Two House Democrats from South Florida are pushing back at Bernie Sanders, the front-runner for their party’s presidential nomination, over comments he made praising elements of Cuba’s communist regime.
In a 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday, the 78-year-old Vermont senator said “it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad” about the late Fidel Castro’s regime. Though Sanders said he was very much “opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba,” he highlighted the literacy program Castro implemented.
Southern Florida is home to a large community of Cuban exiles and descendants, many of whom fled the country, which has since been ruled by his younger brother, Raul Castro. Many are constituents of Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, both first elected in 2018.
And while the Democratic candidate’s comments came after a blowout victory in the Nevada caucuses, they’re speaking out against Sanders on the Cuba issue.
“I’m hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro,” Shalala tweeted.
I’m hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro. https://t.co/Iwvmay9LOH pic.twitter.com/KT9sQ0pfkh
— Donna E. Shalala (@DonnaShalala) February 24, 2020
Mucarsel-Powell also took to Twitter to share her disapproval of the Vermont senator, calling the comments “absolutely unacceptable” and detailing how under Castro, “unspeakable harm” was done to South Floridian families.
The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.
— Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) February 24, 2020
Later Monday, Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg chimed in to slam Sanders over his Cuba remarks. The billionaire former New York City mayor invoked the “dark legacy” of Castro.
“But sure, Bernie, let’s talk about his literacy program,” he tweeted.
Fidel Castro left a dark legacy of forced labor camps, religious repression, widespread poverty, firing squads, and the murder of thousands of his own people.
But sure, Bernie, let’s talk about his literacy program. pic.twitter.com/3Xqu435uoA
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 24, 2020
