Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon has ignited a bipartisan uproar with her hesitant response when asked if Cuba is a dictatorship, a question carrying significant weight in a state with a large Cuban exile population. Nixon, who recently joined the Democratic Socialists of America, stated, “You know, that is what people have told me. I have never been to Cuba, and so I will have to take their word for it,” when directly questioned by CBS News. While Nixon later clarified that she was referring to Cubans she had spoken with who described the country as such and that she believed them, and CBS News amended its reporting to reflect this nuance, the initial exchange drew sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Fellow Florida Democrats, including Congressional nominees Phil Ehr and Elliott Rodriguez, publicly rebuked Nixon, with Ehr stating he “can’t get past this” and would not defend her remarks, emphasizing the fear he witnessed among Cuban-American voters. Rodriguez unequivocally declared, “Cuba being a dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact.” Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott and Representative Byron Donalds, seized on Nixon’s comments, linking them to a perceived embrace of socialism within the Democratic Party and questioning her basic understanding of political systems. This controversy surfaces months after Nixon joined the DSA, a group whose past praise for Fidel Castro has previously led Nixon to distance herself from specific organizational stances, though her latest remarks on Cuba continue to fuel debate about her political alignment and fitness for statewide office.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
