House Democrats Reject A GOP Resolution Condemning Sen Bernie Sanders’ Praise Of Fidel Castro

[Image source: CNN video screenshot. C-SPAN video screenshot. Swamp Drain compilation].

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) introduced H. Res. 868 Wednesday, a resolution condemning Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for praising Cuba under the late dictator Fidel Castro. Diaz-Balart represents a district in Florida that has 335,000 residents of Cuban descent.

Sanders, during a Sunday interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes”, said it would be “unfair to simply say everything” under Castro was bad, pointing to the high literacy rate when the Cuban leader was in power. During a CNN Town Hall on Monday in Charleston, South Carolina, Sanders doubled down on his Castro remarks, telling CNN’s Chris Cuomo that “truth is truth”, despite facing criticism.

“I remind the senator and the progressive movement that the Castro regime is a threat, not only by the way to the national security of the United States but also to all of the democracies in this hemisphere. This regime has been on the list of state sponsors of terrorism for many years for its support of other terrorist states and organized terrorist groups,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.

“That is, by the way, why I’m filing, filed a resolution that condemns the blatantly false, irresponsible, ignorant, highly ignorant and hurtful comments of the Democratic socialist candidate for president, Mr. Sanders,” he added.

The resolution was brought on the House floor Thursday, and Democratic lawmakers blocked the GOP resolution condemning Senator Sanders’ flattering comments about the Castro regime.

By a vote of 224-189 that fell along party lines, the House of Representatives on Thursday voted to block a resolution that not only condemned numerous human rights abuses that took place under the Castro regime but also condemned recent instances where Sanders refused to fully denounce the late Fidel Castro’s dictatorial rule over Cuba, reported Daily Caller. (Continued Below)

Speaking on the House floor Thursday, Rep. Diaz-Balart called Senator Sanders’ comments “blatantly false.”

“If anybody wants to know the devastation of socialism and the tyranny that so often accompanies it, I invite you to speak to some of my constituents, including thousands, thousands of former political prisoners now in exile,” the Republican lawmaker said.

“For years, the Cuban regime has been on the list of state sponsors of terrorism for its support of other terrorist states, terrorist organizations, and violence around the world and in this hemisphere,” Diaz-Balart continued. (Video Below)

Rep. Mario Diaz- Balart remarks on H.Res. 868 condemning the comments of Senator Bernie Sanders:

Rep. Diaz-Balart blasted Senator Sanders on his stance on socialism during Wednesday’s GOP press conference: