14 Dems write letter backing Obama's opposition to Venezuela sanctions ahead of House vote

[Judi Lynn]

14 Dems write letter backing Obama's opposition to Venezuela sanctions ahead of House vote
By Bradley Klapper, The Associated Press May 27, 2014 3:40 PM

WASHINGTON - Fourteen Democratic members of Congress are voicing opposition to authorizing unilateral U.S. sanctions against Venezuela ahead of a House vote Wednesday.

The bill instructs the Obama administration to compile a list of human rights abusers in the Venezuelan government, freeze their assets and ban them from the United States. Foreign relations committees in the House and Senate have overwhelmingly approved it.

Administration officials are opposed. They say sanctions risk undermining mediation efforts in Venezuela and straining relations between the U.S. and Latin American partners.

The Democrats led by Michigan Rep. John Conyers wrote a letter to President Barack Obama Tuesday backing his administration. They also urged an exchange of ambassadors with Venezuela after a four-year hiatus.

http://www.canada.com/news/world/Dems+write+letter+backing+Obamas+opposition+Venezuela+sanctions/9881842/story.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Democrat Congress members make a stand against Venezuela sanctions

Democrat Congress members make a stand against Venezuela sanctions
May Wednesday 28th 2014

FOURTEEN Democratic members of Congress voiced their opposition to authorising unilateral US sanctions against Venezuela today.

A Bill before Congress instructs the Obama administration to compile a list of human rights abusers in the Venezuelan government, freeze their assets and ban them from the United States.

Foreign relations committees in the House and Senate have overwhelmingly approved it, although administration officials are opposed.

They say sanctions risk undermining mediation efforts in Venezuela.

And Democrats led by Michigan Congressman John Conyers wrote a letter to President Barack Obama on Tuesday backing his administration.

More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-2942-Democrat-Congress-members-make-a-stand-against-Venezuela-sanctions#.U4YRGGcU_IU

[Marksman_91]

2. They're not sanctions against Venezuela

They're against the human rights violators responsible for the apprehension of over 2000 protesters and the deaths of over 40 unarmed victims killed by paramilitary, GNB, and SEBIN forces, who all answer to the government. Seems reasonable to me to sanction the big heads if they're not gonna take responibilty for the atrocities committed by their administration. And it's not like they'd be getting sanctioned with an embargo or something, they're merely gonna have their assets in US territory frozen and their visas suspended. Aren't they not supposed to care about that in the first place if the regime hates the US so much? So why worry? It'd sure seem very hypocritical of them if it turned out they own luxurious properties or bank accounts full of millions in the US...