If you read the full quote, he was just saying that he respected Castro because he (Castor) has been a "marked man" all these years and was still standing.. The "champion" mentality of all competitors, the refusal to get knocked down so as to be taken out.
He's talking about basic "survival skills", not specific political brutalities.
Horribly, stupidly worded sentiment, but certainly not a vile one within the very limited realm which, it seems to me, it was referencing.
Still a stupid thing to say given the fan base in Miami. He's lucky he didn't get fired.
It would be akin to being the Brewers manager and saying Wisconsin cows are prime tagets for e-coli or beer is the gateway to heroin.
There are hundreds of other better examples he could have used instead of an enemy of the US. He's an idiot.