Former Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro responded to the Republican presidential candidates comments about him earlier this week with an op-ed article in Cuban state media Thursday, Huffington Post reports.
During Monday’s presidential debate in Tampa Bay, Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich responded to a question regarding what they would do if as president they were to receive a call notifying them of the death of Mr. Castro.
Both candidates were brash in their responses.
“Well, first of all, you thank heavens that Fidel Castro has returned to his maker and will be sent to another land,” said Mr. Romney Monday during the debate. “Now, number two, you work very aggressively with the new leadership in Cuba to try and move them towards a more open degree than they have had in the past.”
The former Massachusetts governor was also critical of President Barack Obama for saying that the U.S. would “relax relations” with Cuba. He went on to add that the U.S. should take an approach towards Cuba that helps that supports Democracy there.
Mr. Gingrich took a similar tone towards Mr. Castro, essentially stating that he believes the revolutionary Cuban leader would not return to his maker, but rather would end up in hell when he dies.
In his response to the Republican presidential candidates, Mr. Castro did not mention either Mr. Gingrich or Mr. Romney by name, but his comments definitely seemed to be in response to their comments Monday.
“The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is – and I mean this seriously – the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been,” writes Mr. Castro in Cuban state media, Huffington Post reports.
Mr. Castro transferred power to his younger brother Raul Castro in 2008, who is the current president of Cuba.
During the debate Monday, each of the candidates professed what their policies would be towards U.S.-Cuban relations if elected president. Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum all supported promoting freedom for the “Cuban people.”
Texas congressman Ron Paul though took a different approach, stating that “it’s not 1962 anymore” and the U.S. should pursue more of an open door policy with Cuba.
It will be interesting to see if the candidates respond to Mr. Castro’s comments during the nationally televised debate in CNN Thursday night.