Thread by @RiegerReport

Bernie Sanders says he has opposed authoritarians.

For years, he often focused on positive elements of their governments.

My latest for @thefix:

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

@thefix A Washington Post review of more than 10 hours of Bernie Sanders appearances over the past three decades reveals how Sanders has often been quick to downplay abuses of authoritarian regimes, instead focusing on aspects and programs he admired.

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

At times, Sanders appeared to contradict his earlier views:

1989 on Cuba: “Model of what a society could be” for Latin America

2016 on Cuba: "I do not praise Fidel Castro”

2019 on Venezuela: Maduro not a dictator

2020 on Venezuela: Maduro a dictator

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

Despite reports of abuses in 1985, Sanders praised the Sandinista party in Nicaragua for:

- Democratic rights
- Civil liberties
- Food lines

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

Bernie Sanders in 1985:

“Sometimes American journalists talk about how bad a country is because people are lining up for food. That’s a good thing. In other countries, people don’t line up for food, the rich get the food and the poor starve to death.”

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

Bernie Sanders on Nicaragua’s media censorship in April 1988:

“Suddenly they are terrible people because they’re not allowing the media there to explain to the people how they can — their own people can be killed.”

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…

When Bernie Sanders returned from a trip to the Soviet Union in 1988, he was asked about a recent AP report of no hot water or food in one of the towns he visited:

“People there seemed reasonably happy and content. I didn’t notice much deprivation.”

washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…