Socialist Bernie Sanders refused to retreat from his romantic views on Cuba and its late dictator Fidel Castro, even as the audience of the Democratic presidential debate in Charleston loudly booed him.
The Vermont senator took repeated incoming fire from fellow candidates on stage after he lauded Castro’s literacy program in the 1960s in a CNN town hall on Monday and “60 Minutes” the night before.
“What I said is what Barack Obama said in terms of Cuba — that Cuba made progress on education,” Sanders said to loud boos from the audience.
“When dictatorships, whether it’s the Chinese or Cubans, do something good, you acknowledge that,” he continued.
His praise for the regime has been roundly condemned by both Democrats and Republicans and sparked fears it will impact Democrats’ chances in Florida if he becomes the nominee.
“Someone who wants to be the nominee of the Democratic Party is telling people to look at the bright side of the Castro regime,” Pete Buttigieg said. “We’ve got to be a lot smarter about this.”
Joe Biden also lashed into Sanders’ suggestion Obama praised Cuban dictatorship.
“He did not in any way suggest that there was anything positive about the Cuban government,” the former veep blustered to cheers. “He in fact does not, did not, has never embraced an authoritarian regime, and does not now.”