Mike Bloomberg and Joe Biden ripped into Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders for praising Fidel Castro during an interview Sunday night.
“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 asked during a “60 Minutes” interview.
Bloomberg and Biden on Monday pounced on Sanders, who has emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president after handily winning the Nevada Caucus on Saturday.
“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,” Bloomberg said in a tweet Monday.
He then cracked, “But sure, Bernie, let’s talk about his literacy program.”
Biden campaign senior adviser Cristóbal Alex released a statement saying, “Make no mistake: Bernie Sanders’ comments on Fidel Castro are a part of a larger pattern throughout his life to embrace autocratic leaders and governments across the globe.
“He seems to have found more inspiration in the Soviets, Sandinistas, Chavistas, and Castro than in America. His admiration for elements of Castro’s dictatorship or at least willingness to look past Cuba’s human rights violations is not just dangerous, it is deeply offensive to the many people in Florida, New Jersey, and across the country that have fled political persecution and sought refuge in the United States.
“We already have one president who praises dictators and their mob-like tendencies; we don’t need another one. As president, Joe Biden will stand up on the global stage against tyrants and fight for freedom and democracy,” the Biden aide added, referring to President Trump.
Sanders tempered his remarks in the 60 Minutes interview, saying, “We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba — but you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad.”
Sanders spokesman Mike Casca that the Vermont senator’s views were in line with former President Barack Obama who visited Cuba while in the White House. Invoking Obama appeared to be a subtle dig at Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president for eight years.
“Sen. Sanders has clearly and consistently criticized Fidel Castro’s authoritarianism and condemned his human rights abuses, and he’s simply echoing President Obama’s acknowledgment that Cuba made progress, especially in education,” Casca said, who forwarded a link of an Obama speech on Cuba.
Sanders is facing heat for his comments and positions going back decades regarding Cuba, Nicaragua and the USSR as he heads into Saturday’s South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday with momentum. A Sanders victory in South Carolina could be a knockout blow to Biden, who has long been favored to win the Palmetto State but whose lead has shrunk in recent polling.
The candidates will face off in a debate Tuesday night in South Carolina.