Sen. Ted Cruz: Hopefully, In the Not Too Distant Future, Fidel Castro & Raul Castro Will Join Hugo Chavez

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). (Getty Images).

Republican Senator Ted Cruz during an address at the annual Cuba-Democracy PAC luncheon in Miami said that “hopefully, in the not too distant future,” Fidel and Raul Castro join Hugo Chavez in facing “the ultimate judgment.”

“Hugo Chavez went to meet his maker,” the senator said. “And sometime, hopefully, in the not too distant future, Fidel Castro and Raul Castro will join Hugo Chavez, and all three will face the ultimate judgment.”

“When that occurs,” the senator of Cuban descent continued, “there will be no time when U.S. leadership is more important.”

Sen. Cruz’ father fought for Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution (and was jailed and tortured by the Batista government), but later fled the country after Castro started seizing “private property and suppressing dissent.”

“Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are not cute, chic icons of Hollywood,” the senator continued. “They were — and are — murderous, oppressive thugs.”

The Texas senator argued that America needs to do a better job of standing up to oppressive regimes, invoking former President Ronald Reagan and his famous “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” line.

Cuba and America need a “President that will stand up today and say, ‘Mr. Castro, let the Cuban people go. Mr. Castro, open up the ballot box. Mr. Castro, empty the jails!” Sen. Cruz concluded.

Here are the senators remarks [via The Shark Tank]:

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Featured image courtesy Getty Images.