Sanders under fire from Democrats over praise for Castro regime

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) came under heavy criticism from Democrats on Monday after he suggested in a new interview that it was “unfair to simply say everything is bad” under the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s rule. The uproar underscored Democrats’ fears of how Sanders would fare in the key swing state of Florida, where even remote praise of Castro is anathema to the hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans who live there.

House Democrats already fighting against GOP attempts to label them as socialists forcefully pushed back against Sanders, calling his remarks “absolutely unacceptable,” “ill-informed” and appearing to “sing the praises of a murderous tyrant.” Florida Democrats made clear they don’t want to be associated with even a whiff of praise for the Castro regime.

Sanders, fresh off his victory in the Nevada caucuses over the weekend, defended his past comments in stating that Cubans didn’t help the U.S. overthrow Castro because he “educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society.”

Monday offered an early test of the challenges Democrats down the ballot would face if Sanders is the nominee and they have to respond to his past praise for aspects of socialism in other countries.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/484414-sanders-under-fire-from-democrats-over-praise-for-castro-regime