Ileana Ros-Lehtinen criticizes FSLN power grab in Nicaragua

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is worried that recently proposed reforms in Nicaragua threatens whatever is left of democracy and would “allow him to retain a stranglehold over the people of Nicaragua.”

“It is troubling that Ortega, with the help of his cronies in the Nicaraguan National Assembly, continues to trample on democratic freedoms of millions of his own people, undermine U.S. interests in the region, and collaborate with other rogue regimes like Cuba and Venezuela,” the Republican lawmaker said. “The Obama Administration stood idly by during the last illegitimate elections in Nicaragua and these power grabs are the consequences of our silence. I urge the Administration to denounce this attempt to further dismantle the democratic process to deny the people of Nicaragua the fundamental freedoms that we often take for granted.”

Look, I'm not a big fan of Ortega's dismantling of Nicaragua's institutions and the proposed constitutional reforms most likely should go before a constituent assembly but Ros-Lehtinen is a member of the US Congress. She embarrasses her constituents and all Americans when she criticizes the elected members of the Nicaraguan National Assembly as "cronies" and describes Cuba and Venezuela as "rogue regimes."

On the other hand, there are always US members of Congress who are less than diplomatic when discussing relations with other countries. There are 535 of them. As with the recent letters by members of congress calling for interference in favor of the right-wing parties in Honduras and El Salvador's elections, I do hope that the Obama administration is smart enough not to worsen the situation.