Monday, June 29, 2009

Obama: Dictator In The Making?

Well, based upon Obama's open and enthusiastic support for Honduran dictator-in-the-making Manuel Zelaya, it is difficult to say Obama has much respect for the rule of law.

Zelaya was violating his country’s constitution with his referendum that would have, Chavez-style, repealed term limits on the presidency. The Honduras Supreme Court ruled the referendum illegal, and the military refused to distribute the ballots. Instead of backing down, Zelaya fired the head of the military, which precipitated the ouster.

Clearly, democracies cannot abide armed overthrow of elected governments, but that presumes that the government acts within the rule of law. Zelaya had no intention of doing so, and his flagrant violations and attempt to accrue personal power made that crystal clear. Zelaya had begun seizing dictatorial powers, and the military responded by arresting him. The military then handed power back to the legislature rather than keeping it for themselves, which makes this less of a coup and more of a military impeachment.

Obama's attempt to interfere in the domestic politics of Honduras is, of course, the exact opposite of the position he espoused on the campaign trail, and the fact he attempted to interfere to allow for the taking of dictatorial powers by Zelaya should worry all of us. Basically Obama is saying if you are a leftist president everything is permitted and the law should be no hindrance.

That is a scary, scary position for an American president to hold.

Add this to the Democratic penchant to support communist rebels in Columbia instead of the democratically elected government, and you have to ask: What is wrong with these people? Are they stupid or something?

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