Redstate

Standing Up to the Tyrant

By Bluey Posted in Foreign Affairs | Free Trade | Hugo Chavez — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

With Congress on the verge of an important vote on the Peru Free Trade Agreement tomorrow, Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) told bloggers that similar deals in Latin America were among the best ways to combat Hugh Chavez's socialist rule of Venezuela and his ties to terrorist sympathizers. Mack, the most outspoken critic in Congress of the Venezuelan leader, said he's disappointed with both the Bush administration and congressional leaders for their refusal to take a tougher stand against Chavez.

Mack appeared at the Heritage Foundation a day after the passage of House Resolution 435, which outlines the growing threat of Iran and its influence over countries such as Venezuela. Working with Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.), the two members overcame opposition from liberal Reps. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) and Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) to pass the measure on a voice vote. Mack called Serrano and Delahunt two of Chavez's biggest supporters in Congress.

Although he was pleased that his resolution won House approval, Mack said he won't stop shining the spotlight on Chavez's shenanigans and his relationship with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mack said the Peru Free Trade Agreement was an example of how Congress and the president could get serious about countering the socialist threat in Latin America and combat terrorists at the same time. Unfortunately, similar deals with Columbia and Panama appear to be going nowhere fast in Congress.

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That hasn't stopped Mack from pushing forward. He stars in a new documentary called "Crisis in the Americas," produced by American Security Council Foundation. (Trailer below and on YouTube.)

Others reporting on today's meeting with Mack include Steven Foley of The Minority Report and Joe Mansour of TechRepublican.