Bakery.
Vicky Bakery was founded in 1972 in Hialeah by Cuban exiles Antonio and Gelasia Cao.
However, Vicky Bakery clarified that it is a legally independent company, with different owners, and that the visit from the Democratic politicians did not occur at any of its locations.
The network issued its own statement to distance itself from the incident and reaffirm its values associated with the Cuban exile experience.
María Elvira Salazar attacks Eliott Rodríguez
The controversy has shifted to the electoral dispute for Congressional District 27, where Rodríguez is trying to unseat the Republican congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.
Salazar published a photo at Vicky Bakery and harshly criticized his Democratic rival for taking Jeffries to a Cuban bakery in Miami.
In a message posted on X, the congresswoman accused Rodríguez of politically exploiting the establishment and disregarding the sensitivity of a community marked by the Cuban exile.
"Eliott Rodríguez took the man who hopes to lead the socialists in Congress to a Cuban bakery in Miami and, in one fell swoop, demonstrated his limited knowledge of this community. He and his socialist friends turned a small Cuban business into a political tool and left the business to deal with the consequences," wrote Salazar.
"It is an insult to display this ideology in a community built by survivors of socialism and to support precisely those who defend it. If Eliott does not understand the people he intends to serve, how can Miami trust him in Congress?" he added.
Rodríguez responded by accusing Salazar of trying to undermine a small business through political attacks on social media.
The Democratic candidate also shared images of Salazar interviewing Fidel Castro in the 1990s. The congresswoman defended that meeting as part of her journalistic work.
The controversy arises during the electoral campaign
The confrontation occurs a little more than two weeks before the legislative elections on November 3, in which Salazar seeks to maintain his seat against Rodríguez.
Jeffries arrived in Miami on October 16 to support Rodríguez's candidacy, three days before the start of early voting in Miami-Dade.
The visit to CAO Bakery ended up becoming a point of contention between the two candidates, while the establishment's representatives insist that allowing political figures to enter does not imply endorsing their positions.
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