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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Reps. Bilbray, Mack find answers on Honduras trip |
| 2009-07-30 |
| Two GOP lawmakers returned from a weekend trip to Honduras with a heightened understanding of the presidential crisis there — and a proposal for its resolution. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) told The Hill that a presidential candidate from ousted President Manuel Zelaya's own Liberal Party gave the visiting congressmen the proposal, which Bilbray is going to ask the Obama administration to accept. Under the offer, interim President Roberto Micheletti would voluntarily step down and leadership of the country would go to constitutional succession. However, if Zelaya returned to face charges and was then acquitted, he could return to office. "The majority of folks think Zelaya should come back to the country, but to stand trial," Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) said. Mack told The Hill that he found Hondurans to be in "disbelief" at the Obama administration's reaction to the ouster of Zelaya. "Whether or not [Hondurans] agree on how he was removed all of them agree that he broke the constitution, broke the law," Mack said. "A large majority believe he should not return to Honduras and to power." Bilbray said the U.S. can't put itself in a position of supporting a president over a country's constitution and the rule of law. "That's a scary place for us to find ourselves, especially considering our history," he said. "For the [Obama] administration to propose the return of the old president and to put him back into power would really be a slap in the face to constitutional rule," Bilbray said, adding that he believed the administration "jumped the gun" on its assessment of the Honduras crisis. "I think [Hondurans] were absolutely shocked at the American response." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Is there anything the Congress can do to discipline State's idiocy like their punitive suspension of Honduran visas? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2009-07-30 22:14 |
| #2 Bilbray is a San Diego local/Rep and generally good guy |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-07-30 19:52 |
| #1 The American response and the administration's response are two different things. |
| Posted by: SpomoperBHayes 2009-07-30 10:54 |