Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich Wish Fidel Castro To Hell (VIDEO)

Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich got into a game of one-upmanship at a GOP debate Monday night when discussing the potential death of Cuba's Fidel Castro, the dictator from whom many Cuban-Americans fled, often to Florida.

"Well first of all, you thank heavens that Fidel Castro has returned to his maker and will be sent to to another land," Romney said to applause from the crowd -- one of the first signs of life from the audience in the debate -- when asked by moderator Brian Williams what he would do if Castro died and Cubans flooded to the United States.

Newt Gingrich went one step further when he was asked the same question.

"I don't think Fidel is going to meet his maker," Gingrich said. "I think he's going to the place."

Romney said he would work with the new leadership in Cuba, then saying there should be more done to help dissidents today. He brought up Wilman Villar, a Cuban dissident who died last Thursday after a hunger strike. Romney put out a statement the day after Villar's death praising him for his "ultimate sacrifice" and stating his "solidarity with Cuba's historic pro-democracy movement."

Rick Santorum said that ending dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela is essential because the nations may collaborate with al Qaeda. Only one candidate disagreed about continuing sanctions on Cuba: Ron Paul, as is typical on foreign policy issues.

"We propped up Castro for 40-some years because we put up these sanctions and this only used us as the scapegoat, he could say anything wrong is the United States' fault," Paul said. "I think it's time to quit this isolationist business of not talking to people."

Republicans are frantically trying to appeal to Latino voters in Florida, which has 1.5 million Latino voters. Romney has endorsements from Cuban-American Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart and former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, whom he used in a Spanish-language radio ad out today. In that ad, Ros-Lehtinen says Romney "will fight against the despotic efforts of Castro."

Meanwhile, Gingrich has a Spanish-language radio ad saying Romney "goes around using Castro phrases," according to a translation by the Miami Herald, because he once used a phrase associated with Castro.

Comments

[sxp4135x]

09:14 AM on 01/26/2012

Let's try the Bay of Pigs again. So 50 years ago, Mitt

[HopingNFlorida]

08:57 AM on 01/26/2012

So what foreigner would want to come to the US now and try to find a "better life"? For years, the common statement was "let's go to (whatever country), everything is so inexpensive there". Now it is "Let's go to the U.S., everything is so inexpensive there".
Do you think if US/Cuban relations would have opened up 40 years ago, Cuba would be in the same financial situation as Puerto Rico (no offense to PR)? I believe 100% in Democracy but at times wonder if the U.S. influence on other countries is the best for that country. Just because we think it works here, doesnt mean that it will be the best thing for someone else.
By the way, how are any of these candidates going to create jobs for positions that dont exist? If you want to start change, we need to tax the companies that moved their manufacturing offshore. If you start importing your product which was made in the US at one time, you should pay a 25% import duty. That way US manufacturers will be competitive plus these companies can pay for the unemployment and retraining of all the people they took jobs from.

[Aviel2]

11:47 AM on 01/25/2012

It saddens me to think that there would be potential good people who would view Romney as a good example of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and thus make judgements like he erroneously did.
As Mormons we are told to not judge but rather love and hope. We even do work in sacred temples on behalf of people we may not even know and do so without judgement.
Please forgive Mitt for he knows not what he sometimes does.

[pragmaticalpaula]

05:40 AM on 01/25/2012

How Christian! Doesn't it make you feel all warm and cozy?

[Hoodooman]

10:49 PM on 01/24/2012

What's with this "GOP candidates" stuff? Ron Paul said nothing of the sort.

[sindurrella]

07:18 PM on 01/24/2012

Newt's comment was unnecessary, to say the least!

[legitane]

07:10 PM on 01/24/2012

The Cuban Embargo arose not from politics but from $$$.. Castro seized asstes from American companies doing business in Cuba and has not paid a dime for the.. ever...

[Michael Sandy]

05:26 PM on 01/24/2012

Are these guys running for World Wide Wrestling Federation auditions, or for president?

[sxp4135x]

09:15 AM on 01/26/2012

For president, but vying for the votes of WWF fans

[dneil55859]

05:13 PM on 01/24/2012

if Castro died why would Cubans come here? I think they would be going the other way which would be a boost to the south Florida economy as charter boat operators could make a fortune hauling them back. Next Castro has really not done anything in years it's not like the Cuban Navy is gonna attack Key West. He can barely feed his own country so why are they even worrying about him? We got enough real problems to debate, like creating jobs.

[Enimal57]

05:10 PM on 01/24/2012

Cretin Chrīstiānus (Christian and Mormon) values at work.

[PG13]

04:45 PM on 01/24/2012

I just came back from Cuba, freakin' love it. Too bad you yanks are not allowed to visit because of your government's stubbornness since 1959

[Hoodooman]

10:51 PM on 01/24/2012

Yeah, it's too bad the average Cuban citizen can't come and go as they please as you apparently can.

[Iwpach]

04:12 PM on 01/24/2012

Such loving Christian attitiudes.
I am heartened to know they adhere so closely to the words of the man from Galilee,whom they purportedly follow.

[aomwn3]

02:26 PM on 01/24/2012

I understand that Mitt and Newt have bought condos next door to Fidels. Ready to move in.

[Flying Sparkz1]

02:23 PM on 01/24/2012

Fidel Castro has said many times that it's quite obvious God wants him alive. He is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the national leader who has survived the largest number of assassination attempts. Divine intervention is the only explanation for many of these failed attempts.

As for courting the Hispanic vote in Florida, they are really courting the Cuban-American vote. Cuban-Americans are a distinct subset of Hispanic, who for political reasons, enjoy privileged immigration benefits not shared by other Latin Americans. Normalize relations with Cuba now! Viva Fidel!

http://www.havanatimes.org/

http://www.justicepartyusa.net/

[pendulumswings]

02:14 PM on 01/24/2012

What was old is Newt again.