Leading Florida Democrats disavow Bernie Sanders after he makes a complete mess of things
Bernie Sanders has been the Democratic primary frontrunner for barely a day (if winning two out of the first three states even counts as being the “frontrunner”), and he’s already demonstrating why he’d have a difficult time beating Donald Trump. Sanders appeared on 60 Minutes last night and offered partial praise for Fidel Castro, which is just about the single quickest way a candidate can lose in Florida. Sanders’ remarks have put every Florida Democrat up for reelection in 2020 at risk if he’s the nominee. Not surprisingly, the Democrats in Florida are quickly disavowing him over it.
Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who has nationwide respect and popularity, tweeted this:
No one should have sympathies for Fidel Castro's brutal and repressive regime.
Let's stay focused, Democrats.
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) February 24, 2020
Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy tweeted this:
.@SenSanders comments on Fidel Castro are ill-informed & insulting to thousands of Floridians. Castro was a murderous dictator who oppressed his own people. His “literacy program” wasn’t altruistic; it was a cynical effort to spread his dangerous philosophy & consolidate power.
— Stephanie Murphy (@MurphyforFL) February 24, 2020
Democratic Congresswoman Donna Shalala tweeted this:
I'm hoping that in the future, Senator Sanders will take time to speak to some of my constituents before he decides to sing the praises of a murderous tyrant like Fidel Castro. https://t.co/Iwvmay9LOH pic.twitter.com/KT9sQ0pfkh
— Donna E. Shalala (@DonnaShalala) February 24, 2020
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham tweeted this:
I said (what now seems a lifetime ago) that Senator Sanders could never win Florida. The socialism label is political suicide.
Last nights’ #60Minutes debacle has now made him poisonous in Florida.@JoeBiden can win Florida and bring down ballot races with him.
Let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/XM8Lj04YVp
— Gwen Graham (@GwenGraham) February 24, 2020
Florida State Senator José Javier Rodríguez tweeted this:
I was horrified by Sen. Sanders' comments. Rather than strain to be "fair" to a murderous dictator, he should listen to those who've lived under tyranny.
After his outrageous comments he easily condemns Kim Jong Un and Putin. Sen. Sanders, the same is true of the Castro regime.
— José Javier Rodríguez (@JoseJavierJJR) February 24, 2020
It’s not that Florida Democrats are trying to take sides in the Democratic primary race. It’s that Bernie Sanders’ partial praise of Fidel Castro is wildly inappropriate, and – as Gwen Graham puts it – political suicide. If Sanders is the nominee, Trump and the GOP run his pro-Castro comments all day long in TV ads. Not only would Sanders lose Florida in the general election, several current Democrats in Florida would lose their seats. Sanders simply cannot be the nominee. As he keeps proving, he’d find a way to lose to Trump.
