Bernie Sanders’s praise for communist Cuba just became an issue. But do people even care anymore?

[Uncle Joe]

After the debate's organizers aired a three-decades-old clip of Sanders praising Fidel Castro, the communist Cuban dictator who came to power in the 1950s, some really might have expected trouble. In response, Sanders tried to remain true to his socialist principles in praising Cuba's universal health care and education systems, but he made mention of Cuba's authoritarian, undemocratic government.

“What that was about was saying that the United States was wrong to try to invade Cuba, that the United States was wrong trying to support people to overthrow the Nicaraguan government, that the United States was wrong trying to overthrow in 1954 the democratically elected government of Guatemala," Sanders said.

(snip)

Not surprisingly, the audience at the debate did some booing as Sanders tried to walk the line between supporting what he sees as the benefits of a communist Cuba -- universal health care which eats up less than 10 percent of the nation's GDP, a 99.8 percent literacy rate and free higher education -- and the reality of how the Castro regime has maintained power. It is a dictatorship sustained by force, dissident imprisonment and control of information and travel.

Sanders -- a man who joined the Young People's Socialist League in college, honeymooned in the Soviet Union and spoke at a Sandinista government anniversary celebration in the 1980s -- is probably quite a bit more sophisticated than most Americans in the way that he came to express his mixed review of Cuba. And while his views on Cuba and Latin Americans countries might at one time have really marginalized him -- even in a Democratic primary -- when it comes to the here-and-now and today's key issues, Sanders's views do not put him far afield of the mainstream.

A majority of Americans support both ending the trade embargo with Cuba and normalizing diplomatic relations with the country, according to the Pew Research Center.

(snip)

But for now, in a Democratic presidential primary in Florida, if Sanders pays only a slight price for his past comments, that really says something.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/10/bernie-sanderss-praise-for-communist-cuba-just-became-an-issue-but-do-people-even-care-anymore/

For better or worse, Bernie will speak the truth and keep his faith in the American People.

[oldandhappy]

1. Not a lot of room for this at the moment, smile.

[LuckyStrykes]

2. No.

[raging moderate]

3. Yeah, I care.

Communist regimes are dogmatic, paranoid, and ultimately vicious to anyone who dissents or criticizes. The Castro regime was, too. However, all available data suggest that the Batista regime was so much worse that most Cubans seem to have preferred the Castro regime. And that is not surprising. Underworld gangs and their cohorts are really not noted for their excellent interpersonal or governing skills.

[Uncle Joe]

7. What about nations ruled by royalty?

Hillary Clinton, Stalwart Friend of World’s Worst Despots, Attacks Sanders’ Latin American Activism

At Wednesday night’s Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton attacked Bernie Sanders for praising Fidel Castro in the 1980s, as well as for standing with Central American governments and rebel groups targeted by Ronald Reagan’s brutal covert wars. “You know,” said the former secretary of state, “if the values are that you oppress people, you disappear people, imprison people or even kill people for expressing their opinions, for expressing freedom of speech, that is not the kind of revolution of values that I ever want to see anywhere.”

To defend her remarks, Clinton’s faithful Good Democratic supporters began instantly spouting rhetoric that sounded like a right-wing, red-baiting Cold War cartoon; in other words, these Clinton-defending Democrats sounded very much like this:


Vehement opposition to Reagan’s covert wars in Central America, as well as to the sadistic and senseless embargo of Cuba, were once standard liberal positions. As my colleague Jeremy Scahill, observing the reaction of Clinton supporters during the debate, put it in a series of tweets: “The U.S. sponsored deaths squads that massacred countless central and Latin Americans, murdered nuns and priests, assassinated an Archbishop. I bet commie Sanders was even against Reagan’s humanitarian mining of Nicaraguan waters & supported subsequent war crimes judgment vs. U.S. Have any of these Hillarybots heard of the Contra death squads? Or is it just that whatever Hillary says must be defended at all costs? The Hillarybots attacking Sanders over Nicaragua should be ashamed of themselves.”

Let’s pretend for the sake of argument that the horror expressed by Clinton and her supporters over Sanders’ 1980s positions on Latin America was all driven by some sort of authentic outrage over praising tyrants and human rights abusers rather than a cynical, craven tactic to undermine Sanders using long-standing right-wing, red-baiting smears. Is Hillary Clinton a credible voice for condemning support for despots and human rights abusers? To answer that, let’s review much more recent evidence than the 1980s:

https://theintercept.com/2016/03/10/hillary-clinton-stalwart-friend-of-worlds-worst-despots-attacks-sanders-latin-american-activism/

How are members of the LGBT community treated in Saudi Arabia?

What kind of rights do women have in Saudi Arabia?

[kristopher]

21. Deserves an OP of its own. nt

[beam me up scottie]

4. Amazing how so many people on DU don't do nuance. I expect red baiting from the idiots on the right.

To see it here...

[loyalsister]

5. Helen Keller supported the establishment of the Soviet Union

The nuances of history are buried with the US soldiers who died in the name of red baiting hysteria and the domino theory.

[calguy]

6. I certInly don't care about it

And most the BSers on DU don't care about it either. But oh boy, you can net the GOP cares about it a LOT. They are hoping and praying Bernie beats Hillary. Then you'll be hearing about "Bernie the communist lover" 24/7 on your tv. We know it's not true, but many dumber voters will believe it 100%. Bernie will have to spend all his time defending his past statements and beliefs there would be no time to talk about all his great ideas and why he's gonna raise everyone's races to pay for his utopian society dream.
Think About it. A Bernie nomination is about the only thing that will save the GOP.

[H2O Man]

8. Recommended.

Bernie's positions have always been a bit to the right of my own. But I've always respected him, as honest, intelligent, and sincere.

[ThePhilosopher04]

9. Those who care are most likely voting Republican

and the leftovers will vote Hillary. Most people don't give a flying fuck. It's a non-issue.

[Hoyt]

10. Not really an issue. Not like he's helping the big scary "commies" to overthrow America.

Unfortunately, it will be an issue for many.

[DefenseLawyer]

11. You have to get the Washington Post credit. They are consistent, and certainly persistent.

Keep up the good work fellas. Surely one of your 10,000 negative stories about Sanders is bound to stick.

[Uncle Joe]

12. I didn't view this article as negative so much as recognizing the change in American Perceptions

regarding our relationship to Cuba.

[Carlo Marx]

13. How dare Bernie oppose US backed terrorism in Central America.

Like to see Clinton and Republican Cold War fossils use Bernie's criticism of the Reagan sponsored Central American death squads slaughtering priests, nuns, teachers and children as an attack ad. Cuba is the land of Devils; Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico are safe, thriving democracies where the people are abundantly rich and happy. Sorry, all the countries where the US had its greatest influence are the ones closest to being failed states with the greatest violence.

[TSIAS]

14. Nobody cares anymore

Except for a few old Cubans in Miami, nobody really cares about communism anymore.

Using communist as a slur will die out as nobody gives a crap anymore.

[Chezboo]

15. When asked about this yesterday, Robert Reich said,

"What are you talking about? You mean in 1985, some three decades ago, when he (Sanders) said something nice about the Cuban education system and Cuban healthcare system? ... Come on."

[Uncle Joe]

17. And Bernie was correct about Cuba making advancements in their health care and educational systems.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. I don't care

It's a non-issue to me.

[Fearless]

18. I don't see anyone making an issue of comments taken out of context

[sadoldgirl]

19. Oh, it will be drummed up again, but

the same people, who do this, won't mention
what Batista did to his own country, nor will
they mention that Castro in the beginning was
asking to work with the US, which turn him down.

[Uncle Joe]

20. People need to become familiar with the history of dictator Batista and U.S. support

of him, if and when this becomes an issue whether in the primaries or the G.E.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511464860