Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bernie Sanders defends Fidel Castro's socialist Cuba: 'Unfair to simply say everything is bad'
Fox News ^ | February 23, 2020 | Vandana Rambaran

Posted on 02/23/2020 6:49:34 PM PST by karpov

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democrats' presidential nomination, doubled down on his support for some of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's policies, saying in an interview that aired Sunday, "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."

Speaking to CBS News' "60 Minutes," Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, pointed to social welfare programs introduced under Castro's regime that he described as redeeming, despite the communist dictator's often repressive human-rights violations against Cubans.

"We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know? When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?" Sanders told Anderson Cooper.

Fidel Castro relinquished power to his brother, Raúl, in 2011; Fidel died in 2016.

Some Republicans jumped on Sanders' comments. "It really makes a difference when those you murder at the firing squad can read & write," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted.

In a resurfaced speech given at the University of Vermont in 1986, Sanders praised the socialist policies implemented in Cuba by the Castro regime and criticized bipartisan efforts in the U.S. to tamp down on Castro's spread of communism.

While Sanders said in the new interview he "condemns" any human rights violations Castro committed, he also took aim at President Trump for his unlikely friendships with some dictators or strongman leaders, including North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin

"I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend," Sanders said. "I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Cuba; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: Vermont
KEYWORDS: 2020; 60minutes; bernie; berniesanders; castro; communist; cuba; fidelcastro; sanders
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last
To: karpov

Conservatives should STFU about what’s wrong with Bernie. Talk about something else. Like the efforts of the DNC to election-fraud a Bernie loss.

We want Bernie.

We like Bernie.

The reasons are freaking obvious. To anyone with even the least political literacy.


81 posted on 02/24/2020 4:53:57 AM PST by samtheman (Virginia takes guns. NY legalizes crime. Iowa steals votes. SF poops streets. DEMOCRATS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nevadan

Surprised to see a lot of modern cars. That video could have been made in many cities in America.


82 posted on 02/24/2020 4:54:59 AM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Where can we go on our rafts held up by tires when it works so well here?


83 posted on 02/24/2020 5:23:35 AM PST by kempster (w President of all time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy
He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing?

We have one of those too. The perfect place to indoctrinate young skulls full of mush. And it has worked.

84 posted on 02/24/2020 5:30:38 AM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: karpov

In Nov. 2016 Forbes estimated Fidel Castro’s personal net worth at $900 million....


85 posted on 02/24/2020 5:35:32 AM PST by unread (A REPUBLIC..! if you can keep it....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

I think Trump should continue to label him as a communist ans that word resonates w/ voters more than Socialist. Most cannot even tell you what a s Socialist even is. Then you label the Democrat part the Communist Party. Let them complain, knock them off their talking points, and watch the label stick.


86 posted on 02/24/2020 5:36:25 AM PST by Jimmy The Snake (Remeber)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov
He had a massive literacy program.

But he didn't allow people to read as they pleased.

ML/NJ

87 posted on 02/24/2020 5:38:49 AM PST by ml/nj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Relativity index. Only executing 2 of your children instead of all four is not bad.


88 posted on 02/24/2020 5:51:24 AM PST by USCG SimTech
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: karpov

For instance: Walls are good - Che found them very useful.


89 posted on 02/24/2020 5:59:16 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“... Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine, However, were Stalin still alive, I would feel entirely different with that great man and hero of his country,” he added, softly.


90 posted on 02/24/2020 6:02:22 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Israel is racist. Cuba is worker’s paradise. USSR: Great place for a honeymoon. Venezuela: Socialism on parade.


91 posted on 02/24/2020 6:10:15 AM PST by Eleutheria5 ("SHUT UP!" he explained.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov
"We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad

didn't Trump get massacred for a similar statement about Hitler?

92 posted on 02/24/2020 6:17:23 AM PST by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

I’m always amazed at how devoted leftists and liberals loves Cuba. Cuba is the shinning light on a hill for them, and Bernie is playing to that audience.


93 posted on 02/24/2020 6:50:51 AM PST by devane617 (Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going, will you follow?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

How about all those Cubans living in Florida...


94 posted on 02/24/2020 7:10:33 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

The old commie just cannot help himself. “But Hitler built the Autobahn” wasn’t a great argument either.


95 posted on 02/24/2020 7:31:47 AM PST by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eleutheria5

Diarrhea is chocolate soup.


96 posted on 02/24/2020 7:44:14 AM PST by Eleutheria5 ("SHUT UP!" he explained.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“Keep talking, Bernie!”

LMAO!! This is too great, the Rats are between a rock and a hard place with this guy. If they pull another 2016 and deny him the nomination, the Bernie bots will rebel, possibly even bring down the whole party by refusing to elect ANY democrats, but if they do nominate him, the same thing will happen because the dude is such a hardcore commie that makes them look completely nuts “Stalin wuz a great man, he did a lot for agrichulcha” LOL! “Kim Jung Un, I tell ya, dere’s no crime in North Koreuh” “Pol Pot brought duh people tuhgethuh” “Mao did a lot fuh fashion”


97 posted on 02/24/2020 7:52:09 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cableguymn; karpov

He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing?

No, obviously it’s not. But that doesn’t mean that all of his policies are good or that he was good for Cuba. Duh.

Pick your favorite bogeyman - Hitler, Stalin, Dahmer, ... whoever. You can ALWAYS point to SOMETHING they did that was good. That does NOT make them good people. Made trains run on time. Painted watercolors. Rescued a puppy. Whatever.

If I help the homeless or volunteer at a nursing home and I’m nice to little old ladies, that doesn’t give me a license to murder or rob banks.

Get a clue, Bernie!


98 posted on 02/24/2020 7:57:01 AM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Yes, Bernie, let the communism flow through you...


99 posted on 02/24/2020 8:44:27 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“When Castro came into office....”

ROFL


100 posted on 02/24/2020 9:33:52 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson