President Barack Obama prodded Congress to eliminate the United States' decades-old Cuba embargo Friday, saying that improving relations with the communist country will help open its "hermetically sealed society" -- even if changes come in "fits and starts." He said he doesn't expect lawmakers to strip the embargo away immediately, and that Congress will need time to digest a deal he struck this week to free American contractor Alan Gross, trade imprisoned spies and ease U.S. economic restrictions on Cuba in exchange for the release of dozens of political prisoners and expanded Internet there. His comments came during a feisty year-end news conference Friday, just hours before Obama and his family boarded Air Force One for a holiday vacation in Hawaii.
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President Barack Obama said Sony "made a mistake" canceling its movie release
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Obama called on Congress to end the Cuba embargo
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Obama said he might be able to work with congressional Republicans on tax reforms and trade
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The news conference came just hours before the Obama family departs for vacation in Hawaii
Obama sounded an optimistic tone, saying he is "energized" and "excited" about the final two years of his presidency even after Democrats in @placeholder were shellacked in November's midterm election.