Obama vs. the Honduran Constitution
Conservatives tend to dislike Obama for his domestic policies. He prefers bigger government, claiming a larger chunk of Americans' paychecks in exchange for more "services." His critics use terms such as "meddling" and "interfering" to describe such policies. Despite this opposition, Obama has had some success with getting these policies implemented. Unfortunately, he seems to have decided to "take the show on the road," so to speak.
On June 28, 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested and removed from office. His allies have termed this a military coup d'état, intending to delegitimize transfer of power. However, this was no such thing. Zelaya was arrested on orders from the Honduran Supreme Court. Zelaya had been campaigning for changes to the Honduran constitution (and expected to seek an end to term limits) via referendum, an unconstitutional course of action in Honduras. When a lower court issued an injunction against Zelaya, he ignored it. In accordance with Honduran law, the Supreme Court ordered his arrest.
The job of arresting the President was assigned to the military, which, over-zealously expelled him from Honduras. This act was not ordered by the Supreme Court, and has been denounced by the new Honduran President. The Honduran Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against the military for the exile. However, the Supreme Court and Honduran National Congress, largely filled with members of Zelaya's own party, have upheld the constitutionality of the transfer of power to current President Roberto Micheletti.
Zelaya, an ally of power-hungry Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, was widely believed to have been attempting to reshape the Honduran government with Venezuela's domineering Socialism as a model. Chavez seized his power much through a series of constitutional referenda, a process very similar to the one Zelaya attempted before his removal.
An uninformed international community widely condemned Honduras. President Obama was a vocal supporter of Zelaya and threatened not to recognize the result of the upcoming election, if Zelaya were not first returned to power. Eventually, Honduras relented and agreed to allow Zelaya to return to power through the end of his term in January and for the elections to proceed as planned, as part of a complex deal brokered by the United States, which now supports the elections.
On June 28, 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested and removed from office. His allies have termed this a military coup d'état, intending to delegitimize transfer of power. However, this was no such thing. Zelaya was arrested on orders from the Honduran Supreme Court. Zelaya had been campaigning for changes to the Honduran constitution (and expected to seek an end to term limits) via referendum, an unconstitutional course of action in Honduras. When a lower court issued an injunction against Zelaya, he ignored it. In accordance with Honduran law, the Supreme Court ordered his arrest.
The job of arresting the President was assigned to the military, which, over-zealously expelled him from Honduras. This act was not ordered by the Supreme Court, and has been denounced by the new Honduran President. The Honduran Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against the military for the exile. However, the Supreme Court and Honduran National Congress, largely filled with members of Zelaya's own party, have upheld the constitutionality of the transfer of power to current President Roberto Micheletti.
Zelaya, an ally of power-hungry Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, was widely believed to have been attempting to reshape the Honduran government with Venezuela's domineering Socialism as a model. Chavez seized his power much through a series of constitutional referenda, a process very similar to the one Zelaya attempted before his removal.
An uninformed international community widely condemned Honduras. President Obama was a vocal supporter of Zelaya and threatened not to recognize the result of the upcoming election, if Zelaya were not first returned to power. Eventually, Honduras relented and agreed to allow Zelaya to return to power through the end of his term in January and for the elections to proceed as planned, as part of a complex deal brokered by the United States, which now supports the elections.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
vladwe
Vladimir Weissman
posted 11/21/09 @ 5:57 AM EST
How true! An astute Israeli journalist (Caroline Glick) observed aldready a few months ago that the Obama group seems to obstruct democracies (Colombia, Israel, Honduras, the freedom demos in Tehran, etc. (Continued…)
Andres Velasquez
posted 11/21/09 @ 7:12 AM EST
Actually, hondurans did not agree to have Zelaya back in power, the deal is that the congress will define if he is restituted or not, and that decision has not yet been taken. (Continued…)
Las Vegas Movers | Las Vegas Moving Company
posted 11/23/09 @ 5:40 PM EST
Quote:
"An uninformed international community widely condemned Honduras. President Obama was a vocal supporter of Zelaya and threatened not to recognize the result of the upcoming election, if Zelaya were not first returned to power. (Continued…)
alan
posted 11/24/09 @ 9:10 AM EST
1. Zelaya brought forth a NONBINDING vote to possibly have a binding vote during the presidential elections on whether to change the constitution, something that would happen after he left office. (Continued…)
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