Thread: Kerry Seeks to Prevent DeMint from Visiting Honduras

Kerry Seeks to Prevent DeMint from Visiting Honduras

Friday, October 2, 2009 1:24 PM

By: Dan Weil

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, has tried to block Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., from visiting Honduras amid a dispute between Democrats and Republicans over policy toward the nation.

Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is upset with DeMint for holding up confirmation of two officials President Obama has chosen for positions related to Latin America.

In response to Kerry’s move, DeMint asked Republican senate minority leader Mitch McConnell to help facilitate the fact-finding trip. McConnell asked the Defense Department to provide a plane for DeMint and received approval, according to DeMint’s office, The Washington Post reports.

The clash stems from Republican opposition to the White House stance on Honduras in the wake of a June military action that ousted President Manuel Zelaya and threw him out of the country.

The Obama administration and other governments in the region called the move a coup. The White House punished Honduras by ceasing aid payments and suspending U.S. visas for Honduran officials.

DeMint and several other conservative Republicans argue Zelaya's removal was legal because he tried to illegally extend his term in office. They also are critical of his ties to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

The nominations DeMint has delayed are Arturo Valenzuela as assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs and Thomas Shannon as ambassador to Brazil.

Kerry and DeMint criticized each other in dueling statements.

"These bullying tactics by the Obama administration and Senator Kerry must stop, and we must be allowed to get to the truth in Honduras," DeMint said.

Kerry responded: "Senator DeMint's statement wins an A for 'audacity.' Thanks to his intransigence, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee can't even hold hearings on our policy in Central and South America."

Meanwhile, the new government faces increasing pressure from political, civic and business leaders who originally supported Zelaya's ouster. They now favor plans to put him back in office with limited authority, The Associated Press reports.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/kerr ... 67787.html

U.S. Senator and Congressmen to meet with President Micheletti and Honduran election officials

DeMint Will Lead Delegation to Honduras Today

By Editor Friday, October 2, 2009

October 2, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, and announced that he will lead a delegation of U.S. Congressmen to Honduras today. The group will include U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-Illinois), Peter Roskam (R-Illinois), and Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado). They plan to meet with Honduran President Roberto Micheletti, members of the Honduran Supreme Court, election officials, and Honduran business and civic leaders.

Yesterday, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) attempted to block the delegations trip at the last minute, denying the necessary committee approval. However, late Thursday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) intervened and approved the trip to allow the Senator and Congressmen to assess the facts in Honduras.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/15368