Connie Mack Hammers Hugo Chavez and Obama on CITGO

With Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez trying to sell CITGO, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the ranking Republican on the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, unleashed a barrage of criticism on Tuesday morning.

Hugo Chavez faces potential penalties for expropriating U.S. businesses, and more importantly, because Venezuela will likely be found in violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran, said Mack. Such actions rightfully jeopardize the success of a Venezuelan government-owned business on U.S. soil.

Mack, who has been the subject of buzz that he will challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, pounded President Barack Obama for his handling of Venezuelan affairs.

While the Obama administration and the Democratic leadership in Congress have decided to look the other way, things are about to change in Washington, said Mack. Chavez can see the writing on the wall.As he enthusiastically deepens his cooperation with state sponsors of terrorism across the world, the United States must respond aggressively by enacting the appropriate sanctions against the Chavez regime, including designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism.This designation must be done while actively engaging with Canada to complete the Keystone XL pipeline, which will bolster oil imports from an important ally and partner of the United States.