Posted on 10/01/2009 3:24:31 PM PDT by jazusamo
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has blocked Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-S.C.) trip to Honduras slated to begin Friday, according to DeMint's office.
DeMint’s office informed The Hill of Kerry’s decision Thursday afternoon.
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."
Honduras has experienced political turmoil since June, when the Honduran military deposed Zelaya after a supreme court ruling ordering his removal. The now-exiled president had attempted to change the country's constitution in part to eliminate presidential term limits.
DeMint has long objected to the Obama administration's response to the crisis, saying they should shun Zelaya, not promote his return to power.
The United States does not recognize the de facto government led by President Roberto Micheletti. Honduras’ acting government has hoped that the November elections would put an end to the political crisis there.
Zelaya’s ouster has divided members of Congress. Many Republicans accused Zelaya, who is a left-leaning figure, of acting unconstitutionally to extend his term as president. Many Democrats stood behind Zelaya and alleged the coup was an undemocratic power grab.
Keryr has frequently criticized the acting regime for shunning diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis. In early September, he praised a vote to slash $30 million in aid to the country in reaction to the ouster.
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee also demanded that Zelaya be returned to power under the conditions of a negotiated agreement with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
“I strongly support Costa Rican President Arias’s efforts to restore democracy with the conditioned return of President Zelaya,” Kerry said after the aid reduction. “The coup regime has engaged in undemocratic practices that cast a dark shadow over elections scheduled for November.”
Kerry echoed the stance of the U.S. government, which also backs supports restoring Zelaya to power. Under the terms of the agreement, Zelaya would return to office with limited power then leave office when his term expires in December.
DeMint first announced the delegation’s trip on Twitter, a statement that was later confirmed by his office.
“Leading delegation to Honduras tomorrow to support Nov 29 elections. Hondurans should be able to choose their own future,” he wrote. The identities of the lawmakers who planned to travel with DeMint are unknown.
Under the current constitution, both Micheletti and Zelaya are ineligible for re-election.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not yet responded to a request for comment from The Hill.
—elections have consequences—
How come Democrats could travel to and from terrorist countries without permission the past 6 years? What’s the deal here?
Guess he’ll just have to go on his own dime.
Hope he gets lots of good painful facts that hurt the Marxists here.
Pelousy went abroad to Syria to do some shuttle diplomacy while President Bush was still in office and Obama went to Iraq to delay a troop draw-down before he was elected..... and apparently we allowed them to. Doesn’t seem to work the other way.
Opposition to the socialistic takeover of a drug-runner enabler like Master-Z must stop. The Great and Powerful O and Her Thighness have already said that the Honduran constitutional government must persish — quite interfering with the flying monkeys.
drip
drip
I haven’t got the slightest idea. It sure didn’t slow Pelousi down in going to Syria.
If the dimwits get to go; so do the repubs.
I think the Hondurans will be insulted at the idea that they have a "ruler", when in fact they "had a rogue head of state" who was removed from office after he unsuccessfully tried to overthrow their constitution and government.
It’s time to send some democrats to jail.
Whoa nelly. DeMint should go anyway. And why on earth does Lurch have any say whatsoever???
Ping!
John Kerry is an enemy of our nation, and our global friends.
Sorry, thems just the facts.
If anyone ever doubted the justice of Zelaya’s removal, this should serve as proof the Micheletti government did the right thing. Kerry has the judgment of a weasel, but not the moral standing.
Didn’t Lurch go visit Syria???
I have no idea why Republicans haven’t be screaming loud and clear on this situation these past months. But I give DeMint lots of credit: he has no fear in targeting real issues and speaking out admirably.
Sen. DeMint should go anyway, to hell with that crazy bastard Kerry.
No kidding. It shouldn’t take more than a few grand if he goes on the cheap.
The value of poking the marxist democrats in the eye would be worth every penny.
Does anyone have the info on this Arias and his San Jose Accord?
Who the hell cares what JF’nK says.
Go anyway! Grow a pair!
Gets my vote. We are nearing total anarchy, in Washington, D.C. If San Fran Nan can go to a known terrorist state, DeMint should be able to go to a nation that is our friend, and that adhered to it’s own Constitution.
The Democrats are just running roughshod ever the rule of law in D.C., and I for one am sick of it.
I don't see why not and I can't see why lurch has any say over this either.
They make me sick.
Because the Republicans allowed them to. Congressional delegations have to be approved by the committee(s) of jurisdiction. When the Republicans held the chairmanships, they let anyone go anywhere they wanted. And this is the thanks they get.
Me too.
US Senator Kerry meets Assad in Syria
(AFP) – Feb 21, 2009
DAMASCUS (AFP) — US Senator John Kerry met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, SANA news agency reported, as Washington reviews its policies toward countries the previous administration regarded as hostile.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j929Sp7dmwgsfZyG3wkUK4qtCbLQ
I know Pelosi did and now that you bring up lurch it seems to me he was with her.
I think DeMint should hold a news conference and then walk up and punch the “war hero” right in the face.
Thanks for your posts.
I long for the time when someone like DeMint would show his mettle,
and in the words of ‘Old Hickory’, in 1832, say:
“John Kerry has made his decision, now let him enforce it”.
Who died and made Kerry Senate travel agent? Tell that gigolo to go fornicate himself and get on the plane.
Peloski visited Syria and caused a very big stink over there, literally I mean!
What about Rockefeller????
Didn’t that traitor go to Syria and WARN about our upcoming invasion of Iraq....or am I misremembering?
Can anyone explain how it is that Kerry can prevent DeMint from going? Why does HE get to decide?
Not to worry, the media will be all over this.
How come Democrats could travel to and from terrorist countries without permission the past 6 years? What’s the deal here?
+++++++++++
Right. Remember Baghdad Jim McDermott?
That’s what I thought. Surprised he wasn’t wearing a burka.
How about DeMitt getting some sack and just going?
God, knuckling under to Yon Kerrey, Duke de Ketchup. How, limp.
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee also demanded that Zelaya be returned to power under the conditions of a negotiated agreement with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
“I strongly support Costa Rican President Arias’s efforts to restore democracy with the conditioned return of President Zelaya,” Kerry said after the aid reduction. “The coup regime has engaged in undemocratic practices that cast a dark shadow over elections scheduled for November.”
+++++++++++++
Are the idiot libs/socialists/commies seriously stepping into some caca here, to suggest that its ‘undemocratic’ to follow through on one’s Constitution??
“President Arias’s efforts” - efforts are one thing - agreement is another. There is no agreement yet, is there?!
ML/NJ
How about DeMitt getting some sack and just going?
God, knuckling under to Yon Kerrey, Duke de Ketchup. How, limp.
++++++++++++++
That may be coming...
Cadaver Man has swallowed too much Heinz Catsup!
And why is DeMint asking for permission?
If memory serves me correctly, Congress members went to Nicaragua during the 1980’s without asking like bitchy little girly men, supporting their un-American friends. And currently the U.S. Government has more in relationship with Marxists, Dictators and Despots; so why worry about it. Unless he is afraid...
My goodness, Assad has a tiny head! Or maybe it just looks that way ‘cause of Kerry’s swelled noggin?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.