Bloomberg rips Sanders over Castro comments

Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg ripped Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) over his comments on the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Bloomberg posted a clip of his opponent’s Sunday “60 Minutes” interview, during which the Vermont progressive praised the communist leader’s literacy program.

“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,” the former New York City mayor tweeted.

“But sure, Bernie, let’s talk about his literacy program,” he added.

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

On “60 Minutes,” Sanders commented on Castro’s leadership, saying, “We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but, you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad.”

The presidential candidate then mentioned Castro’s literacy program, adding, “Is that a bad thing even though Fidel Castro did it?”

Sanders said he condemns that Castro imprisoned those who spoke out against him. 

“Unlike Donald Trump, let’s be clear: I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend,” he said. “I don’t trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine.”

Sanders had previously spoken positively about the Soviet Union and Castro decades ago.

Bloomberg is ramping up his attacks on the Vermont senator as Sanders continues his strong start in the Democratic primary. He leads the candidates in the delegate count.

Sanders has 35 delegates so far, but not all of the delegates have been distributed from Saturday’s Nevada caucuses. The former New York City mayor did not participate in the first three primaries and will not be on the ballot in South Carolina after focusing his resources on Super Tuesday states.