Why Bernie Sanders's repeating Cuban propaganda rankles so many Latinos

[ehrnst]

Now imagine that, as an immigrant to New Zealand, you saw a radical right-wing politician rise to national prominence. Naturally, some enterprising local journalist would eventually ask that politico about his views on President Trump. Now imagine the response sounded something like, “Well, while we certainly wouldn’t want Donald Trump’s divisiveness and authoritarianism here in New Zealand, it is a fact that he presided over the greatest economy in U.S. history and he certainly made America great again.”

This, I suspect, would drive you crazy. And it would drive you crazy for a good reason: not so much because it’s wrong, specifically, but because it’s propaganda.

...........................................

Yes, Cuba made education available free to everyone through the university level. But so did countries such as Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and Mexico. There was never any need to build a police state to bring people to school — an insight so obvious, it’s ludicrous to even have to write it.

In reality, Cuba’s reputation for educational prowess is mostly a product of a relentless, multi-decade propaganda campaign. Virtually every speech by every Cuban diplomat and regime admirer for the past seven decades has made a point of praising Cuba’s supposed literacy miracle. Cubans who have left know the propaganda only too well, and understand why a government desperate to establish its legitimacy in the face of the mass impoverishment of its population would turn to it again and again.
..............................................................

To Cubans and Venezuelans — who have witnessed much the same kind of propaganda — talk of Cuban educational prowess grates not because it’s wrong, exactly, but because it serves as a simple way to identify who’s ready to be duped by regime apologists. We know propaganda doesn’t need to be entirely false to be profoundly damaging. So we despair when we hear it parroted by those who ought to know better.

The bottom line is that when you associate yourself with an ideology whose past contains some of history’s worst crimes, you take on a special duty to denounce. When those denunciations come hedged with qualifiers that rest on propaganda lines, they ring entirely hollow.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/25/why-bernie-sanderss-repeating-cuban-propaganda-rankles-so-many-latinos/

[Cha]

1. Excellent find, ehrnst! Thank you!

"FYI- Castro's "literacy program" was an ideological indoctrination ploy"

The bottom line is that when you associate yourself with an ideology whose past contains some of history’s worst crimes, you take on a special duty to denounce. When those denunciations come hedged with qualifiers that rest on propaganda lines, they ring entirely hollow.

[PatSeg]

3. I was thinking the same thing

To be more literate only to be fed state propaganda serves the state more than the individual.

[evertonfc]

2. and people over 65

[OliverQ]

48. Who mostly vote Republican anyway.

Not point wasting time trying to court them.

[redqueen]

4. Not Latinos.

Right wing Cuban and Venezuelan ex-pats.

This is pure spin. Many Latinos know the history of US intervention in LA so this is actually really aggravating to see it here.

Seeing Bernie's supporters called "Sandanistas" also makes me want to break things.

I hope most DUers know the history of what the US has done down there, and how it plays when right wing talking points about socialism are shared here.

[jalan48]

5. Yep-same mindset that has no problem with interventionist wars all over the world.

[ehrnst]

24. Why don't you let the author of the article know.

Let us know how they respond.

Seeing Bernie's supporters called "Sandanistas" also makes me want to break things.

What does that have to do with the OP?

I hope most DUers know the history of what the US has done down there, and how it plays when right wing talking points about socialism are shared here.

I think that the author of this piece knows as much as anyone about Latin America and its history. I would also not call this article "right wing" in any way shape or form.

Wishful thinking or disagreeing with what someone says about Sanders doesn't "right wing talking points" make.

[roody]

6. Cuba is a wonderful place.

I have been there twice.

[Cha]

42. that's nice

[DanTex]

7. LOL at implying that Bernie is "radical left-wing".

This is the usual red-baiting garbage as we are used to from Jennifer Rubin and the other WP writers who bash Bernie non stop.

I wonder if he complained when Obama said the exact same thing? Hmmm

[Cha]

13. President Obama did Not say the "same thing".. and you should know that.

BS was talking about what he thinks Castro's revolution brought to Cuba in 1959.

President Obama was talking about the post 2014 strides that Cuba had made as part of the negotiated
pre-conditions for normalizing US-Cuba relations. Cuba had to meet benchmarks during the gradual process of moving towards normalization.

President Obama made the remarks at a joint press conference in Cuba in March 2016.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287576570

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Mahalo for the additional tweet, Goth!

[DanTex]

15. It was exactly the same thing, and anyone who watches the videos can see that.

Nobody who actually watches the two videos is going to be fooled by some ludicrous attempt to smear Bernie by pretending they are different. Sorry!

[ehrnst]

18. Pointing out the significant differences is "smearing Bernie?"

The desperation is getting pretty thick...

[DanTex]

19. There is no "significant difference" LOL. It's the same exact point.

[ehrnst]

21. Yes there is. Repeating that it's not dozens of times doesn't change that.

[LanternWaste]

36. Repeating the same inaccuracy over and over again doesn't make you allegation more true.

But I get it... consistent use of logical fallacies can be embarrassing (especially when we don't even know what a logical fallacy is), so we often move to fresher fare, like saying things that are simply not true while yelling (over and over and over again) they are.

[Cha]

29. Because you say so? NO.

[Cha]

43. No it isn't.

[ehrnst]

16. LOL at repeating the same debunked talking point that Obama 'said the exact same thing.'

I find it interesting that you seem to be eagerly expecting the author to be Jennifer Rubin, a favorite boogeyman, but when you found you were mistaken, are reduced to frantically trying to equate the actual author (a a Venezulelan columnist in WAPO and head of non-profit Latin American social and economic development org) with said conservative female boogeyman, and trying to smear him as "red-baiting garbage."

This especially must have stung:

When Sanders parrots Fidel’s propaganda, he fails the test. And many Latinos and people in Latin America notice. We have a hyper-developed nose for propaganda. It sends us reeling. Because we know this game from the inside.

hmmmm.

The desperation in your defensive, whack-a-mole responses all over DU to any thoughtful and valid criticism is ramping up considerably as more reputable sources vet Sanders. The stress sweat is palpable. It appears that you think any and all posts here on DU Sanders that deviate whatsoever from praise and support are going to take him down somehow. Valid criticism is not kryptonite to a strong candidate.

May I suggest you take some deep breaths and try to manage your stress reactions? It's not even Super Tuesday yet.

[DanTex]

17. LOL at claiming it is "debunked" by some random Bernie-hater.

Good effort!

[ehrnst]

20. "Random Bernie hater"

Good effort at a straw man/ ad hominem twofer.

You're getting more and more frantic, Hon.

Apparently you think that any post on DU that doesn't praise Bernie is going to take Bernie down. That doesn't show much faith in his strength as a candidate.

Breathe.... it's not even Super Tuesday yet.

[Cha]

33. "frantic" is the word

[ehrnst]

34. You'd think that any an every single post on DU even mildly critical of Sanders going unchallenged

is some sort of kryptonite to his campaign judging from the sheer volume of whack-a-mole replies of "Bernie bashing!!!" or "Lol!!!!" by certain supporters...

I had no idea that we were either that powerful, or the campaign that weak and vulnerable.

[Cha]

38. Both!

[Cha]

31. Sorry.. you lose.

[LanternWaste]

37. Seems your fight with the apostates and heretics of the Church of Bernie is wearing you down...

But yeah... good effort!

[Cha]

8. Too bad some can't handle this truth.

[ehrnst]

9. Yep, right in this very thread. Desperate, frantic attempts to "lol" it away.

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2020, 02:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Freakouts left and right...

[Cha]

11. There's a word for it.. but I better

not.. starts with a.. never mind.. ***********.

The OP is good information for those who can handle it.

[Laelth]

10. It's not going to rankle the non-Cuban Latinos enough to stop them from voting for Bernie.

Bernie has a near lock on the Latino vote in CA and TX. People around here are in for a rude awakening after they see the results from Super Tuesday.

Just sayin'.



-Laelth

[Cha]

12. That's not who this OP is for.. it's to

explain why Cubanos are upset by BS praising Castro's literacy program.

"FYI- Castro's "literacy program" was an ideological indoctrination ploy"

[Laelth]

14. That makes sense. I get it. n/t

-Laelth

[Nanjeanne]

22. Were these same Latinos rankled at this?

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

23. Why don't you email the author of the column?

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2020, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

If you want to attack this journalist as being inconsistent, then that's between you and them.

Let us know what they say.

[Nanjeanne]

25. Oh sorry I upset you. I thought it was a discussion board. I'll remember it's not from now on.

[ehrnst]

28. That was a bit over the top, don't you think?

Must have really hit a nerve.

I take it you're not going to get back with us what you find out from the author?

I suppose you would be very hesitant to have a discussion with him anyway.

[Nanjeanne]

32. Seriously? You condescend and are disingenuous and I say sorry I misunderstood that posting on your

thread was not acceptable and I should contact the author of the piece . . . and I'm over the top?

Oh - and how can I forget your popcorn smilie. That was a stroke of genius.

God I love this place. Best laughs I've had all day!

[ehrnst]

35. You were the one asking about "these latinos" as though

latinos were all interchangeable, think the same, and what Sanders and Obama said was interchangeable, and needing a selectively edited video to make the point...

[Nanjeanne]

39. Thanks for your advice. It's easier to ignore. I'd tell you to do some self reflection but

that would be kind of pointless when you are so very self aware already.

[Cha]

40. ouch.

[ehrnst]

47. Someone's in a very bad mood today.

[Cha]

41. What makes you think you "upset" her?

[Cha]

27. BS' praising Castro's literacy program isn't the same

as what President Obama said..

BS was talking about what he thinks Castro's revolution brought to Cuba in 1959.

President Obama was talking about the post 2014 strides that Cuba had made as part of the negotiated
pre-conditions for normalizing US-Cuba relations. Cuba had to meet benchmarks during the gradual process of moving towards normalization.

President Obama made the remarks at a joint press conference in Cuba in March 2016.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287576570

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

45. Two things happened today including Cuba endorsing sanders

Link to tweet

[Politicub]

26. There isn't a way to have a reasonable conversation about Cuba

in the primaries forum. There are positive and negative aspects to the country, and it is not as monolithic as people make it out to be.

It’s a huge turnoff to me when smart people decide to take absolutist stances when they know better. That’s politics, though.

[ehrnst]

30. This is an explanation from a journalist about why many people are reacting to Sanders' comments

the way that they are.

It's important to understand that.

I do understand the frustration with absolutist stances. I hear them so much from the supporters of a particular candidate.

[Gothmog]

44. Havana gives front-page coverage to Bernie Sanders for praising Fidel Castro

Link to tweet

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders views on the Cuban revolution have earned him a storm of criticism in the U.S. But there’s one place where his comments have received glowing, front-page reviews: Cuba.

Granma, the Communist Party newspaper, prominently displayed a report about Sanders and his praise of “some of the social programs implemented by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro.”

“U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, today one of the strongest candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Party to the November presidential elections, recognized Cuba’s role in sending doctors worldwide,” Granma said.

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article240626672.html#storylink=cpy

[Cha]

46. Thanks