The recent decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to remove former President Donald Trump from the presidential election ballot under the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause has been met with a healthy dose of outrage by Republicans. The court's ruling, which is currently stayed, could remove Joe Biden's chief political rival and essentially disenfranchise millions of Colorado Trump supporters. Part of that outrage has been met with speculation over what sort of consequences the U.S. would be leveling at any other country that did the same thing. Well, here are just a few examples that, if nothing else, just highlight the naked hypocrisy of the Biden administration.
I just saw on the news that the US said Venezuela should hold "free and fair elections." I instantly laughed out loud. Amazing they still say this. Chutzpah.
— Nathan M. Hansen (@nathanmhansen) December 21, 2023
It was the Trump administration that originally imposed sanctions against Venezuela for what it called "undemocratic practices." In October of this year, the Biden administration began to lift some of those sanctions if certain conditions were met, one being holding fair elections in 2024 that would include placing dictator Nicholas Maduro's political opponents on the ballot. However, that agreement was short-lived. Less than a month after that deal was made, Venezuelan courts suspended the primary election results of Maduro's political opponent. The court also ruled that Maduro's opponent be investigated for alleged identity theft, money laundering, and conspiracy. Sound vaguely familiar?
Nicaragua is another place that is certainly no hotbed of democracy. Ironically, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on dictator Daniel Ortega's regime in 2021. In a statement from the Treasury Department in November of 2021, the sanctions were imposed due to Ortega, Vice President Rosario Murillo, and several other government officials who conducted what was called a "pantomime election." In May of 2021, roughly 40 political opposition leaders were jailed, including seven presidential candidates, and opposing political parties were blocked from participating in the election process. Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Andrea M. Gacki stated,
“The Ortega regime is using laws and institutions to detain members of the political opposition and deprive Nicaraguans from the right to vote. The United States is sending an unequivocal message to President Ortega, Vice President Murillo, and their inner circle that we stand with the Nicaraguan people in their calls for reform and a return to democracy.”
But perhaps the cherry on the hypocrisy cake, the Biden administration pointed out that the Ortega regime was relying on Nicaraguan "law 1055," which "prohibits from public office anyone determined to be “traitors,” such as those advocating “foreign interference” in Nicaragua or other actions deemed to be undermining Nicaraguan sovereignty." Guess who gets to determine who the "traitors" are? The Public Ministry of Nicaragua, which operates of course, under the auspices of Daniel Ortega.
Indigenous party says it is barred from running in Nicaragua elections https://t.co/jAn3Oehj0R via @guardian
— Nino Brodin (@Orgetorix) October 6, 2023
In October of 2020, the Trump administration also imposed sanctions on Belarus, a small country in Eastern Europe closely tied to Russia. The sanctions were related to the August 9, 2020, presidential election in that country. The Trump administration alleged actions such as barring any opposition candidates, denying any access to poll watchers, and falsifying voting results. In 2021, the Biden administration cemented the Trump-era sanctions on Belarus because not much had changed. President Alexander Lukashenka's regime continued to face allegations of preventing political opponents from appearing on the ballot, preventing them from campaigning, voter intimidation, and denying international poll watchers from entering polling stations. There was even the faintly familiar event of those who believed the August election to be fraudulent and protested the outcome, being arrested and detained. Seeing a pattern?
While the U.S. is putting pressure on Maduro to hold honest elections in 2024, does Joe Biden really believe that will happen? Currently, Maduro is threatening to annex much of the neighboring country of Guyana. The portion of Guyana involved is part of a long-standing land dispute and is rich in oil reserves. The concern is that any military action taken by Maduro against Guyana could result in his declaring martial law, thus setting up the possibility of another bogus election. The possibility of that happening may be about as great as Joe Biden knowing which way to exit the next stage he is on.
Just when you thought the level of hypocrisy from Joe Biden and the Democrats could not be more off the charts, think again.
The U.S. has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 19, 2023
