Connie Mack Says Obama 'Continues to Coddle' Hugo Chavez

From his perch as chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack weighed in on Friday over the news that Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez had cancer. Mack slammed Chavez -- and took aim at President Barack Obamas policies in regard to Venezuela.

It says a lot that even in convalescence, Hugo Chavez speaks from the same podium as Fidel Castro, said Mack. Despite his alliance with Castro, his shipment of prohibited materials to terrorists in Iran, and his support of Moammar Gadhafi, President Obama continues to coddle this ruthless dictator in our own backyard. The Venezuelan people need a truly representative democratic government. I hope the Chavez regime will not continue to disrupt democratic elections, and that Venezuelans will be able to achieve the peaceful democratic reforms they have been asking for while bringing security to the region. Perhaps fate will act on behalf of freedom in our hemisphere in the absence of leadership from President Obama."