Bernie Sanders defends his remarks favoring Fidel Castro: 'It's unfair to simply say everything is bad'
With Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders establishing himself as the Democratic frontrunner to bag the presidential nomination following a big win in the Nevada Caucuses last Saturday (February 22), political pundits have become busy dissecting his socialist links more.
In the 1980s, the 78-year-old veteran politician had praised the literacy program of late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro (1926-2016), who was deemed by Washington as one of its main enemies, especially during the Cold War days.
On Sunday, February 23, the past was brought up during an interview but Sanders had no reason to feel uncomfortable.
On the contrary, he stood by his remarks made in favor of Castro, who had survived several assassination attempts in his life and remained a major symbol of communism and anti-Americanism as long as he lived.
Sanders said that although Castro's authoritarian ways of ruling could not be supported, that doesn't mean everything was bad about him.
Sanders backs Castro's literacy, healthcare programs
In the wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview, Sanders told Anderson Cooper: "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?"
In 1985, Sanders, who is striving for universal healthcare in his electoral campaign, had spoken highly about Castro. He said the Cuban leader had given education and healthcare to the children and "totally transformed" the society.
Castro was the prime minister of Cuba between 1959 and 1976 after which when he became the president of the councils of state and ministers and remained so till 2008. After him, his brother Raul took over.
On Castro targeting dissident voices in Cuba, Sanders said he condemned it and it was unlike President Donald Trump who is often accused of befriending dictators.
"That's right. And we condemn that (imprisonment of dissident voices in Cuba). Unlike Donald Trump, let's be clear...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," he said.
'Radical ideas have now become mainstream'
Sanders, who has emerged a distant frontrunner in the Democratic nomination race after his consecutive wins in New Hampshire and Nevada, was, however, "shocked" with the outcomes. According to him: "The ideas that seemed radical four years ago are now kind of mainstream."
"When Donald Trump was a private businessman in New York, he got $800 million in tax breaks and subsidies to build luxury housing. That's called corporate socialism. What democratic socialism is about is saying, 'Let's use the federal government to protect the interests of working families'," he added.
Sanders also spoke on his Democratic rival Michael Bloomberg and the universal healthcare problem besides taking on Trump. Emphasizing on Trump as a tough opponent, Sanders said mobilization of non-traditional voters into the political process is key to beat Trump.
"What we will bring up is that the president of the United States is a pathological liar. And it is increasingly clear that many people just don't believe anything that he says. He is a fraud. I look forward to taking him on," the veteran said.