Bernie Sanders has praised Fidel Castro’s ‘massive literacy program’, standing by comments he made praising the dictator’s rule of Cuba in the 1980s.
The Democratic frontrunner, 78, defended the Communist regime as ‘not all bad’ during a wide ranging 60 Minutes interview which aired Sunday.
In it he 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?’
Sanders had said of dictator Castro in the 1980s: ‘He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?’
Castro ruled Cuba for nearly half a century. A Cold War foe of the U.S., Castro’s government imprisoned dissidents and imposed one-party rule on the island nation. He died at the age of 90 in 2016.
Probed on the dissidents imprisoned in the country, Sanders replied: ‘That’s right. And we condemn that. Unlike Donald Trump, let’s be clear…I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend.
‘I don’t trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.’
Bernie Sanders has praised Fidel Castro’s ‘massive literacy program’, standing by comments he made praising the dictator’s rule of Cuba in the 1980s
Fidel Castro and his brother Raul attend a parade December 2, 1996 in Havana, Cuba
Sanders had said of dictator Castro in the 1980s, pictured: ‘He educated their kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society, you know?’
The self proclaimed Democratic socialist won a decisive victory Saturday in the Nevada caucuses, solidifying his frontrunner status in the race to choose the Democratic nominee who faces President Donald Trump in November’s election.
The 78-year-old senator from Vermont was leading with about 46 percent, followed by former vice president Joe Biden at 19 percent. But even for Sanders the results are ‘shocking’.
Labeling rival Mike Bloomberg’s stop and frisk policy as ‘racist’, Sanders added: ‘I think the more people understand Bloomberg’s record as mayor of New York, where he engaged in horrifically racist policies of stop and frisk, people in America don’t want that.’
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., smiles while the crowd chants his name during a campaign event on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Austin, Texas
Sanders, right, labeled rival Mike Bloomberg’s, left, stop and frisk policy as ‘racist’
Admitting he ‘does not talk about personal stuff that much’, Sanders said his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, shaped his political beliefs.
But added: ‘I’m a kind of a private person in a sense. And you know, I’m not particularly anxious to tell the world about everything personal in my life.’
Other topics touched on included how he plans to fund Medicare for All.
Sanders admitted: ‘You know, I can’t rattle off to you ever nickel and every dime. But we have accounted for..Medicare for All. We have options out there that will pay for it.’
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders arrive for a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas
But despite offering no firm financial plans with universal healthcare Sanders now says he wants to also introduce universal childcare for children up to the age of four, adding: ‘We have a tax on wealth to pay for that.
‘You know, I get a little bit tired of hearing my opponents saying “Gee, how you going to pay for a program that impacts and helps children or working-class families or middle-class families? How you going to pay for that?”
‘And yet, where are people saying, “How are you going to pay for over $750 billion on military spending?” How you going to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1% in large corporations which was what Trump did? When you help the billionaires and you help Wall Street, “Hey! Of course we can pay for it. That’s what America’s supposed to be about.” Well, I disagree.’
Sanders, who says he is looking forward to taking on President Donald Trump, said: ‘Anyone who tells you that Donald Trump is not gonna be a tough opponent is kidding themselves. The way you beat Trump is bring nontraditional voters into the political process.
‘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.’