PrintOctober 2, 2009
Don't ask. don't tell, don't know
When it comes to Honduras, Democrats appear eager to have only their side of the story told. Their contention that a "military coup" deposed the Chavez stooge Zelaya and replaced him with an illegal regime sure sounds good. Too bad it flies in the face of the facts.
Never mind. As long as no one in Congress is allowed to go to Honduras and actually see what's going on, the false narrative is safe. This is the thinking behind John Kerry nixing plans by Jim DeMint to go to Honduras and promote the truth of what is happening; that Zelaya was kicked out by the Supreme Court and Congress in Honduras because he broke the law.
Jordan Fabian of The Hill has the unusual details of one member objecting to the travel plans of another:
On Thursday morning, the freshman Republican announced that he would lead a congressional delegation to Honduras on Friday ahead of the country's Nov. 29 elections. The U.S. State Department, which acknowledges ousted President Manuel Zelaya as the legitimate ruler of the Central American nation, has said it will not recognize the contests because of ongoing political turmoil.
"No U.S. Senator has yet been to Honduras to assess facts of crisis. [Kerry] & Obama admin using bullying tactics to hide truth," DeMint, who also sits on the Foreign Relations panel, said on Twitter after he heard the trip would not occur."@JohnKerry (Foreign Rel. chair) trying to hide truth to protect Zelaya, blocking our fact-finding trip to Honduras at last minute," DeMint also tweeted late Thursday afternoon.
DeMint's office followed with a statement. "These bullying tactics by the Obama administration and Senator Kerry must stop, and we must be allowed to get to the truth in Honduras. Not a single U.S. Senator has traveled to Honduras to learn the facts on the ground.
"While this administration has failed to act decisively in Afghanistan, it is has no problem cracking down on a democratic ally and one of the poorest nations in Latin America," DeMint added. "Now, President Obama and Democrats' blind support for this would-be dictator and friend of Hugo Chavez will prevent members of Congress from learning the truth first hand."
Kerry claims he is preventing DeMint from going to Honduras because he is holding up two nominations from getting a floor vote. But that is certainly a smokescreen to keep DeMint from generating publicity and sympathy for the beleaguered government in Honduras.
Why DeMint holding up nominees should even matter as far as his travel is concerned is not explained. And there is none. This is a strong arm tactic by Kerry and Obama to prevent the truth from coming out about Honduras.
