Obama and Cuba: 6 Ways President's Supporters Say He's Right

President Barack Obama has come under a lot of criticism from both sides of the aisle for his attempts to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. But not everyone is against the idea.

Here are seven times Obama's supporters have stood behind him when it comes to Cuban relations:

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1. Secretary of State John Kerry backed Obama removing Cuba from the terrorism list as the circumstances have changed since Cuba was first cited. "While the United States has had, and continues to have, significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba’s policies and actions, these concerns and disagreements fall outside of the criteria for designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism," Kerry said in a statement.

2. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) supported the action because he believes the list should reflect reality if it is to be perceived as accurate. "That list ought to mean something," he told CNN. "I know [Republicans] don't agree with me on this issue, but I think it was the right move to make and I'm glad the president did it."

3. With the Cold War finished since the early 1990s, the change in U.S. policy on Cuba by Obama may also be a sign that both countries are moving on. In the article by The Guardian, expert Dr. Gregory Weeks says Obama’s policy is “symbolically a demonstration that the two countries were moving beyond the Cold War.”

4. Former U.S. prisoner in Cuba, Alan Gross, released as part of the détente between the two states, said now is the time to change the policy. "Five and a half decades of history show us that such belligerence inhibits better judgment. Two wrongs never make a right. This is a game-changer, which I fully support," he told The New York Times.

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5. The economic boost from Obama’s policy changes toward Cuba is a big incentive driving support for the measure. "It’s a big deal, this opening up, and it could really change Cuba and the whole trade with Cuba quite dramatically," economist and Columbia Business School professor Stephan Meier told U.S. News & World Report.

6. Opening up relations with Cuba can only be a benefit to tourism on the island and bring money to residents, say Obama supporters. "This is such welcome news to us," Tom Popper of tour organization Inside Cuba told The Associated Press.

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