Sanders on Cuba: "Of Course Their Economy Is Terrible," But They Have Health Care And Education

'This Week' host Martha Raddatz asked Bernie Sanders about comments he made in 1985 about Fidel Castro and Cuba's communist government. Sanders allows that Castro's dictatorship ruined the Cuban economy but commented that they, "do have a decent health care system and a decent educational system."



He added: "The Cuban economy is a disaster. No, I do not praise Fidel Castro."





MARTHA RADDATZ: Good morning, Senator Sanders.



You said back in 1985 that Castro transformed Cuban society and gave them health care and education. But this was a brutal dictatorship despite the romanticized version that some Americans have of Cuba -- he rationed food, impaired dissidents.



SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Well...



RADDATZ: You heard all today, Senator Cruz talk about that. So have you changed your view of Castro since 1985?



SANDERS: Look, what I said there -- I'm not quite sure...



RADDATZ: How would you now describe his leadership?



SANDERS: -- I'm not quite sure, Martha, this is the issue that is on the minds of the American people right now, who basically want to make sure that Donald Trump keeps the promises that he made when he said he was not going to cut Social Security and Medicare...



RADDATZ: I know. But I want to go back to your comments please. We'll get to Donald Trump in a moment.



SANDERS: No, of course, their economy is terrible. You're right, it is a dictatorship. They did have a good health -- do have a decent health care system and a decent educational system. A lot of people have left Cuba for better dreams, to fulfill their aspirations.



So, no, the Cuban economy is a disaster. No, I do not praise Fidel Castro.



RADDATZ: OK, let's move on to the Trump administration.



SANDERS: But it is interesting...



RADDATZ: You -- you've...



SANDERS: -- you know, it is interesting that we start a program off by talking about what happened -- what I said 30 years ago.